That just means he can spend more time here in Philadelphia, serving in his new role as chairman of the National Constitution Center's board of trustees.

"It's quite a coup for us," Joseph M. Torsella, president and chief executive officer of the five-year-old center told The Inquirer this week.

Clinton takes over in January, replacing George H.W. Bush - not for the first time. This will probably be a friendlier transition than the one that occurred in 1993. The two former presidents have spent much time together over the last few years, helping to raise relief funds for Katrina and tsunami victims.

The Constitution Center applauded those efforts by awarding its annual Liberty Medal to Clinton and Bush in 2006.

Of course, that was not Clinton's first exposure to the Independence Mall landmark.

He was the keynote speaker at the center's groundbreaking on Constitution Day, Sept. 17, in 2000. He was here for a book signing upon the release of his autobiography, My Life, in 2004, and he spoke to the National Youth Leadership Council two years later.

"With his worldwide popularity and his devotion to a number of important causes, President Clinton is the perfect person to lead this distinguished center into the future," former President Bush said in a statement.

Calling this a coup is an understatement. Having another former president lead this board should guarantee the center a place in the national spotlight for years to come.