Roger Clinton Sr.

Roger Clinton Sr. (July 23, 1908 – November 8, 1967) was an American car salesman. He was the first stepfather of former U.S. president Bill Clinton,^[1] having married Bill's mother Virginia in 1950 when Bill was 4.^[2][3][4] While Roger and Virginia divorced in 1962 they were remarried again shortly after, with Bill adopting the Clinton surname.^[2][5]

Early life

Roger Clinton was born in

Roger was said to have suffered from alcoholism and to have been abusive towards his family.^[15][16] Though Bill loved his stepfather, Roger's alcoholism, gambling, and subsequent abuse of his mother and half-brother would lead to Bill's intervening on numerous occasions with physical force,^[9] each time resulting in his stepfather's arrest.^[17] Clinton was eventually reconciled with his stepson when Bill Clinton drove down from Georgetown over several weekends to visit him at the Duke Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, after he became ill.^[18][19][20] A journey of some 200 miles, Bill would eventually forgive Roger for his abusive actions as a stepfather.^[5][20] Roger's illness recurred later in the fall of 1967.^[21] After a period in the hospital, he requested to come home to die.^[21] Roger Clinton died of cancer^[21] aged 59 in 1967.^[19]

References