What Bill Gave Up for Hillary

The ex-president has accepted the conditions put forward by Obama, in order to not overshadow his wife, who has been named Secretary of State.

The Clinton business card has its advantages for America’s next president, but it includes a major downside which the Obama team is working to overcome : In his new career as international philanthropist, Bill Clinton is spearheading an alternative diplomacy of his own, which has the potential for a conflict of interest for which his wife will soon be responsible.

Since leaving the White House eight years ago, the ex-president has created a foundation which is devoted to humanitarian causes and a presidential library, at a cost of 500 million dollars. At the same time, he has amassed a personal fortune estimated at 109 million dollars, earning more than 10 million dollars last year in 54 conferences across the world.

208 000 donors

To avoid – or reduce – the conflicts of interest, Bill Clinton has agreed to go beyond the legal requirements. He will publish the full list of 208,000 donors who have supported his humanitarian activities since 1997. It includes many foreign contributors, notably members of the Saudi royal family, a foundation of the United Arab Emirates and many business men connected with autocratic regimes. The same transparency will apply to future donations.Bill Clinton will also provide the State office and the White House with details of his projects involving speeches and conferences abroad. In addition, his Clinton Global Initiative will refuse donations from foreign governments and will stop holding meetings outside of the United States, such as that which starts today in Hong Kong.

These concessions helped to clear the way for Hillary’s nomination. However, the shadow of Bill is likely to hang over the ex-First Lady’s confirmation hearing at the Senate : “A major step has been achieved, the Republican senator Richard Lugar highlighted on Sunday, but there are still some valid questions”.