love in power: the clintons
45min, USA 2004
ARD TV
author: Barbara Biemann, Marcel Kolvenbach
camera: Joseph McCarthy
edit: Sibylle Grunwald

JAN 26, 2004, 21:45, ARD, 45 min

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love in power - the clintons

 

The documentary tells the story of Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham from the first days in Yale University - where they met and where they fell in love - throughout their time in Arkansas, where Bill was elected the youngest Governor in US History, where Chelsea was borne and from where both started to conquer the White House. We follow the political agenda and the private challenges during the Clinton years in Washington and show, how Hillary reached her current popularity. We joined Hillary on her book tour and she talks about her feelings after the Monica Lewinsky affair. We visited friends and close advisors of the Clintons to learn more about this political power couple.

 

 

Some sound-bites of the film:

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
The first Time I ever saw Bill Clinton, he was standing in the hallway outside the law library in Yale which is this wonderful gothic structure. He was surrounded by all of these fellow classmates who were trying to convince him to be on the Yale law journal. And he was listening politely, but he was watching me, because I was watching him, because I was in the law library at this long table studying. And I finally thought, this is kind of silly.

 

BILL CLINTON
And finally she put down the book she was reading and walked the entire length of the law library to me. And she said:

 

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
If you gonna' keep looking at me and I keep looking back, we at least got to know each other, I'm Hillary Rodham.

 

BILL CLINTON
And what's your name. I could not remember my name.

 

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
And I thought that he was great looking and he was fun and that he was just somebody who challenged and made you happy all the time. I always knew that I loved him and that I was in love of him. And I also knew, that he was a force of nature. That there was an energy field around him, that just brought anyone into it. And I wanted to be sure, that I was able to define myself and make my own identity as authentic as I could.

 

MELANNE VERVEER
Hillary's Chief of Staff
She gave up a very bright future back when, when she was heading to Arkansas, which was a mission of her heart. She was in love with this guy and I knew very well still the woman who drove her to Arkansas, who told her all the way, you're throwing your life away, why do you want to go down to this state in the south, different to where you grew up, different from where you went to school, different from the possibilities you could have if you didn't go. But she was driven by her heart.

 

VIC NIXON
Pastor
He said Hillary and I want to get married, and we want you to do the wedding? And I said well, that's wonderful, that's great, congratulations I'm happy to do that. And he said, well what do we need to do? I said, well there is a number of things. But we do need to visit with each other, I have some questions that I want to ask you. And I can hear him talking to Hillary on the background. And he came back on the phone a few moments later and he said. Hillary wants to know, what the questions would be - laughing - and I thought, that's Hillary, she gonna' be up to snuff on everything.

 

ROSE CRANE
Bill's childhood friend
They were as in love as I have seen ever two people. Totally passionately complete inamored of each other. They truly chose each other, love each other and love each other today.

 

MAX BRANTLEY
Arkansas Times
When Hillary came to Little Rock and became a lawyer, there were no woman-partners in law firms in Little Rock. She became one of the first. So I think they made a practical decision that he would be paramount, but she was always an equal partner in the process and his most trusted advisors. And you saw that any number of times, when he made decisions, in the end on a lot of different reasons, but also primarily on what she said.

 

MAX BRANTLEY
Arkansas Times
Bill and Hillary both wanted to be in politics. Hillary I think wanted to be in elected politics and put that aside because made the considered decision, that Bill had the quickest route to the top as a man. In the 1970s woman didn't had nearly the access to power as women have today.

 

MAX BRANTLEY
Arkansas Times
The White House cocoon was difficult for Bill because he thrives on personal contact. He wants to literally reach out and touch people if you have ever met him he doesn't merely talk to you. He has an arm on your shoulder he shakes your hand he hugs he is a very tactile person.

 

JOE PURVIS
Childhood friend of Bill
Great looking women would come up to him and i thought what is this? and there is some sort of unspoken attraction that is there - i cant account for it i certainly don't have it but its there and it is almost like a rock-star, its been there at least since the 70s since he was elected attorney general. There are people who want to touch him in ways you probably shouldn't be touched and he is lucky enough that by and large he had people to keep those kind of people away from him

 

BILL CLINTON
(TV Speech)
Good evening. This afternoon in this room from this chair I testified before the office of independent council and the Grand Jury. I answered their questions truthfully including questions about my private life. I know that my public comments and my silence in this matter gave a false impression. I misled people including even my wife. Now this matter is between me the 2 people i love most my wife and our daughter and our God. I must put it right and I am prepared to do whatever takes to do so. Nothing is more important to me personally but it is private. And i intend to reclaim my personal life for my family. It´s nobody´s business but ours. Even Presidents have private lives.

 

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
I was furious and I was heartbroken and I was angry at him and I was beside myself because i had believed him and obviously i had wanted to blieve him and has chosen to believe him but then i was told that i had been misled along with everybody else

 

STEPHEN HESS
Political Historian
They are truly in love if you will if I as an outsider have a right to say whether they are in love or not. They both are involved in power and love power no doubt about that they are a powerful couple powerful i guess in love powerfully interested in power and they are fascinating.

 

MAX BRANTLEY
Arkansas Times
Has time begun to heal things for Hillary? I think all of us look at Hillary and say doesn' she feel that way and if not why and how she has gotten past it if it did it is a mystery and don't think her book answers that.

 

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
I think learning to forgive is important because I know that every single day every one of us do something that we probably should be forgiven for. maybe it is just a small slight or maybe it is something large but nevertheless life is challenging and hard work and marriage is very, very hard work.

 

HARRY THOMASON
Childhood Friend / Hollywood Producer
I think the President would be a great 1st husband i think he would probably have plenty of advice for her and she would follow only what she wants to follow.


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