Bill Clinton experienced heights and depths as president: He presided during the longest-ever sustained growth of the American economy, and he faced an impeachment trial. (An impeachment process involves charging an elected official with having committed a crime; a trial is conducted to determine whether or not the misconduct requires removal from office.) President Clinton's impeachment trial nearly resulted in his removal from office. The American public gave the clearest assessment of his presidency: Low marks for his personal conduct, and increasing support for his performance as president.

Clinton took office in 1993 during an unstable period: The American economy was weak because of a huge federal budget deficit (the nation was spending more than it was taking in as income); war and strained relations threatened several parts of the world; and the partisanship (the placing of one's own political party's interests above all other considerations) that...