Discussion/activity: Clinton's legacy
January 15, 2001
Web posted at: 4:03 PM EST (2103 GMT)
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Have students read the CNNfyi.com article "Clinton's long goodbye." Then ask the following:
1. What has Bill Clinton been doing during his last week as president? How did President-elect George W. Bush respond to Clinton's actions? What comments did Clinton make that angered Republicans?
2. White House Chief of Staff John Podesta said, "He (Clinton) knows he is doing a job for the American people, and I think he will probably go down in history as a guy who can really take a punch." What do you think Podesta meant by this statement?
3. Brainstorm with the class about what Clinton has accomplished during his eight years as president. Have a student list all of the responses on the board. Have each student organize the list into three columns: positive, negative and neutral. They need to do this exercise independently; choices may vary.
4. Hold a class discussion about the columns and students' choices. Ask: Why do you think that some students view an act as a positive accomplishment, while others view the same action as negative? Overall, do you think Clinton has been an effective president? Explain your answer.
RELATED SITES:
Office of the president
White House
Library of Congress: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies
White House Historical Association
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