View source for Hillary Clinton

{{Short description|American politician and diplomat (born 1947)}}
{{Redirect|Hillary}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Hillary Clinton official Secretary of State portrait crop.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2009
| alt                 = Clinton's official portrait as [[United States Secretary of State]], 2009
| office1             = 67th [[United States Secretary of State]]
| president1          = [[Barack Obama]]
| deputy1             = {{plainlist|
* [[John Negroponte]]
* [[James Steinberg]]
* [[William J. Burns (diplomat)|William J. Burns]]
}}
| term_start1         = January 21, 2009
| term_end1           = February 1, 2013
| predecessor1        = [[Condoleezza Rice]]
| successor1          = [[John Kerry]]
| jr/sr2              = United States Senator
| state2              = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| term_start2         = January 3, 2001
| term_end2           = January 21, 2009
| predecessor2        = [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]]
| successor2          = [[Kirsten Gillibrand]]
| term_label3         = In role
| office3             = [[First Lady of the United States]]
| president3          = [[Bill Clinton]]
| term_start3         = January 20, 1993
| term_end3           = January 20, 2001
| predecessor3        = [[Barbara Bush]]
| successor3          = [[Laura Bush]]
| office4             = [[First ladies and gentlemen of Arkansas|First Lady of Arkansas]]
| governor4           = Bill Clinton
| term_label4         = In role
| term_start4         = January 11, 1983
| term_end4           = December 12, 1992
| predecessor4        = Gay Daniels White
| successor4          = Betty Tucker
| governor5           = Bill Clinton
| term_label5         = In role
| term_start5         = January 9, 1979
| term_end5           = January 19, 1981
| predecessor5        = Barbara Pryor
| successor5          = Gay Daniels White<!-- Don't add link per MOS:OVERLINK. -->
| office6             = 11th [[List of chancellors of the Queen's University Belfast|Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast]]
| president6          = [[Ian Greer (obstetrician)|Ian Greer]]
| term_start6         = January 2, 2020
| predecessor6        = [[Thomas J. Moran (businessman)|Thomas J. Moran]]
| birth_name          = Hillary Diane Rodham
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1947|10|26}}
| birth_place         = [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
| residence           = {{plainlist|
* [[Chappaqua, New York]], U.S.
* [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
}}
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (1968–present)
| otherparty          = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (1965–1968)
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Bill Clinton]]|October 11, 1975}}
| children            = [[Chelsea Clinton]]
| parents             = {{plainlist|
* [[Hugh Rodham (born 1911)|Hugh Rodham]]
* [[Dorothy Howell Rodham|Dorothy Howell]]
}}
| relatives           = [[Clinton family]] (by marriage)
| education           = [[Wellesley College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Yale University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| awards              = [[List of honors and awards received by Hillary Clinton|Full list]]
| signature           = Hillary Rodham Clinton Signature.svg
| signature_alt       = Cursive signature in ink
| website             = {{URL|hillaryclinton.com}}
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Hillary Clinton voice.ogg|title=Hillary Clinton's voice|type=speech|description=Clinton conceding the 2016 presidential election<br/>Recorded November 9, 2016}}
}}
{{Hillary Clinton series}}

'''Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton''' ({{née}} '''Rodham''';{{efn|Pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɑː|d|ə|m}}, {{respell|RAH|dəm}}}} born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th [[United States secretary of state]] in the administration of [[Barack Obama]] from 2009 to 2013, a [[U.S. senator]] representing New York from 2001 to 2009, and the [[first lady of the United States]] as the wife of [[Bill Clinton]] from 1993 to 2001. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], she was the party's nominee in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]], becoming the first woman to win a presidential nomination by a major U.S. political party and the only woman to win the popular vote for U.S. president. However, she lost the electoral college to Republican [[Donald Trump]]. She is the only first lady of the United States to have run for elected office. 

Rodham graduated from [[Wellesley College]] in 1969 and from [[Yale Law School]] in 1973. After serving as a congressional legal counsel, she moved to [[Arkansas]] and, in 1975, married Bill Clinton. In 1977, Clinton co-founded [[Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families]], and in 1979 she became the first woman partner at [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]]'s [[Rose Law Firm]]. Clinton was the [[first lady of Arkansas]] from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 to 1992. As the first lady of the U.S., Clinton advocated for healthcare reform. In 1994, [[Clinton health care plan of 1993|her health care plan]] failed to gain approval from Congress. In 1997 and 1999, Clinton played a leading role in promoting the creation of the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]], the [[Adoption and Safe Families Act]], and the [[Foster Care Independence Act]]. In 1998, Clinton's marital relationship came under public scrutiny during the [[Clinton–Lewinsky scandal]], which led her to publicly reaffirm her commitment to the marriage.

