Roger Clinton, Sr.

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Roger C. Clinton, Sr. (July 25, 1908 – November 8, 1967) was former president Bill Clinton's stepfather. He owned a Buick car dealership in Hope, Arkansas, that had been set up by his brother, Raymond Clinton, also a Buick dealer in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He met Virginia Cassidy Blythe (the mother of Bill Clinton) through her father Eldridge Cassidy, who at this time ran a grocery store. Roger would sometimes deliver the bootleg liquor that her father sold. They married in about 1950. Roger Clinton had problems with alcoholism and sometimes abused his wife, and they eventually divorced in 1961 but then a few months later remarried. About the time of the divorce, Bill had his name legally changed from William Blythe to William Clinton. When Bill Clinton left for college, Roger became very ill, and died of liver cancer. According to Bill Clinton's 2004 autobiography, Roger expressed sorrow for his alcoholism and abusive behavior before he died. Roger and Virginia had a son, Roger Clinton, Jr. Bill was said to have reconciled with him before his death.