The Clinton Foundation’s search for a “high level of professionalism and discretion” in a new intern has triggered a fresh round of online mockery and reminders of Bill Clinton’s history with White House interns.
An unpaid internship was recently posted for Hillary Clinton’s office on Madison Avenue in New York City, seeking candidates who can handle research, memos, and office management. The job description calls for a “high level of professionalism and discretion,” a phrase that did not go unnoticed by online commenters given the Clintons’ well-known history. A second position, a paid “special projects associate” offering $50,000 to $55,000 per year for Bill Clinton’s team at the Clinton Foundation, was also posted in New York City, according to New York Post reporting.
While the postings themselves appeared routine in their requirements and pay, the reaction online was anything but. Social media users quickly drew connections to the Monica Lewinsky scandal that rocked Bill Clinton’s presidency in the 1990s. One X user quipped, “Bill lost intern privileges,” while an Instagram commenter wrote, “The last time a Clinton sought college interns it really really didn’t end well.” Others piled on with lines like “Depends on what the definition of internship is” and “What sort of ‘Special Projects?’” echoing the infamous word games and evasions that defined the Clinton impeachment era.
The Clinton Foundation, which has an endowment of at least $300 million, has long presented itself as a force for global good. But its reputation for transparency and ethical standards has been repeatedly questioned, especially given the foundation’s ties to the Clintons’ political fortunes and the scandals that have followed them for decades. Bill Clinton’s past with interns is not just a punchline: Monica Lewinsky, then 22, was a White House intern when she confessed to a relationship with the president. That revelation, obtained through a secretly recorded call, led to an investigation by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and the infamous blue dress containing DNA evidence linked to Clinton.
The resulting impeachment, over perjury and obstruction of justice, ended in acquittal for Clinton, but not before the nation witnessed months of evasions, legal parsing, and, as Bill Clinton himself put it, debate over “what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” With this backdrop, job postings seeking discretion for roles working directly with the Clintons cannot help but invite fresh skepticism.
This time, discretion is explicitly listed as a job requirement. For the unpaid intern in Hillary Clinton’s office, the posting calls for a “high level of professionalism and discretion.” For the paid “special projects associate” working with Bill Clinton’s team, duties include drafting meeting agendas, editing briefs, and helping coordinate between the office and the foundation. No direct links to the postings or statements from the Clinton Foundation have been published, leaving the substance of the jobs to be interpreted through the lens of public memory.
While the foundation continues to operate with its vast resources, the Clintons’ history with interns and the consequences of their personal conduct remain a source of public fascination and criticism. As one online commenter put it, “you can’t offer ‘internships with Bill Clinton’ anymore.”
The Clintons may wish the public would move on, but their own legacy keeps reminding voters why trust and accountability still matter.