Clinton benefited...from having a conservative Republican congress.
When the money started pouring in after the capital gains tax cuts, the administration had no idea why, and said so publicly. Welfare reform inspired a lot of people to quit taking subsidies and get a productive job. On the downside, the Clinton Administration SEC did little aside from shake down companies for campaign contributions...which both increased positive business, and allowed corruption to grow unchecked.
Clinton benefited from the economy Reagan built.
Those surplusses were also the result of Baby Boomers paying lots of SS during their peak earning years.
If Clinton had saved that money instead of throwing it away on “Midnight Basketball”, etc., we’d be in much better shape today.