CNN Political Ticker
February 11th, 2010
06:06 PM ET
731 days ago

Bill Clinton hospitalized following chest 'discomfort,' gets stents

ALT TEXT

Former President Bill Clinton was hospitalized in New York on Thursday after experiencing chest pain, two sources told CNN. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/File)

New York (CNN) - Former President Bill Clinton was in "good spirits" Thursday after undergoing a procedure to insert two stents into one of his coronary arteries, his office said.

Clinton, 63, was hospitalized at the Columbia Campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital after experiencing chest pain, according to Douglas Band, counselor to the former president.

Despite other media reports that he had left the hospital, Clinton remained there Thursday evening, a spokesman for the hospital said.

A stent is a tiny tube that is inserted into a narrowed or blocked vessel to open it up and allow blood to travel through, according to CNN's chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta.

A source close to the former president said "he is fine" and will recuperate.

Clinton's wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left the White House after a meeting in the Oval Office and headed to New York, a State Department official said. The Clintons' daughter, Chelsea Clinton, was with her father, according to spokeswoman Julie Goldberg.

In a written statement, Band said, "President Clinton is in good spirits, and will continue to focus on the work of his Foundation and Haiti's relief and long-term recovery efforts."

Full story

Updated: 6:06 p.m.


Filed under: Bill Clinton • Popular Posts
soundoff (53 Responses)
  1. Wanda in Montana

    I hope it's nothing serious. Get well Bill, we still need you!

    February 11, 2010 04:45 pm at 4:45 pm |
  2. Mrs. S Callahan

    Father God, If it's your will for Mr. Clinton to recover we ask you to do this in wholeness, if you have called him home as you preordained may he remember as he walks through the valley of death that you are with him. Thank you Lord.

    Our prayers are with all the Clinton family right now.

    February 11, 2010 04:47 pm at 4:47 pm |
  3. adods

    I pray he recovers soon. We have lost far to many great leaders.

    February 11, 2010 04:58 pm at 4:58 pm |
  4. Martin L. Goins

    Mr. President,Hold on! the US still needs you! The American people should remember that your Presidency,ended in surplus!
    Sincerely,Martin

    February 11, 2010 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |
  5. Kojo

    Get well soon Mr President !!!

    February 11, 2010 05:03 pm at 5:03 pm |
  6. Debby

    Prayers to President Clinton and his family.

    February 11, 2010 05:04 pm at 5:04 pm |
  7. Barbara- a Canadian

    I add my best wishes to former President Clinton for an easy recovery. I have always held him in high regard, as well as his good wife and daughter. Let this not be an occasion for partisan one-up-manship.!

    February 11, 2010 05:04 pm at 5:04 pm |
  8. Deborah in Huntsville, AL

    Get well soon President Clinton. Our country and this world needs you. Our prayers and respect are with you always.

    February 11, 2010 05:05 pm at 5:05 pm |
  9. oris pemberton

    I pray that you will get well soon. Our prayers are with and you family

    February 11, 2010 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |
  10. Get Well Soon, Bill

    Take some well deserved rest Mr. Clinton. The world will not stop for you, but you will have to stop before you get sick. Unfortunately, poverty and homelessness will still be here when you have recovered. We'll do our part to attack it, now you do yours to get better.

    February 11, 2010 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |
  11. Tram

    Good thoughts and prayers to the president.

    February 11, 2010 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |
  12. W l Jones

    From one Southren to another we are not going to let a little heart pain stop us. Get well soon Mr. President

    February 11, 2010 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |
  13. rachel

    Prayers to the clintons

    February 11, 2010 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |
  14. Galilava

    I wish him a quick recovery.

    February 11, 2010 05:22 pm at 5:22 pm |
  15. Sgt. USMC

    There's one thing I will always remember about President Clinton and that is that he will always be OUR President. The people's President. I hope he gets well soon.

    February 11, 2010 05:22 pm at 5:22 pm |
  16. NC

    Our Prayers are with The Cliinton family. May God Bless you all.

    February 11, 2010 05:23 pm at 5:23 pm |
  17. Baby Boomer

    Peace and Blessings and speedy recovery Mr. President.

    February 11, 2010 05:24 pm at 5:24 pm |
  18. Old Farmboy

    Wild Bill... Wish you the best. Didn't vote for you, but still wish you the best. My dad has 7 stints and a quadruple and he's still as honory as ever....

    Take care..

    February 11, 2010 05:27 pm at 5:27 pm |
  19. Jayden,FL

    Get well Mr President.. America needs you...This World needs you..

    February 11, 2010 05:27 pm at 5:27 pm |
  20. PALINs PALM PILOT...have all the Retarded asnwers to her Stupidity

    get well soon Bill CLinton. Americans and Haiti stll needs you

    February 11, 2010 05:33 pm at 5:33 pm |
  21. Zumm

    I wish you speedy recovery Mr. President. You've have been and will continue to be a mentor to millions.

    February 11, 2010 05:33 pm at 5:33 pm |
  22. James-STL

    Praying for the greatest president ever!

    February 11, 2010 05:37 pm at 5:37 pm |
  23. christine case

    Please be well President Clinton! You are and will forever be one of the best presidents we have ever had. Get well to carry on all the good works that you do. Our thoughts and prayers go to you and your family.

    February 11, 2010 05:51 pm at 5:51 pm |
  24. Texas Liberal

    Get well soon, President Clinton. We need you.

