Born

October 25, 1947, in Park Ridge, Illinois Residence

Hillary and former President Bill Clinton divide their time between New York and Washington, D.C.

 

Hillary Rodham Clinton served as first lady throughout her husband Bill Clinton’s two terms in the years 1993-2001. The Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, sometimes assisted Hillary with her first lady responsibilities. 

 

Though many first ladies transformed the expectations that surrounded the traditional role of a presidential spouse to meet their own requirements, Hillary completely disregarded any preconceived notions about what she should do and created a role that matched her own expectations and goals. Not only was she the first first lady to hold an advanced degree, she was also the first to maintain a career throughout her married life. Furthermore, Hillary was the first first lady to run for an elected office, that of New York senator. 

 

As a first lady who had years of legal experience on her resume, Hillary sought an unprecedented active role in government. The president quickly appointed her as the chairperson of the President’s Task Force on National Health Care Reform. Though many were critical of a first lady serving in such a high-level position, she worked tirelessly to interview hundreds of doctors and patients around the country to determine how to best reform American health care. Though Congress rejected her plan, she was undeterred in continuing to advocate for expanded health coverage, as well as children’s issues and women’s rights around the world throughout her tenure. In the years that followed the Clinton administration, Hillary proved her political ambitions did not end as senator, and she ran an historic and compelling race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.