Why Hillary rejected Bill Clinton’s proposal twice
Bill Clinton became globally known when he became U.S. President in 1993. Though his time in the White House was overshadowed by the Monica Lewinsky scandal, he has maintained a long political career and a nearly 50-year marriage to Hillary Clinton.
Born in Arkansas in 1946, Bill overcame a difficult childhood with an abusive stepfather. He excelled in school, met President John F. Kennedy as a teen, and later attended Georgetown, Oxford, and Yale — where he met Hillary Rodham.
Bill and Hillary began dating at Yale. Bill proposed three times before Hillary said yes, hesitant about losing her identity in his political spotlight. They married in 1975 and had a daughter, Chelsea, in 1980.
Bill became Governor of Arkansas, then U.S. President in 1993. Hillary built a career in law and politics, serving as Senator, Secretary of State, and 2016 presidential candidate.
In 1998, Bill’s affair with intern Monica Lewinsky became public. Despite the scandal and intense public scrutiny, Hillary chose to stay with him, calling it one of the hardest decisions of her life.
Today, the Clintons are grandparents and remain a strong couple. In 2024, they celebrated 49 years of marriage. Bill marked the occasion with a heartfelt social media post, saying, “Here’s to many more!”
