Overview
Hillary Rodham, raised in a Chicago suburb during the 1950s, and educated at Wellesley and Yale, was on her way to a career as a lawyer in Washington, D.C., or New York. Hard-working, fair minded, and singularly determined, Hillary was already an accomplished expert on the legal issues of children's rights by the time she graduated from law school.But she surprised her friends and family when she chose to move to Arkansas and work as a law professor, just to be closer to her boyfriend, a charismatic young lawyer named Bill Clinton, whom Hillary soon married.
However, those who thought Hillary sacrificed her dreams for Bill severely underestimated her; in addition to being a vital part of Bill's burgeoning political career, she eventually became the first woman partner of Arkansas's Rose Law Firm and chaired several public service committees, attracting national attention and acclaim. Before long, Bill's political career led him to the White House, and Hillary found herself about to become the First Lady of the United States.
Still, her life was constantly marred by controversy and drama. Between weathering constant criticism for her assertive role in Bill's campaigns and having a career of her own instead of just supporting her husband's, and facing scandal and heartbreak when Bill's infidelity was revealed to the nation, Hillary became one of the most controversial figures in contemporary history. But she never let it break her, eventually becoming a U.S. senator and launching her own campaign to become the first woman president of the United States.
Synopsis
Hillary Rodham, raised in a Chicago suburb during the 1950s, and educated at Wellesley and Yale, was on her way to a career as a lawyer in Washington, D.C., or New York. Hard-working, fair minded, and singularly determined, Hillary was already an accomplished expert on the legal issues of children's rights by the time she graduated from law school.
But she surprised her friends and family when she chose to move to Arkansas and work as a law professor, just to be closer to her boyfriend, a charismatic young lawyer named Bill Clinton, whom Hillary soon married.
However, those who thought Hillary sacrificed her dreams for Bill severely underestimated her; in addition to being a vital part of Bill's burgeoning political career, she eventually became the first woman partner of Arkansas's Rose Law Firm and chaired several public service committees, attracting national attention and acclaim. Before long, Bill's political career led him to the White House, and Hillary found herself about to become the First Lady of the United States.
Still, her life was constantly marred by controversy and drama. Between weathering constant criticism for her assertive role in Bill's campaigns and having a career of her own instead of just supporting her husband's, and facing scandal and heartbreak when Bill's infidelity was revealed to the nation, Hillary became one of the most controversial figures in contemporary history. But she never let it break her, eventually becoming a U.S. senator and launching her own campaign to become the first woman president of the United States.
Children's Literature
"Love her or hate her, no one can deny that Hillary Clinton seems to thrive on challenges." Hillary was born sixty years ago to a father hard-hit by the Depression and a mother who encouraged her only daughter to stand up for herself. (Ironically, both parents were staunch Republicans!) As a young girl, Hillary was not only an academic powerhouse, but a natural leader, too. She earned "every merit badge possible" in Girl Scouts, organized babysitters for migrant workers, and was voted "most likely to succeed" in high school. Irate that NASA rejected her solely because of her gender, Hillary went to Yale Law School instead and began a lifelong commitment to children's rights. Another life-altering event at Yale was meeting Bill Clinton. After graduation, Hillary relocated to Washington, D.C. where she investigated Nixon and transcribed the infamous Watergate Tapes. In 1975, she married Clinton, "forging a political marriage unlike any seen before in American politics." Although people occasionally found her abrasive, it was clear that Hillary was equally, if not more, skilled than her husband. She also earned more money, making $400,000 as partner in a prestigious law firm, to his $35,000 as governor! This fascinating read in the "Political Profiles" series is factual, insightful and objective. The author is both candid and tasteful in discussing Bill's extra-marital affairs, and her inclusion of such diverse photos as Martin Luther King, Vietnam War protesters, and Sputnik brings the reader into Hillary's world. This is an empowering book for young women. Reviewer: Naomi Milliner