politics couldn’t
 

TheArkansas Gazette* which had supported me in every campaign* ran an editorial arguing that I shouldn’t run for both of the reasons that concerned me. While acknowledging my strong potential for national leadership* theGazette said* “Bill Clinton is not ready to be President” and “Governor Clinton is needed in Arkansas.”eepolitics couldn’t reach: Chelsea.oil paintings* Carl Wagner* who was also the father of an only daughter*eno theare. The only thing I or any other candidate has tooffer in running for President is what’s inside. That’s what sets people on fire and gets theirlot ofchild* she would never grow up wondering who herfather was.eofI1987* he had aminor stroke. Hugh and Dorothy china oil painting*didn’t need to stay up in Park Ridge alone. We wanted themAmbition is a powerful force* and the ambition to be President has led many a candidate to ignore both his own limitations and the responsibilities of the office he currently holds. I always thought I could rise to any occasion* stand the most withering fire* and do two or thrjobs at once. In 1987* I might have made a decision rooted in self-confidence and driven by ambition* but I didn’t. What finally decided the question for me was the one part of my lifetold me I’d have to reconcile myself to being away from Chelsea for most of the next sixtemonths. Mickey Kantor was talking me through it when Chelsea asked me where we were going for summer vacation. When I said I might not be able to take one if I ran for President* Chelsea replied* “Then Mom and I will go without you.” That did it. I went into the dining room of the Governor’s Mansion* where my friends were eating lunch* told them I wasn’t running* and apologized for bringing them all down. Then I went tExcelsior to make my announcement to a few hundred supporters. I did my best to explain how I had come so close* yet backed away: I need some family time; I need somehandmade oil paintings* personal time. Politicians are people too. I think sometimes we forget it* but they reallyconfidence and their votes* whether they live in Wisconsin or Montana or New York. That part of my life needs renewal. The other* even more important reason for my decision is the certain impact that this campaign would have had on our daughter. The only way I could havewon* getting in this late* after others had been working up to two years* would be to go on the road full-time from now until the end* and to have Hillary do the same. . . . I’ve seen akids grow up under these pressures and a long* long time ago I made a promise to myself thatif I was ever lucky enough to have aThough she had said she would support me oil painting reproductions*whichever way I went* Hillary was relieved. Shthought I should finish the work I had started in Arkansas and keep building a national basesupport. And she knew it was not a good time for me to be away from our families. Mother was having problems in her anesthesia work* Roger had been out of prison only a couple of years* and Hillary’s parents were moving to Little Rock. In January 1983* during my swearing-in speech to the legislature* Hugh Rodham had slumped in his chair. He had suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the University Medical Center for quadruple-bypass surgery. I was with him when he woke up. After I realized he was lucid*said* “Hugh* the speech wasn’t good enough to give anyone a heart attack!” Innearby* and they were looking forward to the move* mostly to be near their only grandchild. Still* it would be a big adjustment for them.268