    February 11, 2010 05:52 pm at 5:52 pm |
  25. Susie

    We wish you well for a fast and speedy recovery Mr President.

    February 11, 2010 05:52 pm at 5:52 pm |
  26. Susie

    We always be regarded as One of the Best Presidents!

    February 11, 2010 05:54 pm at 5:54 pm |
  27. Obama Victim

    sure wish he was president

    February 11, 2010 05:54 pm at 5:54 pm |
  28. malia

    BO will NEVER measure up to this GREAT PRESIDENT...I will never forget when CNN (Cooper) was constantly mocking you when you were out campaigning for Hillary. Get well soon, Mr. President!

    February 11, 2010 05:55 pm at 5:55 pm |
  29. jules sand-perkins

    My prayers go out for former President Clinton and his family.
    I had severe heart failure seven years ago, and I've recovered completely, taking no medication at all now.
    Mrs. CLinton and their daughter must be very frightened.
    This is not a time for partisan politics.

    February 11, 2010 06:00 pm at 6:00 pm |
  30. Matt

    Get well soon, Mr. President. The world still needs the steady hand of one of this nation's best presidents.

    February 11, 2010 06:02 pm at 6:02 pm |
  31. Richard-Arkansas

    Get well and on with your life, Mr. Prtesident.

    February 11, 2010 06:03 pm at 6:03 pm |
  32. Peter s

    Feel better soon Bill!! lord is with you!

    February 11, 2010 06:14 pm at 6:14 pm |
  33. Todd

    Best wishes to the only presdient in modern history to balance the budget, and the president who gave us the longest sustained period of economic growthin the nations history. The onlypresident in the last 50 years better than President Clinton is the current one. We need 100, 1,000 Bill Clintons to help keep the United States a great place.

    February 11, 2010 06:18 pm at 6:18 pm |
  34. jp,michigan

    You are in our prayers. God Bless. hope you have a safe and speedy recovery.

    February 11, 2010 06:22 pm at 6:22 pm |
  35. Padraig

    I wish him well. I wasn't a big fan but I wish him a speedy recovery.

    February 11, 2010 06:27 pm at 6:27 pm |
  36. Vince G. (Nova Scotia)

    Take care, slow down and enjoy. You've done your service, and you've done the world proud.

    You're admired and appreciated here in Canada, sir.

    February 11, 2010 06:35 pm at 6:35 pm |
  37. Total BS

    Best Wishes My Man ! Your still the best !!

    February 11, 2010 06:37 pm at 6:37 pm |
  38. Patriot

    Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery! And thanks for serving us well!

    February 11, 2010 06:44 pm at 6:44 pm |
  39. mms55

    get well mr. clinton u r 1 of my favorite pres.

    February 11, 2010 06:51 pm at 6:51 pm |
  40. Hey Big Spender

    Feel Better Mr. President.

    February 11, 2010 06:55 pm at 6:55 pm |
  41. Chrissy in CT

    Get well Mr. President!

    February 11, 2010 06:57 pm at 6:57 pm |
  42. T'SAH from Virginia

    President Clinton has a mission and this is God's way of giving him all the time he needs. Recover soon and continue the work you were cut out to do – no one can stop you anyway!!!

    My family's prayers go out to you, Chelsea and Hillary during this time of recovery.

    February 11, 2010 07:03 pm at 7:03 pm |
  43. D.D.

    Our thoughts and prayers are with our former President, his wife, his daughter, his soon -to- be- son, and staff members.

    February 11, 2010 07:05 pm at 7:05 pm |
  44. Russ in benton ar

    May God be with you Mr. Clinton>

    February 11, 2010 07:05 pm at 7:05 pm |
  45. julie in atlanta

    Come on, Pres......We need the BIG DOG!!! Speedy recovery!!! Haiti needs you and America needs you more.

    February 11, 2010 07:08 pm at 7:08 pm |
  46. roger jawahir

    We wish President a speedy recovery as God has chosen him to be a great leader and a strong voice for the poor, and the needy. We will pray for Mr Clinton that he resume his duties as quickly as possible.
    Thanks be to God

    February 11, 2010 07:14 pm at 7:14 pm |
  47. lorraine

    From a Canadian, wishing former President Clinton a quick recovery, I think he is one heck of a humantarian, also probably one of the smartst men we will see in our lifetime, good luck to the Clintons as feel the same about Hillary.

    February 11, 2010 07:15 pm at 7:15 pm |
  48. Terry

    As a 63 year old male myself, I will simply say "Get well soon, President Clinton."

    February 11, 2010 07:18 pm at 7:18 pm |
  49. C. Farrell, Houston, Tx

    Prayers have been heard from around the World and it is he who has the final word.

    February 11, 2010 07:51 pm at 7:51 pm |
  50. Seattle Sue

    Get well soon Mr. Clinton, we need your efforts world wide. Such as the work you did in Haiti, I know you were there twice to help. I think G.W. Bush hired on to help in Haiti, but I never saw him there.

    February 11, 2010 08:27 pm at 8:27 pm |
  51. yen

    Best wishes for Bill Clinton and his family. I will pray for his quick recovery. He has a lot of unfinished good work. He is a very effective humanitarian.

    February 11, 2010 08:42 pm at 8:42 pm |
  52. Squigman

    Get well soon.

    February 11, 2010 08:53 pm at 8:53 pm |
  53. Marie MD

    God speed Mr. President.

    February 11, 2010 09:03 pm at 9:03 pm |