In possibly the most eyebrow-raising comment of the interview, Clinton told Sawyer that her family was "dead broke" and in debt when it left the White House more than a dozen years ago. Clinton made the comments in defense of the hefty speaking fees she has commanded since stepping down as secretary of state last year.
Clinton later added her family had "no money" at that time and "struggled to piece together the resources" for mortgages and her daughter, Chelsea's, college education.
"You know, it was not easy," she said.
The Clintons departed the White House in debt due to enormous legal fees. By the end of 2000, their debt totaled somewhere between $2.28 million and $10.6 million. But former presidents and first ladies have the ability to make a lot of money. The Clintons were no exception and have done so. Their assets grew quickly.
Bill Clinton made more than $9.2 million in speaking fees in 2001 and more than $9.5 million in 2002. They paid off their legal fees by 2004. A CNN analysis of the family's financial records in early 2013 showed that Bill Clinton had earned $106 million from paid speeches since leaving the presidency behind. In 2012 alone, he earned $17 million in fees.
Although she regularly speaks for free at certain events, Hillary Clinton has made roughly $5 million on the speaking circuit since stepping down as America's top diplomat, Mother Jones reported earlier this year. Clinton did not dispute the figure when Sawyer asked about it.
Though not as profitable as her husband -- who has made as much as $750,000 in one speech -- Hillary Clinton reportedly commands $200,000 per speech. The two also have received hefty advances for their books.
Hillary Clinton said the former first family eventually turned around its finances, noting that her husband has "worked really hard and it has been amazing to me."
Ronald Blackley, Chief of Staff to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, was sentenced to 27 months for perjury. Secretary Espy was found innocent on all counts.
Bill Clinton President (D) Impeached by the House of Representatives for perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly lying under oath about sexual relations with intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton was acquitted by the Senate and remained in office for the rest of his term. Clinton subsequently was cited for contempt of court and agreed to a five-year suspension of his Arkansas law license (1998). On October 1, 2001, Bill Clinton was barred from practicing law before the Supreme Court of the United States (2001)
Legislative Branch
quote
Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI) found to have committed 11 violations of law and house rules stemming from use of campaign funds for personal use.
Wes Cooley (R-OR), Cooley was convicted of having lied on the 1994 voter information pamphlet about his service in the Army. He was fined and sentenced to two years probation (1997)
Austin Murphy (D-PA) convicted of engaging in voter fraud for filling out absentee ballots for members of a nursing home. Newt Gingrich (R-GA), the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, was accused of financial improprieties concerning a book deal which led to a reprimand by the House and $300,000 in sanctions leading to his eventual resignation from office. (1997)
Walter R. Tucker III (D-CA) resigned from the House before conviction on charges of extortion and income tax fraud while he was mayor of Compton, California. Sentenced to 27 months in prison.(1996)
Nicholas Mavroules (D-MA) pleaded guilty to bribery charges.
Lawrence J. Smith (D-FL) On August 3, 1993, Congressman Smith pled guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of filing false campaign reports. He was sentenced to three months in prison.
House banking scandal The House of Representatives Bank found that 450 members had overdrawn their checking accounts, but had not been penalized. Six were convicted of charges, most only tangentially related to the House Bank itself. Twenty two more of the most prolific over-drafters were singled out by the House Ethics Committee. (1992)
1.Buzz Lukens (R-OH) convicted of bribery and conspiracy.
2.Carl C. Perkins (D-KY) pled guilty to a check kiting scheme involving several financial institutions (including the House Bank).
3.Carroll Hubbard (D-KY)convicted of illegally funneling money to his wife's 1992 campaign to succeed him in congress.
4.Mary Rose Oakar (D-OH) was charged with seven felonies, but pleaded guilty only to a misdemeanor campaign finance charge not related to the House Bank.
5.Walter Fauntroy (D-DC) convicted of filing false disclosure forms in order to hide unauthorized income.
6.Jack Russ House Sergeant-at-Arms, convicted of three counts.
Congressional Post Office scandal (1991–1995) A conspiracy to embezzle House Post Office money through stamps and postal vouchers to congressmen.
1.Dan Rostenkowski (D-IL) Rostenkowski was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison, in 1995.
2.Joe Kolter (D-PA) Convicted of one count of conspiracy[167] and sentenced to 6 months in prison.
3.Robert V. Rota Postmaster, convicted of one count of conspiracy and two counts of embezzlement.
Jay Kim (R-CA) accepted $250,000 in illegal 1992 campaign contributions and was sentenced to two months house arrest (1992)
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 06-10-2014).]
