As the former First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001 and currently the United States Senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton is ranked 25^th among the World’s Most Powerful Women of Forbes list in 2007 and is included in Time 100 Most Powerful People of Time Magazine. She has received numerous merits and awards including the Living Legacy Award by the Women’s International Center in 1994 and the German Media Prize in 2004. Known as a strong advocate for children and families, Hillary Clinton is widely viewed as a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination in the November 2008 presidential elections. 

Family Background and Education

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton was born on October 26, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to Dorothy Howell and Hugh Rodham. She was raised in a United Methodist middle-class family and her childhood years were spent in Park Ridge, Illinois. She entered Wellesley College in 1965 where she took her major in political science. She then took up Law at Yale.

She transferred to Arkansas to follow Bill Clinton, who was starting his political career at that time. Hillary and Bill married in 1975 and she gave birth to their daughter, Chelsea, in 1980.

Career Milestones

In 1975, she worked as a faculty member of the University of Arkansas Law School. In 1977, she co-established Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, which is a partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund.

In 1979, she became the First Lady of Arkansas and held the status for twelve years, throughout which she lead various programs concerning children, education, literacy, women and health. From 1982 to 1992, she spearheaded the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee, to improve education in Arkansas through the implementation of higher standards in schools.

In 1993, as the First Lady of United States, President Clinton asked her to lead the Task Force on National Health Care Reform, focusing on the expansion of insurance coverage and complete immunization of children. In 1996, she published her bestseller and Grammy-winning book, “It Takes A Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us.” Hillary was also instrumental in the passage of a couple of bills– the State Children’s Health Insurance Program in 1997 and the Foster Care Independence Act in 1999. 

In November 2000, Hillary Clinton was elected United States Senator from New York, wherein she persisted in her advocacy for children and families. She also served in different committees including the Senate Armed Services Committee, personally visiting troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and bases in New York to assess their needs and conditions. She also sponsored a legislation that provided expanded health benefits to the National Guard and Reserves. Hillary also helped secure $21 billion for the funding of the site redevelopment of the World Trade Center, following its attack.

Hillary Clinton has passed several legislations. These include:

·         Legislation to increase America’s commitment to combat against global HIV/AIDS crisis and improve the quality of prescription drugs as well as lowering their cost;

·         Legislation to guarantee the safety of prescription drugs for children;

·         Legislation to help schools deal with environmental dangers; and

·         Legislation to bring more competent teachers into classrooms and more excellent principals to lead schools.

Clinton also co-sponsored the Prevention First Act, which aimed to increase access to family planning, and also launched the Count Every Vote Act of 2005 to protect votes better and guarantee that every vote is counted. In 2006, Hillary was reelected as United States Senator from New York.