Hillary Rodham Clinton

Nora Hovanic
Women Studies 200
J. Ryan
20 February 2008

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton was born October 26, 1987 in Chicago, Illinois. She was raised by a Methodist family in Park Ridge, Illinois. In 1965 she attended Wellesley College. She majored in Political Science and graduated to attend Yale Law School, where she went on to become a profound lawyer. It was at Yale Law School that she met her husband, 42nd president Bill Clinton. Hillary graduated in 1973, with a Juris Doctor Degree. Hillary would soon be the “first” for many female positions.

Hillary may be first famously known as the 42nd First Lady of the United States. Although she may have been known for being a first lady, Hillary already had many accomplishments under her belt. Already being a successful college and law school graduate, Hillary continued to become a member of the impeachment inquiry staff of 1974 against President Nixon. She later moved to Arkansas and became one of two female staff members at the University of Arkansas. In 1975 Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton were married. She decided to keep her name Hillary Rodham, as to continue her political job ventures and to separate her marriage from her career ambitions. In 1978 Bill was elected governor of his home state of Arkansas. In January 1979 Hillary became First Lady of Arkansas, as she would remain until 1980 when Bill lost for re-election. He ran again and won in 1982. In 1979 Hillary was named the first full female partner in the Rose Law Firm. From 1978, until her and Bill entered the White House, Hillary made the most income in the household. In 1980 Hillary gave birth to her and Bill’s only child Chelsea. In her stay as First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary had several career accomplishments. One of her most pronounced was from 1987 to 1991 when she chaired the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession. This organization addressed gender bias in the law profession. Hillary was named twice in National Law Journal top 100 most influential lawyers in America. From 1986 to 1982 Hillary also held the first female chair position on the Wal-Mart directors board.

In 1993 Hillary became the First Lady of the United States. She announced she would be using the name Hillary Rodham Clinton. She was the first, first lady to hold a post-graduate degree and have a full-time career until entering the White House. Hillary was also the first to have an office in the West Wing, and would later be known as one the most influential first ladies in the White House. In 1993 Hillary was appointed chairwoman, by Bill, of the Task Force on National Health Care Reform. Although Hillary’s health care contributions would not prove effective until 1997, when she became the main force behind the Sate Children’s Health Insurance Program. In 1998 Hillary and Bill’s marriage would be under fire with the intrusion of the Monica Lewinsky Scandal. In the wake of the controversy, Hillary’s approval ratings would rise to the highest they had ever been while Bill was in office.
In 2000, post Hillary and Bill’s White House stay, Hillary would decide to run to be the first female senator of New York. She would be the first United States First Lady to run for an elected office. Hillary won the election in November 2000 with 55% of the vote. She would also run for a second term in 2006 and win again. In 2007 Hillary announced, what she will most likely be remembered for in history beyond being one the most influential first ladies; she would be running for the 2008 presidential campaign democratic nomination. Her position as running for president was first made light in 2002 when Hillary was named among the world’s most powerful people in Forbes and Time Magazine. No woman in history has been nominated by a presidential party for election and it appears Hillary maybe the first nomination, and possibly even the first female President of the United States. It is unclear at this moment in time if she will succeed, but one thing for sure is that she is going down in history as one the most influential women in America.
This day in age, everyone has heard of Hillary Rodham Clinton, and most are either for her or against her. She has contributed to the roles of feminism since being a young college student all the way through today, running for president. Even if she doesn’t become the first woman president she has still opened to the door for the possibility. To ask someone 10 or 15 years ago if they thought there would even be a woman nomination would have been unheard of. She was the first of many women in her law career, White House career, and political career. I find it hard to believe that any woman would not be inspired by Hillary to believe that women can do anything men can. She exceeds the word feminism and is not an idea of a feminist, but actual proof that a woman can do anything. If you would like more information on Hillary, you can simply turn on the news. You can also research her on the internet, and in many books. In 2003 Hillary released an autobiography titled Living History. This book has been translated into 12 languages and I would recommend anyone to read if they were interested in learning more on Hillary Rodham Clinton. Look for more information about Hillary’s party nomination in the following weeks. It will be decided very soon if she will be the democratic front runner for the 2008 presidential campaign.