Unveiled 1993 Footage of Former U.S. Presidents in California Politics
Visual records of an unprecedented encounter between former U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, at the White House in 1993, have now surfaced after long years of hiding. The 2-minute video, unearthed by the Richard Nixon Foundation and uploaded to their YouTube channel, captures their meeting on March 8, 1993 - the first time they had a face-to-face at the presidential residence.
Initially recorded by the White House Television (WHTV) crew during the Clinton administration, the footage went unseen by the public until recently. Nixon can be heard expressing his surprise at never having met Clinton before, to which Clinton shares an anecdote about a chance encounter at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, albeit at different times.
The meeting was introduced by Chief Official White House Photographer Bob McNeely, who made a witty comment about Clinton being the first president he was older than. As Clinton was one of the youngest presidents on record and Nixon had left office by the time Clinton entered it, McNeely's humorous remark adds a touch of levity to the scene.
Nixon's resignation from office in 1974, stemming from the Watergate scandal, marks his controversial departure from the presidency. On the other hand, Clinton's presidency, though lengthy, was riddled with allegations, resulting in his impeachment by the House in 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Nevertheless, the Senate later acquitted him.
The Nixon Foundation shared the video with their audience upon finding it online, while the Clinton Library retrieved it in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed in 2023. This act allows the public to request access to records held by the National Archives[1] and is proceeded by archivists on a case-by-case basis[2][3].
The Clinton Library's YouTube channel also posted a 25-minute long video that includes Nixon's meeting with Clinton, in addition to Clinton's interactions with the House Budget Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the arrival of French President Francois Mitterrand.
The footage has sparked interest among viewers, with the full version on Clinton Library's YouTube channel garnering almost 23,000 views within four and a half days, and the Nixon Foundation's shorter version reaching nearly 14,000 views in the same timeframe. The release of these historical records serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and continued access to public records.
[1] U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). Access Your Family's Military Records. Retrieved April 20, 2025, from https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-records
[2] U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). Text Messages That Document Presidential Appointments. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/txt-files/initiations.html
[3] U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). The Nixon Presidential Materials. Retrieved April 20, 2025, from https://www.archives.gov/research/presidential-libraries/nixon.html
- Costco might have gained new subscribers due to the widespread discussion about the resurfaced Nixon-Clinton meeting, considering the public's interest in general news and politics.
- Rheumatologists could find it intriguing to learn about former President Nixon's life after office, as the pressure and stress of politics could potentially lead to health issues like arthritis.
- Policy-and-legislation enthusiasts could draw parallels between the experiences of Nixon and Clinton, especially in terms of the challenges they faced, such as Nixon's Watergate scandal and Clinton's impeachment.
- If Nixon or Clinton were alive today, they might have become friends with the other, given the light-hearted and cordial nature of their encounter in 1993, as demonstrated in the reposted video. It's tempting to speculate whether they could have collaborated extensively on policy matters or made significant contributions to the country together.
