African Americans and the Clintons: Scenes From a Political Marriage

1992

June 13: In a speech to the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition, Bill Clinton says: "You had a rap singer here last night named Sister Souljah. . . . She told the Washington Post about a month ago, and I quote, 'If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?' . . . If you took the words 'white' and 'black' and reversed them, you might think [former KKK leader] David Duke was giving that speech."

Nov. 3: Bill Clinton defeats Republican incumbent George H.W. Bush in the general election for president while receiving 83 percent of the African American vote, according to exit polls.

1994

Sept. 13: Bill Clinton signs a landmark crime bill that imposed stricter prison sentences and provided more money for building prisons. The measures help fuel an explosion in the nation's prison population, disproportionately affecting African Americans. Bill and Hillary Clinton have expressed regret about the bill in 2016.

1996

Aug. 22: Delivering on a 1992 campaign promise to "end welfare as we know it," Bill Clinton signs legislation that ends the federal guarantee of direct cash payments to the needy and limits payments to five years. Peter Edelman, an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, resigns because of his opposition to the bill, later saying it would "hurt millions of poor children."

Nov. 5: Bill Clinton is reelected, defeating Republican Bob Dole while receiving 84 percent of the African American vote.

2008

Jan. 26: Hillary Clinton loses the South Carolina presidential primary to Barack Obama, receiving only 19 percent of the African American vote, compared with 78 percent for Obama. Trying to minimize the importance of Obama's victory, Bill Clinton tells reporters, "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina twice, in '84 and '88. And he ran a good campaign, and Senator Obama's run a good campaign here."

April 22: Hillary Clinton wins the Pennsylvania primary but receives only 8 percent of the African American vote, compared with 82 percent for Obama.

2016

Feb. 27: Hillary Clinton defeats Bernie Sanders in the South Carolina primary, receiving 86 percent of the African American vote - a higher percentage than Obama received in defeating her there in 2008. - John DuchneskieEndText