Bill Clinton became one of the most recognizable figures in the world when he was sworn in as U.S. President in 1993. Since then, the Arkansas native has had a long and influential political career, though the infamous affair with intern Monica Lewinsky overshadowed a significant portion of his White House legacy.
Despite the scandal — undeniably one of the biggest of its era — Bill has remained married to his wife, Hillary Clinton, for more than 50 years. The two met in college and have stayed together through many difficult chapters.
As it turns out, Hillary wasn’t certain about marrying Bill at first — it took him three proposals before she finally said yes. Here’s a closer look at their relationship.
Bill Clinton – early life
Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas. His mother, Virginia Kelley, suffered a devastating loss when Bill’s father died in a car accident three months before Bill was born. When Bill was four, she married Roger Clinton — a man who struggled with alcoholism and was physically abusive.
“This sounds crazy but I never hated my stepfather, Roger Clinton… I hated what he did, but I never hated him,” Bill later said.
At school, he kept the turmoil at home a secret. In his memoir, he wrote that he lived “two parallel lives” well into adulthood. Despite the abuse, Bill chose to take his stepfather’s last name in high school, keeping his biological father’s first and middle names.
Bill excelled academically and was a talented saxophone player. Many believed he might pursue music professionally — but fate had other plans.
Meeting John F. Kennedy
A pivotal moment came in high school when Bill, attending Boys Nation, met President John F. Kennedy in the White House Rose Garden. The photo of their handshake became iconic.
On the way home, Bill reportedly couldn’t stop talking about the encounter. “Someday, I’m going to have that job,” he told classmates.
He went on to attend Georgetown University, earned a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford in 1968, and later completed his law degree at Yale University.
Yale not only strengthened his political ambitions — it’s also where he met Hillary Rodham.
Bill and Hillary – the beginning
Both were law students at Yale. Bill recalled first seeing Hillary in a political and civil rights class in 1971: “She exuded this sense of strength and self-possession that I found magnetic.”
One day in the law library, Hillary noticed Bill staring at her. She walked over and said, “If you’re going to keep staring at me… we at least ought to know each other’s name. I’m Hillary Rodham, who are you?”
Bill was speechless — but soon asked her out. Their first date was a walk to the art museum, and they quickly became inseparable.
Why Hillary turned Bill down twice
Both were passionate about politics and worked together on George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign. Their partnership was strong — but Hillary wasn’t ready for marriage.
In 1973, while in England, Bill proposed for the first time. Hillary said no, explaining she needed more time. She loved him deeply but feared losing her identity in the shadow of his powerful personality.
She also wasn’t sure she could commit to a life in the political spotlight — something Bill clearly wanted.
A year later, Bill proposed again. Hillary again said no.
“He said, ‘Well, I’m not asking you again until you’re ready to say yes,’” Hillary recalled. Her hesitation stemmed from uncertainty about who she would become if she married someone with such a defined path.
Eventually, Bill gave her space — and when he asked a third time, she accepted. They married in 1975 in the living room of their Arkansas home, surrounded by close family and friends.
“I married my best friend,” Bill later said. Hillary added, “It was a big leap of faith, and I think most marriages are.”
Building a life together
In 1980, they welcomed their daughter, Chelsea. Bill became Governor of Arkansas in 1978 and President in 1993. Hillary became one of the nation’s most prominent lawyers and later a major political figure in her own right.
The Monica Lewinsky scandal
In 1995, 22‑year‑old Monica Lewinsky began working at the White House. She and President Clinton developed a relationship that lasted two years. The affair became public in 1998 after secretly recorded phone calls surfaced.
President Clinton initially denied the relationship, famously saying he did not have a relationship “with that woman.” Lewinsky later described the public exposure as “excruciating.”
The scandal could have ended the Clintons’ marriage. Hillary wrote in her memoir that staying with Bill was one of “the most difficult decisions” of her life.
“I was furious… I couldn’t imagine how he could have done that to me,” she said in a 2003 interview.
After leaving the White House in 2001, the couple moved to Chappaqua, New York. Bill focused on humanitarian and policy work, while Hillary entered elected politics.
She ran and won a seat in the Senate, serving for New York from 2001 to 2009. Then, Hillary returned to the White House, serving as Secretary of State to then-President Barack Obama. She ran for president in 2016, losing the election to Donald Trump.
Despite the tough defeat, Bill and Hillary had other beautiful things to tend to. They became grandparents for the first time in 2014, the second in 2016, and the third in 2019.
Bill Clinton & Hillary Clinton today
Despite some very difficult times, Hillary and Bill Clinton’s love is still going strong. In 2025, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
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