We know what his faults are, and even most of his strengths were unrealized.

But more than any President in history (Carter included), Clinton preached a message of harmony and of hopefulness, and history will not look unfavorably on that as conflict becomes more of an issue in the future.

It sounds like small potatoes now, but the truth is that it is Monica and Whitewater that are the small stuff, not a guy who wanted peace among blacks and whites and Protestants and Catholics and Jews and Palestinians, or greater acceptance for homosexuals and women.

I think there is a good chance that we will look back on some of his critics like we presently look back on slaveholders.

"Can you even believe that he had to explain that stuff to people?"

And a good chance that after some future major conflict based on religious, ethnic and cultural differences leads to the massive loss of lives, that he will be remembered as someone who saw that coming and worked to stop it in the only way that matters:

Tolerance and acceptance.

• And unlike Carter, he actually got some stuff done, too...