Posted on 12/05/2001 4:40:41 PM PST by Jewels1091
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - With a golden shovel full of dirt, Bill Clinton broke ground Wednesday on a presidential library that promises to document both his triumphs and scandals.
"The impeachment? Absolutely," Clinton said. "What I did wrong is a matter of record, but what I want is the whole record out."
Clinton was impeached by the House in December 1998 on two articles of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. But in February 1999, the Senate voted to acquit Clinton.
"I think they were right and I believe the fact that we stood up to this right-wing movement will be something that will rebound to my credit in history," Clinton said. "I don't think it will be a black mark."
The library is scheduled to open in 2004. Until then, a temporary exhibit opening Thursday at the Cox Building downtown will show off some artifacts given to Clinton during his eight years in office. Among the photographs, letters, sculptures and gifts is a glass-encased gold-and-silver horse presented by the Amir of Bahrain.
There are two references to Clinton's impeachment trial. On a wall, next to a photograph of the House of Representatives approving an article of impeachment, is a New York Times headline: "Clinton Acquitted Decisively: No Majority For Either Charge."
At times, the achievements of the Clinton presidency were overshadowed by conflicts and controversies: Whitewater, FBI files, travel office firings, Lewinsky, Paula Jones and last-minute pardons.
"I was guided by simple political philosophy ... everybody deserves a chance," Clinton said before a crowd of about 2,000.
Though his impeachment will always be part of his legacy, supporters say the library will offer an overall perspective of the Clinton administration that sometimes disappears amid memories of lawyers and depositions.
"Our job is not to rewrite history," Clinton Foundation President Skip Rutherford has said. "Our job is to preserve it."
Some 100 million documents, 75,000 gifts and artifacts and more than 2 million photographs are being stored in preparation for the building of the 27-acre Clinton Presidential Park on the south bank of the Arkansas River.
The $200 million project includes a library, museum, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, and a policy center that will focus on economic empowerment and racial and religious reconciliation.
"It's kind of hard to know his place in history," Arkansas Attorney General Mark Pryor said after the ceremony. "We'll let the historians figure that out."
Here is the link. If someone else would be kind enough to provide a working link, that would be great. I know many of you have recently given donations to Free Republic (the BEST site on the web) but another 3 cents to a worthy (major barf) cause would be worth the effort.
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.com/credit_card_contribution.html
Boy, and this is the best the sycophants can come up with? Sycophants at a loss for words. My, they're serving frozen yogurt in hell!
A Golden Shovel full of Dirt, trying to bury the truth!
must be some good stuff in those republicans FBI files
Yes, this prick bastard *loooves* to give second (and third and fourth and fifth and...) chances to terrorists -- from the Puerto Rican ones he pardoned in order to help the fat-ankled chinless bitch in her Senate election to refusing to pursue bin laden.
I will do everything I humanly can to make sure that everyone acknowledges his lasting legacy as the mass murders committed in the acts of war on the morning of September 11, 2001. I could have been murdered that morning because of his incompetence, negligence and indifference.
He shall be known as The Steamin' Pile of Turd Between the Bushes. :-D
Yes!!! Even the part about how he grossly abused his power by siccing his attack dogs to blackmail and extort congress. Not to mention the character assinations of the IC and any witness who dared to tell the truth against him and his own outright perjury while under oath!
Clinton. He's married to a US Senator and he was in the news because she used to slap him around. It was sad, really.
The Holiday *Best* of Bill Clinton & his Friends!
-clintonism in one easy lesson--
If the library burns down, "will that preserve history" from being embarrassed by this "Commanderless in Chief"? Grassontop
Note to Secret Service: I won't burn it down, someone else will who has more against the liar and his wooden stick broom witch Hildebeast!
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