Hillary Clinton: The Fast Facts That May Surprise You
Last Updated on: 18th June 2024, 09:30 am
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the wife of former President Bill Clinton and a prominent American politician and diplomat. She was United States Secretary of State during Barack Obama’s presidency from 2009 to 2013. She also served as a U.S. senator representing New York from 2001 to 2009.
Here are some more facts about Hillary Clinton that may surprise you:
1. She Wanted To Be An Astronaut
Growing up in the early 1960s, Hillary says she was captivated by tales of exploration and space travel. The United States, under President John F. Kennedy’s ambitious leadership, had set its sights on the moon. The dream of sending a man to the lunar surface had ignited a spark in the hearts of many across the nation.
It was during these transformative years that, according to Hillary, she discovered her own dream — a dream to be an astronaut.
With this dream firmly entrenched in her young heart, Hillary decided to reach out to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In a letter brimming with hope and determination, she inquired about the path to becoming an astronaut.
However, the response she received would prove to be a pivotal moment, etching a lesson in her young mind. The letter from NASA conveyed a disheartening reality. NASA, at that time, was not accepting women into their astronaut program.
Reflecting on this event years later, Hillary confessed that even if NASA had accepted girls, she might not have qualified due to her poor eyesight and physical abilities. However, to her, it marked her first encounter with an obstacle that hard work and determination couldn’t overcome.
2. She Wrote Her Senior Thesis On Saul Alinsky
Hillary Clinton’s 1969 Wellesley College senior thesis on Saul D. Alinsky has emerged as a source of intrigue and scrutiny. The paper titled “There Is Only the Fight…’: An Analysis of the Alinsky Model” offers a unique lens into Clinton’s ideological development during her formative years, exploring her critique of Alinsky’s community organizing strategies.
The thesis reflects Clinton’s evolution from her conservative upbringing to a more moderate and pragmatic political stance. Raised in a Goldwater Republican household, she gradually moved towards the moderate-liberal wing of the GOP, eventually identifying as a Democrat.
Conservatives have often pointed to Hillary’s thesis as evidence of her “the ends justify the means” approach to politics.
During her presidential run, one of her Republican opponents, Ben Carson, said, “Now, one of the things that I have learned about Hillary Clinton is that one of her heroes, her mentors, was Saul Alinsky. And her senior thesis was about Saul Alinsky. This was someone that she greatly admired, and that affected all of her philosophies subsequently.
Now, interestingly enough, let me tell you something about Saul Alinsky. He wrote a book called, “Rules for Radicals.” On the dedication page, it acknowledges Lucifer, the original radical who gained his own kingdom. …
This is a nation where every coin in our pocket and every bill in our wallet says, “In God We Trust.” So, are we willing to elect someone as president who has as their role model somebody who acknowledges Lucifer? Think about that.”
3. Bill Clinton Changed The Trajectory of Her Ambition And Career
Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham’s first meeting at Yale Law School in the early 1970s is the subject of various stories. One common version is that they noticed each other and engaged in a hesitant dance of mutual observation. Their encounter crystallized when Hillary, in her second year while Bill was in his first, approached him in the library and said, “Look, if we’re going to spend all this time staring at each other, we should at least get to know who the other is,” according to Salon.com
Robert Reich, a key figure in their lives and later a member of President Clinton’s cabinet, claimed to have introduced them at the start of the semester but nothing happened at that time.
According to Bill Clinton’s memoir, he first noticed Hillary during a class on political and civil rights, describing her as a person with “thick dark blond hair,” who exuded strength and self-possession without the need for makeup.
Another perspective implies that Bill started to follow Hillary around campus while she was still dating David Rupert. One day, he joined her in the registration line, having already completed his own registration. The two then managed to talk their way into the Yale Art Museum to see a special exhibit on Mark Rothko, an artist they both admired. In this version, according to Bill’s memoir, she sat down in the lap of a Henry Moore sculpture, and he sat beside her. “Before long, I leaned over and put my head on her shoulder. It was our first date,” he wrote.
