By Patrick Baron
BLOOMINGTON – November is right around the corner, which means that election season is coming.
As voters battle over Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, they are beginning to take a look at the administrations for both candidates. One of the biggest questions that looms over Hillary’s side is what role her husband, former president Bill Clinton, would play if she wins the White House. Bloomington Mayor and Illinois Weslyan Political Science Professor Tari Renner explained that, legally, there’s nothing that could prevent Bill from being a member of Hillary’s Cabinet.
“There’s nothing consitutionally that would prevent someone from being a Cabinet member if they were related to the President, there’s definitely some precedent for it. Most recently, John Kennedy appointed his brother, Robert Kennedy, to be Attorney General in his state. The only thing that would have to happen, of course, is that the Senate would have to confirm them,” said Renner.
Renner also expressed that, looking back at Bill’s presidency, Hillary played a large role during his time as President, so voters should expect the same of Bill if Hillary wins the election in November.
“At the end of the day, regardless of who or what the structural role is, how you move around the boxes, Bill Clinton is going to have a very strong role in a Hillary Clinton presidency, just as Hillary did during a Bill Clinton presidency,” Renner said.
Should Hillary win the race for the presidency, she will become the first female president in the history of the country at the same time Bill becomes the first First Gentleman in the country’s history.
Patrick Baron can be reached at patrick.baron@cumulus.com.
