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Clinton Library Revives Little Rock, Partisan Enmity

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), returned to the White House Monday for the unveiling of the official portraits of them that will hang in the presidential residence.

President Bush offered glowing praise for his predecessor, whom he said "showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need and the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."

The rest of the year will be equally busy for Clinton. His memoirs hit stores June 22, and he's scheduled for a worldwide book tour. Then in November, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park opens in Little Rock, Ark.

The $165 million presidential library is Little Rock's biggest private construction project ever, and has already helped revitalize the city's downtown Rivermarket district. Over the next decade, Little Rock expects to see more than $1 billion in construction related to the Clinton Center -- including a planned "Counter Clinton" library. NPR's Greg Allen reports.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

As NPR's Miami correspondent, Greg Allen reports on the diverse issues and developments tied to the Southeast. He covers everything from breaking news to economic and political stories to arts and environmental stories. He moved into this role in 2006, after four years as NPR's Midwest correspondent.