If I remember correctly, both Clintons had a pretty good investment portfolio which they each placed in blind trusts when Bill began his 1st campaign for the White House. It's "possible" that those investments lost all or most of their value during the 8 years Bill was President, but considering the economy was very strong until the last year, it's hard to believe. The dotcom tech bubble of the 90s didn't bust until 1999-2001.
I suspect the "dead broke" description comes from contrasting their total assets against their debt in 2000-2001, when they had to purchase a home. They have 2 homes currently. One in DC and another in Chapaqua NY. According to CBS News, they are valued today at approx $7 million and $5 million respectively, and combined cost for both in the early 2000s was approx $4.5 million, so technically, it is very possible they were "dead broke in early 2000sif their total assets did not outweigh their total liabilities.
I do not begrudge them their current assets or income making abilities.
I remember reading a story about the Clintons leaving the Whitehouse all trashed up and stealing all the silverware and china and etc. Plus they left Socks the cat.
Broke has always been subjective. Very few use the word right. But the definition makes it pretty clear:
Broke; without money; penniless.
Not so clear in an age where so much is done on credit. Someone can have a negative net worth, but high cash flow and make all their payments while living well. They can also have a positive net worth if they have a nickel in their pocket, but without credit they are more broke than someone living off their credit.
The ability to purchase and maintain the necessities of life are the primary concern. When you can no longer do that, you've reached a level of "broke" that people in bankruptcy with a house and car don't have to be concerned with.
I really wish people would quit paying big $$ to hear politicians say in person, the same things that the listener has heard them say 100 times for free on TV. Makes no sense whatsoever to me.
The Clintons have always been good at the spin, looks like they just can't stop. Probably looked at each other and said "dam, now that we are out of office what can we find to lie about"
I really wish people would quit paying big $$ to hear politicians say in person, the same things that the listener has heard them say 100 times for free on TV. Makes no sense whatsoever to me.
Because they serve food there, and you can have the honor of your picture taken with them (MAYBE).
Not so clear in an age where so much is done on credit. Someone can have a negative net worth, but high cash flow and make all their payments while living well. They can also have a positive net worth if they have a nickel in their pocket, but without credit they are more broke than someone living off their credit.
The ability to purchase and maintain the necessities of life are the primary concern. When you can no longer do that, you've reached a level of "broke" that people in bankruptcy with a house and car don't have to be concerned with.
Many operate in a constant state of toying with "broke" or even homeless, one paycheck missed and kaboom.
I really wish people would quit paying big $$ to hear politicians say in person, the same things that the listener has heard them say 100 times for free on TV. Makes no sense whatsoever to me.
To be in the same room as a star. Last month I paid $65 bucks to see a guy play the same songs I have seen him play on YouTube a thousand times.
nope i have been to a few shows but i have never paid it is allway this guy cant go or extra ticket . im very cheap so i can retire by the time im 59 or 60 and i know ss is going to be broke by the time im ready so i just dont see the point to pay for some thing i can do for free . same reason i dont have cable just rabbit ears internet is about the only thing i dont NEED i pay for , i will never buy a bottle of water i have a cup and everyone has a sink
No politicians come to mind, and very very few entertainers that I had already heard or seen perform the same act or song/routine either in media or in person. Haven't been to a paid sporting event or concert in many many years, and even those are so few I can count them on one hand. I think I was 18 or 19 the last concert I attended--it was either early 1969 or very late 1968.
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 06-10-2014).]
No politicians come to mind, and very very few entertainers that I had heard or seen perform the same act or song/routine I had already seen either in media or in person. Haven't been to a paid sporting event or concert in many many years, and even those are so few I can count them on one hand. I think I was 18 or 19 the last concert I attended--it was either early 1969 or very late 1968.
My number of people id currently pay to see/listen to is 3. 4 if i included a dead guy ( Frank Zappa ). None are politicians.
I wont even pay the premium to go see a movie in a theater.
Are the Clintons still trying to give the appearance of being a traditional family? Even when he was still in office, Bill said in an interview that Hillary has "gone down on more p***y than I ever thought about getting!"
They have no physical relationship between them anymore. Which wouldn't be any business of mine except for their deceit. Bill was caught lying under oath (about Monica), so you would think he learned his lesson. But lying is in their DNA. They can't help it.
[This message has been edited by Cheever3000 (edited 06-10-2014).]
Link? Hearing him say that would be the funniest shizz I ever heard!
It's from Gennifer Flowers' "Sleeping with the President---My Intimate Years With Bill Clinton" tell all book. Impossible to confirm or deny, as it was supposedly stated in a private non-recorded conversation between the 2.
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 06-10-2014).]
