The tax rate on his $180M at the time he cashed out was the 39.5% rate that thing would have reverted to if this bill failed. So your point is? The 5% increase just cost me personally an additional 100K minimum on my 2013 tax bill and I am okay with that.
The chart shows that you are both right. The marginal rate was 39.5%, then dropped as part of Clinton's deal with the House Republicans in his second term.