The Marriage Behind The Clintons

Book Examines Impact Of Their Relationship On Their Careers, And The Nation

(CBS)  The marriage of Bill and Hillary Clinton is one of the most fascinating and scrutinized of our time.

A simple Google search reveals more than 40 books about the couple.

In the latest, "For Love of Politics: Bill and Hillary Clinton: The White House Years," author and Vanity Fair contributing editor Sally Bedell Smith takes an intricate look at the ties that bind them. She examines the impact their relationship has had, and continues to have, on their careers, and the nation, as Hillary seeks to build on her role as a New York Senator to become the second Clinton in the Oval Office.

It details everything from Hillary's short-lived healthcare policy push early in Bill's administration, to her subsequent, extended behind-the-scenes role in her husband's White House, to Bill's sex scandals, and their celebrity status today. It also explores the sometimes strained relationship among Bill, Hillary and Al Gore.

The book's publisher, Random House, says, "During their eight years in the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton worked together more closely than the public ever knew. Their intertwined personal and professional lives had far-reaching consequences for politics, domestic policy, and international affairs, and their marital troubles became a national soap opera."

Bedell Smith looks at how they fed and feed off each other to make what Random House calls "two halves of a unique whole," explains the dynamics of their relationship, and shows that, as Random House says, "It is impossible to understand one Clinton without factoring in the other."

Bedell Smith talked about it all with co-anchor Harry Smith on The Early Show Tuesday.

Though she didn't speak with either Clinton for the book, Bedell Smith does draw on dozens of interviews with Clinton insiders including Cabinet members, other top administration officials, and close personal friends.

Asked by Harry Smith whether the impression the book left him with, that "ambition trumps everything" in the Clinton marriage, seemed true, Bedell Smith replied, "I think ambition has been very much a part of their lives from the beginning. Politics is something that really attracted them to each other in the very beginning.

"Back in 1972, one of the first things they did was work for the (George) McGovern (presidential) campaign. And they have been such a political unit.

"Their marriage is so unusual, and they have such a unique, collaborative relationship that, when they were back in Arkansas, people called them 'Billary.' It was a term of sort of admiration and disparagement. And those habits of close collaborations carried through into the White House, which is why, now that we are seeing the prospects of possibly having two presidents in the White House (one former, one current), which is really unprecedented, the way to understand how they might work together in the White House, were she to return as president and he to return as president, you have to look back and see the dynamics of that relationship."

"She was sort of omnipresent in his presidency," Harry Smith observed. "If she were to become president, would you assume that he would have a similar sort of role?"

"It's absolutely consistent with the way they operated back then," Bedell Smith responded. "... She was, in effect, a kind of ... de facto vice president for him. I kind of think we should look at them as more a president and a chairman of the board."

Having "two presidents in the White House," Bedell Smith pointed out, "is something the founders never anticipated, not only two presidents but two presidents married to each other, with all the undercurrents."

"We have a 22nd Amendment," Bedell Smith emphasized, "that precludes a president from serving more than two terms. And it might not be too far-fetched to say that this is sort of an end-run.

"It was interesting, during the healthcare debate, for example, somebody who was in the healthcare industry said at one point, 'Two Clintons are working so much at cross-purposes with each other that there's a Hillary White House and a there's a Bill White House, and we don't know who's in charge."

To read an excerpt of "For Love of Politics," click here.

[gunownerdan]

Why are the Bushes and the Clintons such prostitutes for big money?

[stopthewarrr]

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[mudrose-2009]

Posted by nokoolaid

You should read a few more posts, I''m building quite a following. Seems like you need to come out of the hole your dug for yourself and smell the roses. All you''re smelling right now is your own *****.

[terrorislam2]

WHAT COUNTRY DOES BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA PLEDGE TO?

obama disrespects usa flag
Obama: No Hand on Heart for National Anthem
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2007/10/20/obama-no-hand-heart-pledge-either-will-msm-notice

[terrorislam2]

can the usa have this immigration law?

Mexico''s Immigration Law: Let''s Try It Here at Home

Mexico has a single, streamlined law that ensures that foreign visitors and immigrants are:

in the country legally;
have the means to sustain themselves economically;
not destined to be burdens on society;
of economic and social benefit to society;
of good character and have no criminal records; and
contributors to the general well-being of the nation.

The law also ensures that:
immigration authorities have a record of each foreign visitor;
foreign visitors do not violate their visa status;
foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country%u2019s internal politics;
foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported;
foreign visitors violating the terms of their entry are imprisoned or deported;
those who aid in illegal immigration will be sent to prison.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=14632

[mudrose-2009]

I wonder if you can say the same about oh let me see what is is name the worst President in American history.
Posted by antoniof123

Clinton. He rented out the WH bedrooms to Hollywood, he gave away national security secrets to the Chinese, he abused his right to a Presidental Pardon, he s/crewed woman all along the campaign trail and in the WH. He lied, he stole and he s/crewed the military. I can''t think of anyone worse than him except Jimmy Carter. When Carter was in office Iran held our people for 435 days. When Regan was in office they were released in 4 hours.

