The Psychological Assessment of Political LeadersA basic lesson of Clinton's early life experiences was that even
those on whom you should be able to count are often unreliable.
These experiences are consistent with Clinton's adult behavior,
specifically his lack of fidelity in his commitments to others, such as
supporters, colleagues, and voters, and his admission that he has
"caused pain in his marriage" (Brook 1996). Clinton's early experi-
ences are consistent with his willingness to ask others to walk the
political plank with (or for) him and then reversing himself when it
is to his advantage to do so, a model provided by his mother.
The Draft Controversy
On February 6, 1992, the Wall Street Journal published a long article
asserting that Bill Clinton had secured a draft deferment during the
Vietnam War by promising to enroll in the Reserve Officer Training
Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Arkansas but had then
reneged on that promise. In answer to the charge, Clinton said he
had received a student deferment as an undergraduate and, though
he was eligible for induction while a Rhodes Scholar in England, had
been fortunate enough never to have received the call. He asserted
that he had never asked for or received special treatment from his
draft board, claiming, "I certainly had no leverage to get it" (Ifill
1992a, Ai6).
Subsequent reports revealed that Clinton's late uncle, Raymond
Clinton, had led a successful effort to provide special protection for
Clinton from being inducted during a ten-month period in 1968
when he was reclassified i-A (Los Angeles Times, Sept. 2, 1992) and
that Clinton himself had asked for help from Senator J. W. Ful-
bright's office (for whom Clinton had worked as an intern while in
college) in securing a spot in the ROTC program (Suro 1992).
In both cases, Clinton first denied any knowledge of the events
but shortly thereafter admitted he was qualified for the draft by
asserting that he had never received special treatment.Ambition, Ideals, and Clinton's Resolution of Quandaries
The elements selected for public presentation allowed Clinton to
present himself in the best light or interpret his behavior in that
manner.
Elements of a story that might contradict this somewhat self-