Jim McDougal

Jim McDougal and his wife Susan bought the Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan, in 1982. They were partners with Bill and Hillary Clinton in a real estate deal that eventually turned into the Whitewater Scandal.

Fast Facts

1. Name: James B. McDougal
2. Born: August 25, 1940
3. Died: March 8, 1998
4. Party: Democrat
5. Political science professor at Ouachita Baptist University
6. Spouse: Susan McDougal (divorced)
7. Convicted: 18 counts of fraud and conspiracy
8. Sentence: 3 years in prison
9. Died of heart attack
10. Numerous conspiracy theories about his death

Death

On March 8, 1998, while serving time in federal prison, McDougal died of a heart attack. Reports indicate that he wasn't allowed to have his heart medication.¹ He had only one year left to serve on his prison sentence.

The Whitewater Scandal

The McDougal's and Clinton's borrowed money to develop land for vacation homes in the Ozark Mountains. When the deal fell through, McDougal tried to cover the loans with money from his savings and loan company. McDougal was convicted of 18 felony counts of fraud and conspiracy and faced 84 years in prison, but received 3 years due to special prosecutor Kenneth Starr asking for a reduced sentence for McDougal because of his help with the investigation. With his death, Bill and Hillary Clinton, no longer faced the possibility of McDougal testifying against them.

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