[terrorislam2]

DEMONIC-RATS NEVER LEARN AS THEY REWARD THE GRASSHOPPER AND TAX THE ANT

The Ant and the Grasshopper

In a field one summer''s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart''s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Aesop/Aesops_Fables/The_Ant_and_the_Grasshopper_p1.html

[antoniof123]

What I really want to know is how do other people who have not lived the lives of Bill and Hillary have the knowledge to write a book about them. I mean who really cares if he had *** with an intern or she caught him. I don''t it has nothing to do with the job. Oh but it was a good division issue to pull America apart.

But it failed because we united to re-elect Bill and he is going down as not only a great President but a very popular one.

I wonder if you can say the same about oh let me see what is is name the worst President in American history.

[mudrose-2009]

How''''s life in your parent''''s basement, Mudrose? I can only assume that''''s where you live - glued to your computer and FOX noise - since you somehow think the Repugnants are the standard for ethics and morals. Maybe it would do you some good to come out into the light now and again.
Posted by nokoolaid

So your voting for Jock and Lesbo? Hahahahaha.

[terrorislam2]

obama disrespects usa flag

Obama: No Hand on Heart for National Anthem
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2007/10/20/obama-no-hand-heart-pledge-either-will-msm-notice

[mudrose-2009]

If the Clintons buy their way back into the whitehouse, Hillary better hide the interns because Bill is going to have a lot more free time with them especially since his wife will be the one getting all the attention.
Posted by gunownerdan

She''ll send the First Laddie around the world as Good Will Ambassador. Yup, he should make all the ladies happy.

[gunownerdan]

If the Clintons buy their way back into the whitehouse, Hillary better hide the interns because Bill is going to have a lot more free time with them especially since his wife will be the one getting all the attention.

[mudrose-2009]

HITLERY CLINTON IS JUST ANOTHER RABID GUN-BANNING EXTREMIST.
Megalomaniacs like her drool when they think about all the extra power Bush has given to himself and all future presidents.
Posted by gunownerdan

Yeah, nothing like the Executive leading the Country. Nothing like the Congress thinking they do.

[mudrose-2009]

Wow, Mudrose, "these people have no morals, no ethics, no principals" - "threaten anyone who get''''s in the way" for a minute I thought you were talking about Bush and his pals ... Get over it pinhead - your day in the sun is over! The American people are sick of being afraid and will no longer be falling for Bush''''s daily lie. The GOP is DOA in 2008. Good riddance. Time to take out the garbage.
Posted by nokoolaid

My day in the sun is over? Like I said they have no morals, no principals, no ethics and the lefties love them. The term is birds of a feather. Sounds just like you. Hahahahaha

[carlacares]

Sandy needs to get her facts right. A president may serve many terms though why someone would want this job for more than eight years is beyond me. There is no limit on how many times he may serve as long as it is no more than two consecutive. So a president could be in office for eight years, step down for four and then be re-elected.

[hwy71so]

"As an ex-Arkansan I would like to see, just one example where "Billary" was ever in print as a popular or even known term in any public or personal references in the era in question... "the Arkansas years". "

I can echo that request. I never heard the term till they were in the White House.

[gunownerdan]

HITLERY CLINTON IS JUST ANOTHER RABID GUN-BANNING EXTREMIST.
Megalomaniacs like her drool when they think about all the extra power Bush has given to himself and all future presidents.

[mudrose-2009]

These people have no morals, no ethics, no principals. They can be bought and that''s why they are George Soros''s little darlings. They will do anything for a buck, threaten anyone who get''s in their way and prostitute the presidency so long as their coffers are full. They are so corrupt that its frightening. Why when they left the WH, the put sofas and flatware ahead of the acute sense of propriety that ought to go with high office. They are hillbilles of the lowest denominator. Yet, the lefties adore them. Seems to me the lefties have no values either.

[signof4]

CBS - shilling for the Clinton''s, as usual.

[sotamiaml]

Another election time scam! Here we are expected to just believe that "Billary" was a common Arkansas euphonism for the married political egomaniacs whose ends to a means justified any actions. As an ex-Arkansan I would like to see, just one example where "Billary" was ever in print as a popular or even known term in any public or personal references in the era in question... "the Arkansas years". I don''t think so! That is just a new term coined to give a positive "spin" of their continued collaboration, and tolerance, to meet their political goals over recent years. Does this really reflect a marriage or more merger for the sake of ambition?? Of course, a great dose of humility needed. LOL