President Clinton Is Ranked No. 1 Among American Children, New Survey Finds

Jet, August 7, 2000

President Bill Clinton reigns supreme among American children, according to a newly released survey.

The survey, conducted by the World Almanac for Kids, offered readers age 6 to 14 the chance to win prizes by naming their picks for the world's most important person and explaining their choices. It was contained in the 2000 edition.

Clinton, the choice of 30 percent of the respondents, was cited because of his peacekeeping negotiations, his improvements to education and because he is "the ruler of the free world."

Pope John Paul II, who received 20.6 percent of the vote, helps make the world a better place, the children said. "My Mom" got 20.4 percent, "My Dad" 15.8 percent and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 15 percent, the children noted in the survey.

Others who received high votes were civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, astronaut Neil Armstrong, Harry Potter book series author J. K. Rowling, slain civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell.