Clinton

Whether you're a Clinton fan or detractor (unless you're at the extreme end of either pole), I think you'll find PBS's two disc documentary on the life of the 42nd President of the United States to be a fair and unbiased presentation of Clinton's presidency, the good, the bad and the x-rated.

The documentary traces Clinton's life from his Arkansas boyhood, living with his mother and his abusive stepfather, and follows with how he met and married Hillary, his early political rise leading to his time in the Governor's mansion, complete with the triumphs and disasters which accompanied his tenure in state politics. It describes how his national profile became elevated, how a long and boring speech at a Democratic convention almost torpedoed his political ascendency, and how he was able to learn from and get past that mistake. It goes on to relive his campaign for the Democratic nomination in 1992, complete with the first national publicity of his extra-marital affairs, and the masterful way in which he overcame that hurdle to become the Comeback Kid.

The segment on the 1992 election is a wonderful recounting of how the obscure southern governor was able to defeat a President who, less than a year earlier, enjoyed an unprecedented 90% approval rating by schooling everyone in the lesson that, when it comes to presidential elections, "it's the economy stupid", a lesson that subsequent presidents forget at their peril.

The documentary reminds us that even with a Democratic congress, it wasn't all sunshine and roses for the Clinton presidency, but when the tide turned and Newt Gingrich and the Republicans took over congress, a series of very dramatic showdowns brought government to a halt and how skillful political manipulation was able to bring about an end to the stalemate. It is amazing to watch how Clinton was able to make lemonade from lemons, leaving a legacy of being the last President to bring about surplus budgets. The program explains how Clinton was able to secure his reelection, but at a price of losing some support within his base by passing welfare reforms. The story of how the counsel of Dick Morris was able to help steer the Clinton Presidency away from political rocks is all the more interesting when recounted by Morris himself and other principal players of the time.

Of course the documentary also tells the story of the investigations against the Clintons: first Whitewater, which uncovered the sordid tale of a young intern named Monica Lewinsky and some bad behavior by a president. The filmmakers present the cases both pro and con of those who argue that the first impeachment of a President since Andrew Johnson was or wasn't about sex, as we're reminded of Clinton's grand jury testimony and his alleged perjury. They are careful to walk a fine line in presenting opposing viewpoints of what Kenneth Starr's motives were, while offering no conclusions of their own.

The selection of film footage is appropriate and outstanding. Complex issues are explained with remarkable clarity and the comments by some of the leading players and witnesses including Starr, Clinton's Chief of Staff Leon Panetta and politicians, cabinet members and journalists of the day add to the authenticity of this remarkable video chronicle. I found this to be an unbiased and very well presented documentary on the life of this intelligent, emotional, complicated and flawed president, and I recommend this documentary highly.

Clinton, one in a long line of American Experience presidential portraits, brings to the table a well-rounded and informative portrait of the president. You will walk away with an understanding of the course of his political life, and the major issues that shaped his two terms in office.

This man is perhaps least understood by people like me, who were very young when he took office and never experienced him "live." Before I watched this, I generally understood his tenure as one of a sex scandal and impeachment. Most of his other accomplishments and failures faded to the background. Thankfully, this video provides a vicarious catch-up on what happened a few years ago. Lest we turn Bill into a one-liner, it is important to watch this film, remembering what he accomplished as a politician and reflecting on his vision as a leader. Depth and fairness are really the goals of public broadcasting, and this program provides a great deal of both. The content is thoughtful and memorable.

That being said, the stylistic approach caused me to shake my head a few times in disappointment. Compare this with American Experience: FDR, which presented overwhelmingly-neutral and unembellished commentary. This film, though, at times strays into subjectivity, dramatization, and triviality. Some of the commentary takes on a tabloid style.

The problem is most noticeable with the coverage of the president's scandals. While you would hope the topic to be covered carefully and given due context, PBS seemed to adopt the popular approach - to make it an issue of book deals, high-powered wheeling and dealing, and attention-grabbing headlines. They had to have spent ten minutes of face time on the book publisher who wanted to expose the president for her own financial gain. Those kinds of people have no role in an objective documentary. It is something you would expect more from cable news, which will go to any length to make a story more than it is. You can also see the journalistic excesses in the bombastic language used by the narrator; he seems to seek drama out of every event.

This style reflects the 24-hour news cycle that began around the time Clinton took office and has degraded journalistic standards ever since. It seems the influence has spread even to PBS. If there is any degree of bias in the film, it comes from the mouths of these interviewees. Each talking head seems to have an agenda, be it defending the president or celebrating his decline.

Even with these objections in mind, I cannot but strongly endorse the program. It presents a remarkable biography that can add to the understanding of anyone who watches it. And it does so with a richness that makes the experience worthwhile. It is most of what you would expect from a quality documentary.

Clinton, one in a long line of American Experience presidential portraits, brings to the table a well-rounded and informative portrait of the president. You will walk away with an understanding of the course of his political life, and the major issues that shaped his two terms in office.

This man is perhaps least understood by people like me, who were very young when he took office and never experienced him "live." Before I watched this, I generally understood his tenure as one of a sex scandal and impeachment. Most of his other accomplishments and failures faded to the background. Thankfully, this video provides a vicarious catch-up on what happened a few years ago. Lest we turn Bill into a one-liner, it is important to watch this film, remembering what he accomplished as a politician and reflecting on his vision as a leader. Depth and fairness are really the goals of public broadcasting, and this program provides a great deal of both. The content is thoughtful and memorable.

That being said, the stylistic approach caused me to shake my head a few times in disappointment. Compare this with American Experience: FDR, which presented overwhelmingly-neutral and unembellished commentary. This film, though, at times strays into subjectivity, dramatization, and triviality. Some of the commentary takes on a tabloid style.

The problem is most noticeable with the coverage of the president's scandals. While you would hope the topic to be covered carefully and given due context, PBS seemed to adopt the popular approach - to make it an issue of book deals, high-powered wheeling and dealing, and attention-grabbing headlines. They had to have spent ten minutes of face time on the book publisher who wanted to expose the president for her own financial gain. Those kinds of people have no role in an objective documentary. It is something you would expect more from cable news, which will go to any length to make a story more than it is. You can also see the journalistic excesses in the bombastic language used by the narrator; he seems to seek drama out of every event.

This style reflects the 24-hour news cycle that began around the time Clinton took office and has degraded journalistic standards ever since. It seems the influence has spread even to PBS. If there is any degree of bias in the film, it comes from the mouths of these interviewees. Each talking head seems to have an agenda, be it defending the president or celebrating his decline.

Even with these objections in mind, I cannot but strongly endorse the program. It presents a remarkable biography that can add to the understanding of anyone who watches it. And it does so with a richness that makes the experience worthwhile. It is most of what you would expect from a quality documentary.