Would Hillary Clinton be running for president today if she weren't married to former president Bill Clinton?

Yes

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by Jan Castagnaro

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Would Hillary Clinton Be Running for President Today if She were Not Married to Former President Bill Clinton?

Media pundits, Obama supporters, Republican supporters and more seem to get great pleasure from stating that the only reason Hillary Rodham Clinton is running for President of the United States or has had any political successes is due to the fact that she is married to former President Bill Clinton. This could be easily refuted and rendered a moot point if those that use it would research the life of Hillary Clinton and focus especially on her life and times prior to even marrying Bill Clinton. She has always had her hands involved in politics.

As a youth growing up in Illinois, Hillary would have definitely been perceived as an over achiever academically. She participated in sports, service oriented clubs like the Brownies and Girl Scouts, while in school she was highly involved in Student Council, school wide newspaper, honor society, and was even a National Merit finalist. Her well rounded youth was grooming her intellect and ambitions to do more and be more.

Interestingly, Hillary Rodham Clinton grew up in a conservative home, where the political tones and affiliations were definitely Republican. At the young age of 13, when most teens have little interest in politics, young Hillary went out and canvassed the South Side Chicago after the very close 1960 Presidential Election, where she found evidence of election fraud against the Republican candidate of the time, Richard Nixon. She even went on to volunteer for the campaign of Barry Goldwater during the 1964 Presidential Election.

What is most fascinating about the youth and early life of Hillary Rodham Clinton is that much of the political tones she embodies today were greatly shaped by her parents, a conservative Republican father, and a mother who prided on social justices like civil rights. Also, her faith and spirituality which kept her grounded, especially during an era so filled with political ugly and societal unrest, helped to further mold her own ideals and political sense. She was even fortunate enough to meet civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1962.

During her college years, Hillary attended the well renowned Wellesley College, where she majored, of course, in political science. Her early education at Wellesley included serving as president of the Wellesley Young Republican's chapter. Eventually, she stepped aside from her Republican leaning ways as her personal views and ideals began evolving, and her sentiment on issues of civil rights and the Vietnam War triggered a liberal throb in her heart, though she still maintained a conservative mind on many issues. She did not subscribe to the more anti-government and radical tones that permeated portions of the Democrat party. You just were not going to find Hillary Rodham part of groups that were making bombs to protest the war; no, she took a more positive stand and worked within for change, such as becoming involved in the campaign of Democrat Eugene McCarthy, who was anti-war.

Hillary Rodham was motivated and deeply affected by the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and even organized a two-day student strike at Wellesley as well as worked with African-American students at Wellesley to recruit African-American students and faculty, making Wellesley more diverse.

Again, reflecting upon Hillary early life prior to Bill, it was plainly obvious that this woman was savvy and intelligent. She knew, and knows, what she is talking about; and when the issues are ones she is passionate about it really comes out in her actions. For example, she was the first ever student at Wellesley to be asked to give their commencement address, and made sure to use the opportunity to address and criticize Senator Edward Brooke.

Hillary even spent a summer working her way across the "last frontier", Alaska, where she worked at a fish processing cannery at one point. However, when she saw the poor health conditions in the working environment, she championed the issue, trying to help make change. Unfortunately, she was fired and the cannery conveniently shut-down overnight after her complaints about the unhealthy working conditions.

While attending law school, Hillary became deeply invested in working to change laws and find ways to ensure the quality treatment of children. She took cases dealing with child abuse and child custody, even writing her first scholarly paper on the children's right movement. Once again, this reflecting what kind of person Hillary Rodham was molding herself into. She knew how to play hardball with the politicians as she worked for causes her heart believed in; hence again, playing heavily on the two-toned household she grew up inconservative, yet socially committed.

Even after a young ambitious William Jefferson Clinton charismatically swept Hillary off her feet, she was still pushing forward on many commitments that made their way to her own political and career agenda. She was indeed making her own name well-known in the political arena, as she chose career moves that placed her in the greatest opportunity to work on issues she felt received little attention, yet needed more such as when she became a staff attorney working on the Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as well as legal consultant to the Carnegie Council on Children. Ironically in a political twist of faith, Hillary became part of the impeachment inquiry staff in 1974, where she was involved in advising the House Committee on the Judiciary with respect to the Watergate Scandal. Helping to research impeachment procedures and history, grounds and standards, it eventually brought about the resignation of President Nixon.

After marrying Bill Clinton, Hillary continued to champion causes dealing with the welfare of children and families in the state of Arkansas, where she co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. In between, She managed to work on campaign coordination in Indiana for Jimmy Carter, which he eventually appointed Hillary to the board of directors of Legal Services Corporation, and even became the first woman to chair that same board.

Bill Clinton would eventually become Governor of Arkansas, and Hillary still made time and commitment to her own personal career and political agenda. She was not just the woman behind the man, but she stood hand-in-hand with her husband and together they would compliment each other's political savvy and intelligence. Governor Bill Clinton knew very well how politically groomed Hillary was, and he quickly utilized her abilities to get things done by appointing her chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee, where she was instrumental and successful in establishing federal funding for that would expand medical facilities in Arkansas more poverty stricken areas, while limiting the affects this could possibly have on doctor's fees.

As you can see, Hillary Rodham Clinton made a name for herself in the world of politics long before there was a Bill to give her a marital name. She did not ride his coat-tails to success, but rather, she worked hard and ambitiously strived to do more for the American people, which has always been evident in the numerous causes she has championed prior to her relationship with President Bill Clinton. The saying, "Behind every great man, there's a woman" may ring true with respect to Hillary and Bill Clinton. However, if one truly peels away the layers, you will find a more equal relationship, where each brought their own individual abilities, strengths and weaknesses to the table and used it to pursue causes they are both passionate about, and their extreme knowledge with respect to the United States and politics has further enhanced their abilities to work hard for the people of our nation.

Hillary, Rodham first, Clinton, became the brilliant politician she is on her own merits long before there was a Bill. Yet, it is still amazing that when society sees this type of strength and know-how in a woman, many assume the power and position was achieved by riding the waves of a man. Let her early life speak volume and give her credit for the positive achievements she made happen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has always fought the hard battles that other politicians only made promises on. She actually did the hard work to make the "changes".

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