Jeff Dwire

George Jefferson "Jeff" Dwire was born on June 6, 1923, in Bodcaw, Arkansas. He served in the United States military during World War II; during his service, he was injured in a parachute jump. Following his military service, Dwire worked as a carpenter. He also attended college, supporting himself through employment as a hairdresser.

Dwire was previously married and had three daughters from his earlier marriage. He became associated with Virginia Clinton Kelley, whom he met at his beauty salon where she was a patron. The couple married on January 3, 1969, in Hope, Arkansas. The wedding ceremony was officiated by Reverend John Miles, with Bill Clinton serving as the best man. During the reception, Dwire performed music by playing and singing.

Prior to the marriage, in August 1968, Virginia Kelley and Dwire watched the Chicago Democratic National Convention on television. At the time of their marriage, friends of Kelley expressed concerns about the union, partly due to Dwire's prior conviction for stock fraud in 1961.

Dwire became connected to the Clinton family through his marriage to Kelley. Hillary Clinton, then Hillary Rodham, described Dwire as a "supportive ally" during her efforts to build a relationship with Bill Clinton's mother. He also advised Clinton regarding draft-related decisions, which later became a significant issue during Clinton's presidential campaign.

Since Dwire and Kelley married later in life, they had limited prospects for having children together. However, around this time, Clarice Minner, who was serving as a babysitter and housekeeper for the family, became pregnant with her second child. On October 12, 1969, she gave birth to a daughter named Jeffrey Lynn Smith, with Virginia Dwire present as a nurse anesthetist. Clarice Minner named the girl "Jeffrey" Lynn Smith as a mark of admiration toward Dwire and his wife.

Jeff Dwire died in 1974 at the age of 51 due to complications from diabetes. His death occurred three days after his birthday, on August 12, 1974.

The influence of Dwire extended into later years through memorabilia; notably, a 1967 Ford Mustang he purchased played a part in the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign and was considered a nostalgic item by Bill Clinton.

Clarice Minner Hay, the family housekeeper who was pregnant when Dwire died, cherished her relationship with the family and named her daughter after Jeff Dwire. Her daughter, Jeffrey Lynn Smith, went missing in December 1985 while walking home from school in Hot Springs, Arkansas, at age 15.