Hillary Rodham Clinton

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Hillary Rodham Clinton served as First Lady of Arkansas for twelve years. During that time, she worked as a full-time partner of a law firm, chaired an education committee that set public school standards in Arkansas, managed a home, and cared for her husband and child. On many occasions, Hillary Clinton has spoken about the need "to find the right balance in our lives." For her, the elements of that balance are family, work, and public service.

Hillary Diane Rodham was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 26, 1947, daughter of Dorothy Rodham and the late Hugh Rodham. She and her two younger brothers grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois, as a close-knit family. An excellent student, she was also a Girl Scout and a member of the local Methodist youth group. Hillary enjoyed sports and was always interested in politics.

She entered Wellesley College in 1965. Graduating with high honors, she then enrolled in Yale Law School, where she served on the Board of Editors of the "Yale Review of Law and Social Action." There she met Bill Clinton, a fellow student. While at Yale, she developed her strong concern for protecting the interests of children and their families.

In 1973, Hillary became a staff attorney for the Children's Defense Fund. A year later, she joined the Impeachment Inquiry staff of the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives to work on the Watergate impeachment proceedings.

Hillary left Washington and "followed her heart to Arkansas." She married Bill Clinton in 1975. The couple both taught on the law faculty of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Their daughter, Chelsea, was born in 1980.

As First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary continued to work tirelessly on behalf of children and families. In addition to chairing the Arkansas Education Standards Committee, she founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. She introduced a pioneering program called Arkansas' Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth, which trains parents to work with their children in preschool preparedness and literacy. Hillary also served on the board of the Arkansas Children's Hospital. In recognition of her professional and personal accomplishments, Hillary was named Arkansas Woman of the Year in 1983 and Arkansas Mother of the Year in 1984.

Upon taking office, the President made health care one of his highest priorities. He appointed the First Lady to head his Task Force on National Health Care Reform. Like her predecessors, Hillary Rodham Clinton brings to the role of First Lady of the United States her own special talents, experience, style, and interests.

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