Newsweek - USA (2019-06-07)

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NEWSWEEK.COM 23

couple and all those around them who still like and support them.that her husband’s affair with Wcandidly), the furor had a “profoundly depressing effect” on the first presidency—interviewed for this story (who were granted anonymity to speak reaction was scathing. According to three friends of the Clintons was not “an abuse of power” because “she was an adult,” the press history of skirt chasing—When Hillary insisted in a national television interview last year is no longer defensible for many Democrats.before the White House intern Monica Lewinsky hite House and during his

up all the bad times, and it showed yet again that Hillary just has no political fingertips. It couldn’t have been worse.”that Hillary was at least considering another presidential run, though just how seriously is a matter of dispute. She was being urged on by Bill, according to two sources close to them, who was convinced she would beat Donald Trump in a rematch. To both of them, “Trump had been predictably awful. They felt that, even “It was just awful,” says one of the friends. “For Bill, it brought Until that point, it had been an open secret in Clinton world

with a relatively good economy, he was very vulnerable.” And a lot of Democrats still wanted to make history by electing a woman,

“bit sad, and more than a bit angry.”one evening earlier this year, an old friendthe former president for dinner at a quiet Mmore tired than he had in some time. He is 72 now, restaurant. Bill, the friend says, looked thinner and and adviser to Bill and Hillary Clinton sat down with 15 years on from open-heart surgery and the compli-cations that arose from it. He was, the friend says, a The 2020 race for the White House was underway, anhattan

“and the angry Twitter-verse,” as Bill’s dinner compan-A lot of the contenders seemed to be scrambling to and not many of the ever-expanding field of Demo-cratic contenders had phoned him or come calling to discuss what it is like to run a presidential campaign. the left to satisfy the progressive wing of the party ion puts it. “This guy’s political brain is still sharp—among the sharpest in the party—[the Democratic Party] may be frittering away the and he worries that

chance it has to beat Trump next year.” That’s where the anger comes in. And the sadness? “He realizes, politically, he’s in exile, and to some extent Hillary is too. This is a tough time for them.”Hillary, the most powerful couple in the modern era of American politics, stand on the sidelines as one of the most important election cycles for Democrats unfolds. For the Clintons, this is the year the might-For reasons both political and personal, Bill and

votes in three traditionally Democratic states deprived have-beens become especially painful. Just 80,000 them of the restoration: a return to the Wbalanced budget (agreed to in compromise with Republicans) and a The economic successes of the era were rooted in centrist policies: a now “the Big Dog”—commitment to free trade exemplified by Bill’s signing of the North itics have changed markedly since the Clintons ruled Washington. They have been cast aside for obvious reasons. Democratic poland a recapture of the leadership of their party.hite House—with Hillary -

American Free Trade Agreement. Now, in both parties, there is not #Mmuch of a constituency for either. As president, Bill signed a crime bill that did, over time, result in lower crime rates. But progressives say it was partly responsible for the increase in incarceration rates for African Americans and Latinos ever since it was passed.None of that, of course, is at the heart of Bill’s exile. In the eToo era, the personal has become the political. And his

asked 6 the ma 3 LEGACY OF A BITTER LOSSKirPete Buttistefjor advice or female contenders. Opposite:n Gilligiebgra n 7 from several 2020 Democratic candidates, includindK (^) a (^4) mTuallas Hi GabbaarriAbove: Unlike Bill, Hillary has been s 8 rdBill 5 Elizde (^1) BlabetJoeas Biih Wode 9 anCrr (^2) ory Booker. eBn eto O’Rourkeg all