Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton in 1965 Eyrie

1968 Wellesley College Government Presidential Candidates at Panel

HillaryRodhamBillClintonLittleRockHouse1adjusted

President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan with Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton walking in the Cross Hall

Hillary Clinton 1992

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26, 1947) is an American lawyer, diplomat, and politician who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, as a United States Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, and as the First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the party's nominee for President of the United States in the 2016 United States presidential election, becoming the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major U.S. political party.

Early Life and Education

Hillary Diane Rodham was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the suburban town of Park Ridge. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1969 and earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1973. After serving as a congressional legal counsel, she moved to Arkansas and married Bill Clinton in 1975. Clinton was appointed the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation in 1978 and became the first female partner at Rose Law Firm the following year. As First Lady of Arkansas, she led a task force whose recommendations helped reform Arkansas's public schools.

First Lady of the United States

As First Lady of the United States, Clinton was an advocate for gender equality and healthcare reform. Her major initiative, the Clinton health care plan, failed to gain approval from Congress. However, she played a role in advocating the creation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and the Foster Care Independence Act.

U.S. Senate

In 2000, Clinton was elected as the first female senator from New York. She was re-elected in 2006. During her tenure in the Senate, she served on several committees and was known for her advocacy for healthcare reform and for her support of the military, including voting in favor of the Iraq War Resolution.

2008 Presidential Campaign

Clinton ran for president in 2008 but lost the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama. She subsequently endorsed Obama and campaigned for him. Upon his election, Obama appointed Clinton as Secretary of State.

Secretary of State

As Secretary of State, Clinton was known for her advocacy of the U.S. foreign policy doctrine of "smart power," a strategy that combines military power with diplomacy. She was involved in the U.S. response to the Arab Spring and advocated for the military intervention in Libya.

2016 Presidential Campaign

Clinton announced her candidacy for the 2016 presidential election and won the Democratic nomination, becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party. She ran against Donald Trump but lost the electoral college despite winning the popular vote.

Post-Political Career

After the 2016 election, Clinton remained active in public life, writing books, and speaking on issues such as women's rights and democracy.

Legacy

Clinton's legacy is marked by her pioneering role as a woman in American politics, her advocacy for healthcare and children's rights, and her extensive career in public service.