Governorships of Bill Clinton

Clinton in 1986
Governorships of Bill Clinton
Governor	Bill Clinton
Party	Democratic
Seat	Governor's Mansion
First term January 9, 1979 – January 19, 1981
Election	1978
← Joe Purcell (acting) Frank D. White →
Second term January 11, 1983 – December 12, 1992
Election	1982 1984 1986 1990
← Frank D. White Jim Guy Tucker →
Seal of Arkansas

This article is part of a series about Bill Clinton
Personal Eponyms Family Nonprofit organizations Foundation Clinton Bush Haiti Fund One America Appeal Honors Public image Sexual assault and misconduct allegations Bibliography Post-presidency 40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas Governorships Troopergate Elections 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1990 42nd President of the United States Presidency timeline Transition Inaugurations first second Presidential library Tenure Executive actions pardons Foreign trips 1995–1996 shutdown Controversies Whitewater White House travel office pardon Republican Revolution Operation Infinite Reach Bombings Iraq Yugoslavia Impeachment efforts Clinton–Lewinsky scandal House inquiry Senate trial Policies Economic 1993 health care plan PRWORA Balanced Budget Act Gun control Environment Foreign policy Clinton Doctrine NAFTA Dayton Agreement Social issues 1994 Crime Bill DOMA One America Initiative Appointments Cabinet Federal judges Supreme Court candidates Presidential campaigns 1992 primaries convention debates election 1996 primaries convention debates election
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Bill Clinton served two tenures as governor of Arkansas. Elected in 1978, Clinton first served as governor for a single term from 1979 until 1981, losing his bid for reelection in 1980. After a two-year interregnum, Clinton returned to the governorship after winning the 1982 election. Clinton would be elected to five further terms (terms were extended from two-years to four-years beginning with the 1986 election), serving until mid-December, 1992, when he resigned amid his transition into the U.S. presidency after having been elected president in the 1992 presidential election. Clinton was the second-longest serving governor in the state's history, after Orval Faubus.^[1]

Clinton's first governorship (1979–1981) saw him pursue many liberal policies. He had some successes, including successes with a rural healthcare reform effort by a taskforce that he had appointed his wife, Hillary, to lead. However, his term also saw the implementation of an unpopular motor vehicle tax. After Clinton returned to office for his second governorship in 1983, he was more centrist and was more selective as to what battles he pursued, zeroing in on particular priorities. One main priority was the state's economy, with Clinton providing tax incentives to businesses. Another priority was education, with Clinton and his wife, Hillary, overseeing the creation of significant education reforms. Other matters Clinton addressed included healthcare and lobbying reforms.