Time’s Person of The Year

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Introduction

Bill Clinton was the 42nd elected president in the United States of America. He was the first ever Democratic president to be elected in exactly six decades for two consecutive terms — first in 1992 and later in 1996 (Soni, 2013). Bill Clinton was an innovative leader of his generation with many accomplishments both in the United States and around the world. Throughout his presidency, his innovations touched lives and transformed the standards of living of millions of people. There are various reasons why Bill Clinton can be referred to as an innovative leader, and they are discussed in below in detail (David, 1996).

Economic Innovations in America

Under the leadership of Clinton, the United States of America enjoyed the strongest as well as the steadiest economy in a generation as well as the economic expansion that was the longest in United States history. President Clinton’s main values in terms of building community, demanding responsibility and creating opportunity resulted in an unprecedented development for America, including almost single-handedly steering the nation from many record deficits to clearly record surpluses; availing more than 22 million work opportunities — this being more than any administration to date; relatively low levels of unemployment, crime and poverty; as well as the highest college enrollment and home ownership rates in history (David, 1996).

Technology and communication

Before Bill Clinton assumed presidency, phone service was a “natural monopoly” in the United States where the costs of infrastructure were very high that competition was impossible. However, by 1996, those assumptions were completely broken down to allow many players to join the industry. Clinton and his administration’s Telecommunications Act of 1996 sorted the problem out and launched the popular age of modern Internet policy – involving trusting market forces as well as technological innovation to the maximum extent. This was an act of incredible political maturity. As an innovative leader, Bill Clinton knew something remarkable was about to happen and that his government had the ability to serve it best through simply stepping back and allowing private investment happen.

So the 1996 Act clearly drew a line – the old phone system in the US would remain regulated as a “common carrier,” though the emerging world of “information services” that would be definitely allowed to develop on its own free from utility-style needs such as government oversight of prices, rigid traffic management rules or forced sharing of infrastructure with competitors. Consequently, there have been over $1.2 trillion in terms of investment since the 1996 Act, as well as innovation, growth and new services that President Bush and Act’s framers had always wanted (Soni, 2013).

Innovation in the White House

The accomplishments of Bill Clinton in the White House were many and include increasing investment in terms of education, availing tax relief for all working families, assisting millions of citizens to move from welfare to self-reliance/work, encouraging investment in all existing underserved communities, expanding the access to technology, environmental conservation, eliminating terrorism and all its threats as well as strengthening democracy and promotion of peace all around the world. His economic policies also favored the development of the largest economic expansion ever experienced in the history of America (David, 1996). Bill Clinton refuted the view of the white house as the house of the ‘untouchables’ through interacting with citizens from all walks of life and shared their problems in times of need.

Contributions to the world

President Clinton invested dollars, in terms of billions, on expanding technology in classrooms across Asia and Africa, including the internet, as well as computers in the classrooms. He also led the fight in Bosnia and stopped the war and injustices that were committed by the Serbs. Unlike other leaders, who were despised by most of America’s allies, Bill Clinton had widespread popularity, particularly in Africa and all around Europe. Bill Clinton established beyond a doubt that he was up to the task by ensuring that warring nations were at peace with each other (Soni, 2013). He donated generously to African countries such as Rwanda after undergoing the violence brought about by the genocide that rocked the country and left in shreds. Additionally, he was against any form of slavery and neo-colonialism that was practiced by some European powers towards third world countries in Africa and Asia. Despite all these, he remained a popular leader worldwide due to his wit and found quick solutions to problems that troubled humanity.

Legacy

President Clinton always hoped to become a “repairer of the breach,” through calling upon Congress to go beyond extreme partisanship and focus on the mission of America, and Clinton’s will always be one of the most successful presidencies of the 20th century. This will not only be for its enormous domestic accomplishments or significant foreign-policy achievements, but also due to the bold step of forming a stronger nation during the beginning of a new century (Soni, 2013). Clinton’s innovative personality ensured that the United States of America took huge steps forward in terms of development and other conscious activities. The whole world will also attest to the fact that his innovation led to the creation of many humanitarian actions and projects that will serve generations long after his ascendency from power.

References

Soni, J. (2013). “10 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know About Bill Clinton”. Huffington

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David, M. (1996). First In His Class: A Biography Of Bill Clinton. Touchstone. p. 43.