Statue #42: Bill Clinton
Rapid City, South Dakota
Bill Clinton (1993-2001) had been out of office nearly ten years when his bronze statue was added to a Rapid City street corner in late 2010 -- far longer than that of his successor, George W. Bush, whose statue was up before Bill's, only a year after he'd left office. The official reason given was "foundry issues," but it may have been that Clinton was just not popular in South Dakota, a Republican stronghold. Clinton himself is depicted as one of the happiest Presidents, grinning and gesturing as he wields a hand-held microphone, apparently delivering a campaign speech. His statue's current placement in front of the Presidential Pawn shop (home of the "Pawnseum") is seen by some as a deliberate snub, but when the statue was unveiled, the store was just a clock shop.
Amazing Arcana of the Presidents
Clinton's half-brother, Roger Clinton, had bit roles in a surprising number of Hollywood movies, including "Pumpkinhead II" and "Fred Claus" (as himself).
[Discover more fascinating details in the Roadside Presidents iPhone app!]
City of Presidents
Since 2000, Rapid City has commissioned and installed bronze statues of every former U.S. President on its downtown street corners. Visitors are encouraged to take a walking tour of the City of Presidents and inspect the nation's metallic Commanders in Chief. Paper guides are available year-round at the city's main Visitor Center at 512 Main St.