Bill Clinton, the forty-second president of the United States, was inaugurated on January 20, 1993, and
resolved to replace then FBI director William S. Sessions. Sessions was dismissed on July 19 after refusing to resign, and Louis Freeh was nominated to the post at a Rose Garden ceremony the following day. Clarke was named acting director, and served from the 19th until September 1, 1993, when Freeh was sworn in.
Clarke then retired from the FBI. He joined MacAndrews & Forbes, a private firm specializing in acquisitions, where he served as vice president for corporate compliance.[2][3]