The Clintons: An American Odyssey

In 1963, an historic moment occurred when President Kennedy met a very young Bill Clinton among students and interns gathered on the White House lawn. Filmmaker Robert D. Kline's The Clintons: An American Odyssey—made with the assistance of the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR—reviews the eventful, ambitious careers of Bill and Hillary Clinton on their journey to the White House and beyond, although it largely skips Bill's early life and his years as governor of Arkansas. Elected on a platform promising a "new direction" and the "courage to change," at first the Clintons seemed overwhelmed by the highly charged political atmosphere of Washington. The documentary amply illustrates Clinton's communication skills, as well as his ability to forge personal relationships with foreign leaders, notably witnesses during the peace accords in the Middle East and Northern Ireland, along with a memorable scene of animated laughter with Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The film also covers the crises, including the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the "Black Hawk down" incident in Somalia which killed 18 U.S. soldiers, the genocide in Rwanda, and the abortive attempt to pass a comprehensive healthcare plan. The Clintons notes that First Lady Hillary served as both "icon and lightning rod," and that Bill's relations with Republicans in Congress became increasingly strained—marked by investigations, budget battles, and ultimately the threat of impeachment over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton would ultimately leave office with justifiable pride in his achievements and regrets over missed opportunities. Unfortunately, this documentary relies far too much on excerpts from speeches that Clinton gave on various subjects rather than firsthand insights and observations from political movers and shakers, making the PBS-aired American Experience documentary Clinton (VL-7/12) a much better choice. Optional. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)