Clinton was [[2000 United States Senate election in New York|first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000]], becoming the first female senator from New York. As a senator, she chaired the [[Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee]] from 2003 to 2007. Clinton [[Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign|ran for president in 2008]], but lost to Barack Obama in [[2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries|the Democratic primaries]]. In 2009, she resigned from the Senate to become Obama's secretary of state. She responded to the [[Arab Spring]] by advocating the [[2011 military intervention in Libya]], but was harshly criticized by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] for the failure to prevent or adequately respond to the [[2012 Benghazi attack]]. Clinton helped to organize a regime of international [[sanctions against Iran]] in an effort to force it to curtail its [[Nuclear program of Iran|nuclear program]], which eventually led to the multinational [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] in 2015. The [[East Asian foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration|strategic pivot to Asia]] was a central aspect of her tenure. [[Hillary Clinton email controversy|Her use of a private email server]] as secretary was the subject of intense scrutiny; while no charges were filed, the controversy was the single-most-covered topic during her [[Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign|second presidential run in 2016]]. She won the Democratic nomination, but lost the general election to her Republican Party opponent, [[Donald Trump]], in the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]], while winning the popular vote.

Following her loss, she wrote multiple books and launched [[Onward Together]], a [[501c4|political action organization]] dedicated to fundraising for progressive political groups. In 2011, Clinton was appointed the Honorary Founding Chair of the Institute for Women, Peace and Security at [[Georgetown University]], and the awards named in her name has been awarded annually at the university. Since 2020, she has served as [[Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast]]. In 2023, Clinton joined [[Columbia University]] as a Professor of Practice at the School of International and Public Affairs.

==Early life and education==
===Early life===
[[File:Hillary Clinton in 1965 Eyrie.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Rodham in [[Maine South High School]]'s 1965 yearbook]]

Hillary Diane Rodham<ref name=fullname>{{cite web|title=Hillary Clinton Bio|website=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/democrat/clinton/hillary.shtml|access-date=July 19, 2019|quote=Name: Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404143042/http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/democrat/clinton/hillary.shtml|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news|last1=Secter|first1=Bob|last2=Trice|first2=Dawn Turner|title=Clinton: Most famous. Least known?|date=November 27, 2017|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/chi-1127hillaryclintonnov27-story.html|access-date=July 19, 2019|quote=What You May Not Know About&nbsp;... Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719100217/https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/chi-1127hillaryclintonnov27-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> was born on October 26, 1947, at Edgewater Hospital in [[Chicago]], Illinois.<ref name="White House" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edgewaterhistory.org/ehs/articles/v14-3-4|title=Edgewater Hospital 1929–2001|author=O'Laughlin, Dania|date=Summer 2003|publisher=Edgewater Historical Society|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060902/http://www.edgewaterhistory.org/ehs/articles/v14-3-4|url-status=live}}</ref> She was raised in a [[Methodist]] family who first lived in Chicago. When she was three years old, her family moved to the Chicago suburb of [[Park Ridge, Illinois|Park Ridge]].{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=18, 34}} Her father, [[Hugh Rodham (born 1911)|Hugh Rodham]], was of English and Welsh descent,<ref name="nehgs">{{cite web |author=Roberts, Gary Boyd |url=http://www.americanancestors.org/ancestry-of-senator-hillary-rodham-clinton/ |title=Notes on the Ancestry of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton |publisher=[[New England Historic Genealogical Society]] |access-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203151445/http://www.americanancestors.org/ancestry-of-senator-hillary-rodham-clinton/ |archive-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref> and founded a small but successful textile business.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=17–18}} Her mother, [[Dorothy Howell Rodham|Dorothy Howell]], was a homemaker of [[Dutch people|Dutch]], [[English people|English]], [[French Canadian]] (from [[Quebec]]), [[Scottish people|Scottish]], and [[Welsh people|Welsh]] descent.<ref name="nehgs"/><ref>{{cite news |author=Smolenyak, Megan |author-link=Megan Smolenyak |url=http://irishamerica.com/2015/03/hillary-clintons-celtic-roots/ |title=Hillary Clinton's Celtic Roots |work=Irish America |date=April–May 2015 |access-date=April 16, 2015 |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323062511/http://irishamerica.com/2015/03/hillary-clintons-celtic-roots/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="brock-4"/> She grew up with two younger brothers, [[Hugh Rodham (born 1950)|Hugh]] and [[Tony Rodham|Tony]].{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=14}}

