Will Bill Clinton capitalise on Hillarys success by taking over her Senate seat?
December 1st, 2008 - 6:51 pm ICT by ANI ( Leave a comment )
Washington, Dec 1 (ANI): With Hillary Clinton almost certain to become President-elect Barack Obamas Secretary of State on Monday, former President Bill Clinton can capitalise on his wifes success by taking over her New York Senate seat.
William T. Cunningham, a New York communications executive and former top adviser to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said it would be fascinating to watch Bill Clinton heading the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and interviewing his wife on her actions as Secretary of State.
A lot of people would be tuning in, FOX News quoted him, as saying.
The only former president to serve in Congress after leaving the White House was John Quincy Adams, who won a seat in the House of Representatives after losing his bid for a second presidential term to Andrew Jackson.
President William Howard Taft served on the Supreme Court after he lost his bid for a second term to Woodrow Wilson.
Vice President Hubert Humphrey returned to the Senate after losing his 1968 presidential bid to Richard Nixon.
Julian E. Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, said Bill Clinton serving in the Senate would be remarkable, and further signal the re-emergence of the coastal states in politics after the South reigned supreme for so long.
All the political analysts agreed that Bill Clinton would make for an effective senator but doubt he would be interested.
I think at this point, its hard to believe he would look for another executive political office. They just dont compare to the big one, said Robert Shapiro, a professor of political science at Columbia University.
Zelizer noted that being in the Senate is not the same as being in the White House.
It would be hard for him to be in an institution where hes not the main guy, he said, explaining that as a junior senator, Clinton would have to work under Reid.
Zelizer hinted that Clinton might have fun going back to Congress to wreak havoc on lawmakers who voted to impeach him for the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the Paula Jones lawsuit.
But revenge fantasies aside, Clinton, who has only held executive positions in his political career, might have more interest in being governor of New York or mayor of New York City.
In the end, political analysts believe Bill Clinton will continue his philanthropic efforts around the world with his foundation. (ANI)
- Clinton tops Obama and others in administration: Gallup - Apr 03, 2011
- Clinton ready to step off `high wire' of politics (Lead) - Jan 27, 2012
- Gingrich to launch 2012 Prez bid - Mar 02, 2011
- Monica Lewinsky 'had her eyes on Clinton's aide before him' - Aug 17, 2010
- 'We will look at 2012 presidential run very seriously': Gingrich - Mar 04, 2011
- Monica Lewinsky 'still in love with Bill Clinton' - Mar 11, 2011
- Monica Lewinsky scandal: Brown apologizes for mocking Clinton - Sep 14, 2010
- First US woman vice presidential candidate dead (Lead) - Mar 27, 2011
- 'White House Doctor' reveals secrets of Bill Clinton sex scandal - Jun 22, 2010
- Indian American to head US think-tank - Oct 26, 2011
- Bill Clinton auctions dinner for charity - Nov 23, 2010
- Monica Lewinsky is back, says Bill Clinton lied under oath - Dec 18, 2009
- 'Narnia' producer commits suicide - Feb 19, 2011
- US envoy to China 'resigns' eyeing 2012 presidential run against Obama - Feb 01, 2011
- Bill Clinton undertakes payback campaign tour - Jun 14, 2009
Tags: former president bill clinton, fox news, hillary clinton, hubert humphrey, john quincy adams, mayor michael bloomberg, michael bloomberg, new york city mayor, new york senate, president bill clinton, president elect, president william howard, president william howard taft, princeton university, richard nixon, robert shapiro, senate committee on foreign relations, senate seat, william howard taft, york communications