AS A YOUNG AND ENTHUSIASTIC supporter of George W. Bush's election to the presidency, I remember being annoyed by a bumper sticker that popped up all over America in early 2001: "I Miss Bill." Now, in 2023, as the Republican mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, I find myself frequently feeling the way those disappointed American drivers did. Especially relevant to today's polarizing times is President Bill Clinton's theory of triangulation, which neutralizes polarized politics in pursuit of the common good.
Such bipartisanship is viewed as ancient history these days, with neither Democrats nor Republicans in the compromising mood. Yet what Bill Clinton achieved through triangulating a middle ground between the loudest extremes was astonishing: He kept us out of war, presided over massive economic expansion and produced the only balanced budgets we've enjoyed in the last half-century.
So why don't we talk about Clinton that way? Clinton's legacy suffers from the same challenge all of us who seek common ground face: He didn't treat the other side as a personal enemy, a hated foil to whip up support against. He was just exceedingly competent, creative and successful. And because of this, he lacks a noisy extremist crowd cheering his victories over the hated other side.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Mammoth Breakthrough
A biotech team has created a “woolly mouse,” marking a step forward in the quest to revive the long-extinct species
Ultra-Precision Manufacturing for Tomorrow's Batteries
When it comes to batteries, HYTC have emerged as the first-choice battery manufacturing partner in everything from personal electronics to electric vehicles.
Windward Roads Infrastructure: Paving Sint Maarten's Future with Innovation & Resilience
Building Resilience and Innovation in Caribbean Infrastructure
Flowone Leads in Bellows Seal Valves
Flowone is looking to international markets to continue its expansion, bringing advanced valves and precision engineering at remarkably competitive prices.
War of Words
JD Vance took Europe by surprise when he deemed a \"retreat\" of free speech one of the biggest threats to the continent. Newsweek explores freedom of expression there and in the U.S.
FOR Duty, FOR Love
At an age when many people would be retired, QUEEN CAMILLA is still focused on her royal responsibilities. Newsweek goes behind the scenes to examine her work and its impact
Not Just for the Taste of It
How Diet Coke, once a favorite of “It” girls, has become the new symbol of masculinity
Dylan Mulvaney
WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER DYLAN MULVANEY, FAMOUS FOR CHRONIcling her gender transition online in \"365 Days of Girlhood,\" posted a sponsored video promoting Bud Light, it quickly went viral, but not necessarily in a good way.
From Shadows to Sight
A revolutionary gene therapy has given blind children with a rare eye disorder the ability to see
Building the Future: How FT Develepment is redefining Sint Maarten
In Sint Maarten, where turquoise waters meet golden sands, a quiet transformation is reshaping the island's future. Frank and Alexia Teboul, founders and directors of FT Development, are leading this change, blending resilience, ambition, and innovation. For investors, their work—and the island they call home—offers an invitation to imagine the possibilities.