As a child, Rodham was a favorite student among her teachers at the [[Park Ridge-Niles School District 64|public schools she attended]] in Park Ridge.{{sfnm |1a1=Bernstein |1y=2007 |1p=29 |2a1=Morris |2y=1996 |2p=113}} She participated in swimming and softball and earned numerous badges as a [[Brownie (Girl Guides)|Brownie]] and a [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scout]].{{sfnm |1a1=Bernstein |1y=2007 |1p=29 |2a1=Morris |2y=1996 |2p=113}} She was inspired by U.S. efforts during the [[Space Race]] and sent a letter to [[NASA]] around 1961 asking what she could do to become an astronaut, only to be informed that women were not being accepted into the program.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Michelle Ye Hee |date=November 30, 2015 |title=Hillary Clinton's often-told story that NASA rejected her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/30/hillary-clintons-often-told-story-that-nasa-rejected-her-childhood-dream-of-becoming-a-female-astronaut/ |access-date=June 17, 2016 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215010720/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/30/hillary-clintons-often-told-story-that-nasa-rejected-her-childhood-dream-of-becoming-a-female-astronaut/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She attended [[Maine South High School]],<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kenny |first1=Caroline |last2=Cen |first2=Jasmine |date=July 6, 2016 |title=Hillary Clinton's high school legacy lives on at Maine South |work=Medill News Service |url=https://dc.medill.northwestern.edu/blog/2016/07/06/hillary-clintons-high-school-legacy-lives-on-at-maine-south/ |access-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712144107/https://dc.medill.northwestern.edu/blog/2016/07/06/hillary-clintons-high-school-legacy-lives-on-at-maine-south/#sthash.8cRHIk0g.dpbs |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 27, 2016 |title=Hillary Clinton wins Maine South High School mock election |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/park-ridge/ct-prh-maine-south-election-tl-1103-20161027-story.html |access-date=December 15, 2023 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207204821/https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/park-ridge/ct-prh-maine-south-election-tl-1103-20161027-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> where she participated in the [[student council]] and school newspaper and was selected for the [[National Honor Society]].<ref name="White House">{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/1600/first-ladies/hillaryclinton|title=Hillary Rodham Clinton|website=obamawhitehouse.archives.gov|date=December 31, 2014|publisher=The [[White House]]|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=January 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120221819/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/1600/first-ladies/hillaryclinton|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=30–31}} She was elected class vice president for her junior year but then lost the election for class president for her senior year against two boys, one of whom told her that "you are really stupid if you think a girl can be elected president".{{sfnm |1a1=Bernstein |1y=2007 |1p=30 |2a1=Gerth |2a2=Van Natta |2y=2007 |2pp=21–22}} For her senior year, she and other students were transferred to the then-new Maine South High School. There she was a [[National Merit Finalist]] and was voted "most likely to succeed." She graduated in 1965 in the top five percent of her class.{{sfnm |1a1=Bernstein |1y=2007 |1pp=30–31 |2a1=Maraniss |2y=1995 |2p=255}}

Rodham's mother wanted her to have an independent, professional career.<ref name="brock-4"/> Her father, who was otherwise a traditionalist, felt that his daughter's abilities and opportunities should not be limited by gender.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=13}} She was raised in a politically [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] household,<ref name="brock-4">Brock 1996, p.&nbsp;4. Her father was an outspoken Republican, while her mother kept quiet but was "basically a Democrat." See also Bernstein 2007, p.&nbsp;16.</ref> and she helped [[Canvassing|canvass]] [[Chicago's South Side]] at age 13 after the very close [[1960 United States presidential election|1960 U.S. presidential election]]. She stated that, while investigating with a fellow teenage friend shortly after the election, she saw evidence of [[electoral fraud]] (a voting list entry showing a dozen addresses that was an empty lot) against Republican candidate [[Richard Nixon]];{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=19}} she later volunteered to campaign for Republican candidate [[Barry Goldwater]] in the [[1964 United States presidential election|1964 election]].<ref>{{Cite book |author=Middendorf, J. William |title=Glorious Disaster: Barry Goldwater's Presidential Campaign And the Origins of the Conservative Movement |publisher=[[Basic Books]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-465-04573-0 |author-link=J. William Middendorf |url=https://archive.org/details/gloriousdisaster00midd }} p.&nbsp;266.</ref>

