There's a great story in the recently published book, PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP, edited by James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal. The book contains an essay on each of our 43 presidents. Historian (and a great one at that) Paul Johnson wrote the essay on Clinton. Basically, he said that Clinton accomplished nothing in his tenure as president, but that's not necessarily a bad thing...his presidency represented the longest period of laissez-faire in modern American history. Imagine, Johnson writes, what damage Clinton could have done had he actually be an effective activist president. But that's not the story.
Johnson ends his essay with a story that pretty much sums up everything that is Bill Clinton. He refers to a visit by Clinton to the Notting Hill area of London in 2002. Bill decides to "press the flesh" a bit (in the traditional sense of the phrase), meet and mix with the neighborhood folk. Everyone gets all goo-goo eyed over Bill's presence. He meanders into a local pub where he proclaims "Drinks for everyone! They're on me." This offer is greeted with cheers both inside and outside the pub. He then continues with his congenial backslapping and story-telling. Everyone is mesmerized by his "charm." When he finally leaves the pub, he waves at the crowd like some conquering hero, gets back into his limo, and heads off. The place is totally abuzz. Everyone is enraptured with Clinton's visit...except the pub owner. Clinton never paid for everyone's round of drinks.