Ep. 13: Bill Clinton (Presidents Are People Too)

By: Alexis Coe, Elliott Kalan

Length: 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Alexis and Elliott go back to the '90s to look at the president they grew up with. Bill Clinton has been in the public eye for more than a quarter-century, and rather than re-tell his familiar story, they pose three questions: What was it like to share the stage with Clinton when he played the saxophone on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1992? What did Toni Morrison mean when she described Clinton as the "first black president"? And finally, does Clinton really have a photographic memory? Musician Starr Parodi, Emory professor Andra Gillespie, and neuroscientist Dr. Dean Burnett help answer those questions.

Presidents Are People Too!, an Audible Original, recasts each of the American presidents as real-life people, complete with flaws, quirks, triumphs, scandals and bodily ailments. Hosts Elliott Kalan, former Daily Show head writer, and American historian and author Alexis Coe talk to experts, comedians, journalists, actors and re-enactors to better understand the men memorialized on the Washington Mall and those all but forgotten.

©2016 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2016 Audible Originals, LLC

No mention of Lewinsky and too much saxophone

Is there anything you would change about this book?

At least talk about Monica Lewinsky - her omission raises questions to the authors' assumed, political neutrality.

What was most disappointing about Alexis Coe and Elliott Kalan ’s story?

As mentioned, the fact that nothing of the beret wearing intern was included nor was the stark gravity of a standing president lying under oath begs the listeners to assume that Coe and Kalan are left-leaning - which isn't in and of itself a crime, but shouldn't the people behind a podcast entitled "Presidents are People Too" say as much? Bill Clinton's bedroom indiscretions prove he is as ubiquitous as the next person. Not including the scandal that rocked the nation was a mistake and shows slight political bias.
I'm a big fan of Alexis Coe and Elliott Kalan but feel they missed the mark with this one.

Infantile

Harding is a pervert but not Bill - amazing. There is no mention of his known predatory libertine crimes. There is no mention of Jaunita Broderick the rape victim. Hillary is already anointed President - WOW! There is no sleazy bias here! Read “No One Left to Lie too” if you doubt Slick Willy’s sexual predatory nature. I wonder if this was done before the me to insanity infected the culture?

Horrible

I was less than impressed with this series already by the time I got to this episode but this one was the nail in the coffin. Mildly interesting at best but when they made several references to Bill as "First Lady", as if Hillary had been elected President, it was clear that they had recorded this before the election and assumed the outcome. Not the kind of thing I think people of journalistic or historic integrity should even consider. Very disappointing but par for the course for this whole series.

Juvenile and superficial

The hosts sound like they’re in 5th grade from the infantile comments, story and attempts at humor. There was no depth, no variety, no insight. A complete waste of time.