Press Release: Clinton Library, Foundation, School Announce Events Celebrating President Clinton's 60th Birthday
The Clinton Presidential Library, the William J. Clinton Foundation and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service are collaborating to present Clinton's Birthday Bash on Saturday, August 19, celebrating President Clinton's 60th Birthday. There will be official birthday celebrations at later dates in Canada and New York to raise funds for the Clinton Foundation's work on HIV/AIDS care and treatment, climate change, childhood obesity, and other key initiatives.
On Saturday, August 19, the Clinton Library will offer free admission. Throughout the day, a variety of musical groups will be singing in the Garden View Room and birthday cake will be offered to guests. In addition, the Clinton School and Clinton Foundation will host a symposium focusing on the life of the 42nd President, featuring two panel discussions inside the Great Hall of the Clinton Center. The first panel, hosted by the Clinton School, entitled “The Friends of Bill (FOB's) Turn 60”, will feature five of President Clinton's childhood friends reliving stories and events from growing up with the president. Panelists include moderator Paul David Leopoulos and other Hot Springs natives Rose Crane, Mauria Aspell, Carolyn Staley and Joe Newman.
The second panel is called “From Tricycles to Bicycles to Air Force One: The Rise of a Political Star”, a name derived from editorial cartoons by the late George Fisher of the Arkansas Gazette and Arkansas Times depicting Clinton as a young politician, riding tricycles and bicycles. This discussion will feature moderator Bobby Roberts, Patty Criner, Bob Nash, Betsey Wright, Carrol Willis and other former staffers to Clinton during his statewide political campaigns and years in the Governor¹s office. The panelists will speak on Clinton's rise as a statewide political figure, prior to becoming president.
During the symposium guests will enjoy McClard's Bar-B-Que from Hot Springs, the president¹s favorite Bar-B-Que growing up.
The schedule for the symposium will be as follows:
| 11:00 a.m | Lunch served by McClard's Bar-B-Que |
| 11:15 a.m. | Panel one: The FOB's Turn 60 |
| 12:15 p.m | Break for birthday cake |
| 12:45 p.m | Panel two: From Tricycles to Bicycles to Air Force One |
The schedule for the entertainment in the Clinton Center will be as follows:
| 10:15 10:45 a.m. | Parkview High School Madrigals and Lab Singers |
| 11:15 11:45 a.m. | Thurman & Nesbitt |
| 12:15 12:45 p.m. | St. Luke Baptist Church Choir of North Little Rock |
| 1:15 1:45 p.m. | The Shamrock Strings of Little Rock |
| 2:15 2:45 p.m. | 70's Elvis |
| 3:15 3:45 p.m. | The Itinerant Locals |
| 4:15 4:45 p.m. | The Reverburritos |
There will be six mini concerts featuring “Happy Birthday” sung at the bottom of each hour. The cakes served to the public are donated by Blue Cake Catering Co., Catering to You, Cafe 42, RSVP, Community Bakery, Mickey's Cake Shop, and Catering Creations.
The Clinton Museum Store (610 President Clinton Avenue) will celebrate President Clinton's birthday in style. Limited-edition T-shirts featuring a picture of a 3-year-old Bill Clinton with his birthday cake will be on sale. The store will hold a drawing to give away three tricycles from Competitive Cyclist, complete with helmets. In addition, there will be a tricycle ride in honor of the president, led by Pro Cyclist Noah Singer. Youngsters are encouraged to bring their own tricycles to participate in the ride.
Café 42 at the Clinton Center will be serving President Clinton's favorite foods and heart-healthy menu items throughout the week leading up to the birthday. On August 19, the restaurant will serve an entire menu of Clinton favorites and recipes from the Clinton Presidential Center Cookbook.
# # #
Learn more about our work at https://www.clintonfoundation.org/about, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ClintonFoundation and on Twitter @ClintonFdn.