Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton married on October 11, 1975 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mrs. Clinton's father owned a fabric store in Park Ridge, Illinois. She graduated from Wellesley College with honors in 1969. In 1973, she graduated from the Yale University law school. Mrs. Clinton is the first lawyer in U.S. history to become first lady.
After law school, Mrs. Clinton worked for the Children's Defense Fund. In 1974, she joined the special prosecutors staff in Washington, D.C. The staff investigated the Watergate scandal in President RICHARD NIXON's administration. When the investigation ended, Mrs. Clinton became a law professor at the University of Arkansas. During the early years of her marriage, Hillary Clinton continued to be known by her maiden name.
In 1980, Bill Clinton was defeated in his race for reelection as the governor of Arkansas. After the election, Mrs. Clinton began using her husband's surname. Over the next few years, she built a distinguished legal career. She became a partner in the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1988, Hillary Clinton was named one of the country's top 100 lawyers.
After he entered the 1992 presidential primaries, Bill Clinton was accused of adultery. Mrs. Clinton defended their marriage on the "60 Minutes" television show. After she stood by her husband, most Americans decided to ignore the charges. But Hillary Clinton was also the target of criticism during the campaign. She had once published a law review article on the rights of children. Republicans attacked the article for its "left-wing" views. Mrs. Clinton also created some problems for herself when she seemed to belittle housewives. Still, she worked hard to overcome her social errors.
As first lady, Hillary Clinton has directly involved herself in national policymaking. The president appointed her to write a national health insurance plan. She lobbied Congress to approve the plan. In 1994, Mrs. Clinton was drawn into the Whitewater affair. Claims were made about her conduct as a lawyer in Little Rock when her husband was governor of Arkansas. She had represented clients before regulatory agencies in the state. She was plagued by questions of conflicts of interest.
Hillary Clinton's powerful role in the White House raises difficult issues. By law, presidents may not appoint members of their families to high government jobs. By tradition, first ladies are immune from official scrutiny. But Mrs. Clinton is the first president's wife to claim a public policymaking role. But policy makers in the United States are held accountable for their actions. The quality of Hillary Rodham Clinton's policymaking may affect the role of future first ladies.
Bill Clinton's Child :
Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton have one child: Chelsea Clinton.
Chelsea Clinton was 12 years old when her family moved into the White House. While her father was governor of Arkansas, Chelsea Clinton attended public school. After he became president, she enrolled in a private school in Washington, D.C. Some Americans criticized the Clintons for abandoning public education. Other Americans believed it was a private matter.
