Bill Clinton at Age 63: Has He Regained his Mojo?

Aug. 19, 2009 — -- On his 63rd birthday, former President Bill Clinton is not without reason to celebrate.

After all, it was Clinton who earlier this month was lauded after helping to negotiate the release of U.S. journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who had been imprisoned in North Korea for illegally entering the country from China.

But while Lee and Ling's safe return to the U.S. is certainly something to be proud of, political scientists say that Clinton's real reason to party is his ability to maintain a strong role in American politics – a feat that would make any former president – one who many once wondered how he'd fill his newfound free-time – proud.

"The fact that on his 63rd birthday the man shows no signs of slowing down whatsoever and in fact seems to be continuing to invent new ways to stay occupied is really something else," said Russell Riley, a presidential scholar at the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs.

"There was no question that last year at the point at which it was clear Hillary Rodham Clinton was going to be moving into a position in the administration that some people thought it would mean Bill would have to roll back is own agenda," said Riley. "But that's not what we've seen happen at all."

And party he did. Last week, Clinton, who was in Las Vegas for the National Clean Energy Summit, reportedly took advantage of his time in Sin City and threw himself a lavish birthday dinner at the MGM Grand hotel.