William Jefferson Clinton, the forty-second President of the United States, left office in early 2002 impoverished morally and financially. Despite a 65% approval rating -- the highest for any president since World War II -- the Clinton presidency was marred by his affair with Monica Lewinsky and the subsequent impeachment for perjury and obstruction of justice (although he was later acquitted.) Clinton faced huge legal bills accumulated to defend against investigations during his presidency. Leaving office, Clinton went right to work earning six figure payments for speeches made around the world. For example, Fortune Magazine paid him approximately $125,000 to speak at the Fortune Global CEO Forum in Hong Kong in 2002. These speeches and public appearances earned the former president tens of millions of dollars.
Now, Clinton is poised to reap his biggest payday yet. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Clinton is severing ties with billionaire Ron Burkle and is redeeming his share in Yucaipa, Burkle's investment firm, for an estimated $20 million. It is not clear what exactly Clinton has done to earn this huge payout. Clinton is redeeming his shares in an effort to protect Hillary's presidential aspirations by steering clear of potential conflicts of interest and politically sensitive issues surrounding Burkle's business interests.
Most certainly, the Clinton's are impoverished financially no more.
Refilling the coffers is easy for a former world leader of Clinton's stature. Much easier than moral redemption.
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