Bill Clinton remembered Hillary’s strong presence from the start, acknowledging she quickly became a significant part of his life. In Hillary’s recollection, falling in love with Bill Clinton was a defining and exciting experience for her during the 1970s. For Bill, being around Hillary was refreshing, as he found her captivating and believed she would keep life interesting.
4. The “Gutsiest” Thing She Ever Did…
In a candid moment during an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” with her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, Hillary stated that the most “gutsy” decision she ever made outside of the public eye was choosing to remain married to former President Bill Clinton, according to Politico.
During the joint interview, ABC News’ Amy Robach asked Hillary Clinton, “Can I ask you, what’s the gutsiest thing you’ve ever done?” She responded, “Ah, boy, I think the gutsiest thing I’ve ever done — well, personally, make the decision to stay in my marriage. Publicly, politically, run for president. And keep going. Just get up every day and keep going.”
Staying in a marriage marred by infidelity is undoubtedly a difficult decision, especially Hillary Clinton’s choice to remain married to Bill Clinton amidst numerous scandals and infidelities.
The most prominent infidelity that shook the Clinton marriage was the affair between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern. This affair became public knowledge and cast a long shadow over the Clinton presidency. In addition to Lewinsky, there were other allegations of sexual misconduct against Bill Clinton, such as those made by Paula Jones.
Despite this, Hillary chose to stand by her husband, acknowledging that her decision wasn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. It was a personal choice rooted in her own assessment of her marriage and her belief in its worthiness—the decision to endure the storm, face the public, and try to work through.
5. She Made Time For “Three-Hour Tastings” For Chelsea’s Wedding
During her tenure as secretary of state in the lead-up to her daughter Chelsea’s 2010 wedding, Hillary Clinton dedicated time to plan the event meticulously, according to presidential party planner Bryan Rafanelli.
He revealed that she participated in extensive three-hour tastings to finalize the wedding menu.
Chelsea married Marc Mezvinsky, a banking executive and the son of former Democratic U.S. House Representatives Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky and Edward Mezvinsky.
The wedding took place at Astor Courts, an exquisite 50-acre estate nestled a hundred miles north of New York City in the picturesque village of Rhinebeck, New York.
The ceremony, though opulent, was shrouded in secrecy. The guest list, rumored to be between 400 and 500, included a select few high-profile personalities like Madeleine Albright, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, and Vera Wang. The absence of President Barack Obama was a conscious choice, respecting the couple’s wish for an intimate celebration.
Chelsea’s dress was a strapless Vera Wang gown, which featured a fitted bodice and a full skirt. The waist was embellished with platinum-colored beading, adding a touch of glamour. Her veil was long and white.
The outdoor venue was adorned with rows of white chairs for guests flanking a broad outdoor aisle. The chuppah was decorated with white fabric and flowers, maintaining a theme of simplicity and grace.
The cost of the entire wedding is estimated to be between $3 million and $5 million, according to Reuters.
6. Private Servers and “Bleachbit”
During her time as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton faced controversy for using a private email server instead of official government email accounts.
This issue became a major topic during the 2016 presidential election, with FBI Director Comey stating Clinton was “extremely careless” but recommending no charges due to lack of criminal intent.
The controversy’s timing and handling were debated and received significant media attention. Clinton contends this controversy affected the election outcome.
Republicans, including House Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Trey Gowdy, alleged that Hillary Clinton’s lawyers used BleachBit, a software advertised to “prevent recovery” of files, to delete emails from her private server, implying an attempt to permanently erase them.
Gowdy contended this action suggests an intention to conceal information. Clinton had previously stated that the deleted emails were of a personal nature, related to yoga and her daughter’s wedding.
Gowdy emphasized that the use of BleachBit raises questions about the content of these emails, especially concerning the Clinton Foundation. He pointed to Clinton’s prior statements, questioning her credibility and believability.
BleachBit highlighted Gowdy’s mention on its website with the caption: “South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy says Hillary Clinton deleted emails ‘so even God couldn’t read them’ using BleachBit.”
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