Rodham's early political development was shaped mostly by two people. Her high school history teacher, Paul Carlson, was one. Like her father, Carlson was a fervent [[anti-communist]], who introduced her to Goldwater's ''[[The Conscience of a Conservative]]''. Another was Donald Jones, her Methodist youth minister, who, like her mother, was concerned with issues of [[social justice]]. She was with Jones' youth group when she saw and afterwards briefly met [[civil rights movement|civil rights]] leader [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] when he gave a speech in 1962 at Chicago's [[Orchestra Hall (Chicago)|Orchestra Hall]].{{sfnm|1a1=Troy|1y=2006|1p=15|2a1=Gerth|2a2=Van Natta|2y=2007|2pp=18–21|3a1=Bernstein|3y=2007|3pp=34–36}}{{efn|Several dates have been published for the King speech she witnessed, but April 15, 1962, is the most likely.{{sfn|Dobbs|2007}}}}
Carlson and Jones came into conflict in Park Ridge; Clinton would later see that as "an early indication of the cultural, political and religious fault lines that developed across America in the [next] forty years".{{sfn|Clinton|2003|p=23}}

===Wellesley College years===
[[File:1968 Wellesley College Government Presidential Candidates at Panel.jpg|thumb|alt=Rhodham sitting on a panel, flanked by two other candidates|Rodham and [[Francille Rusan]] (right) campaigning for [[Wellesley College]] government president in 1968, an election which Rodham later won]]

In 1965, Rodham enrolled at [[Wellesley College]], where she majored in [[political science]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/03/04/a_students_words_a_candidates_struggle/|title=A student's words, a candidate's struggle|last=Levenson|first=Michael|date=March 4, 2007|work=[[Boston Globe]]|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215010703/http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/03/04/a_students_words_a_candidates_struggle/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wellesley.edu/events/commencement/archives/1992commencement/commencementaddress|title=Hillary Rodham Clinton Remarks to Wellesley College Class of 1992|author=Clinton, Hillary Rodham|date=May 29, 1992|publisher=[[Wellesley College]]|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> During her first year, she was president of the Wellesley [[Young Republicans]].<ref name="living31">Clinton 2003, p.&nbsp;31.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wellesley.edu/Activities/homepage/gop/history.html |title=Wellesley College Republicans: History and Purpose |publisher=[[Wellesley College]] |date=May 16, 2007 |access-date=June 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903132835/http://www.wellesley.edu/Activities/homepage/gop/history.html |archive-date=September 3, 2006}} Gives organization's prior name.</ref> As the leader of this "[[Rockefeller Republican]]"-oriented group,<ref>{{Cite book |author=Milton, Joyce |title=The First Partner: Hillary Rodham Clinton |publisher=[[William Morrow and Company]] |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-688-15501-8}} pp.&nbsp;27–28.</ref> she supported the elections of moderate Republicans [[John Lindsay]] to [[mayor of New York City]] and [[Massachusetts Attorney General|Massachusetts attorney general]] [[Edward Brooke]] to the United States Senate.{{sfn|Brock|1996|pp=12–13}} She later stepped down from this position. In 2003, Clinton would write that her views concerning the [[civil rights movement]] and the [[Vietnam War]] were changing in her early college years.<ref name="living31"/> In a letter to her youth minister at that time, she described herself as "a mind conservative and a heart liberal".<ref>Bernstein 2007, p.&nbsp;50. Bernstein states she believed this combination was possible and that no equation better describes the adult Hillary Clinton.</ref> In contrast to the factions in the 1960s that advocated radical actions against the political system, she sought to work for change within it.<ref name="bg011293">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/1993/01/12/hillary-the-wellesley-years/OEapzWGuzSNAFiIHL2zm9K/story.html|title=Hillary: The Wellesley Years: The woman who will live in the White House was a sharp-witted activist in the class of '69|author=Kenney, Charles|date=January 12, 1993|work=[[Boston Globe]]|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215010721/https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/1993/01/12/hillary-the-wellesley-years/OEapzWGuzSNAFiIHL2zm9K/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Bernstein 2007, pp.&nbsp;42–46; Troy 2006, pp.&nbsp;18–19.</ref>

By her [[Junior (education year)|junior]] year, Rodham became a supporter of the antiwar [[1968 United States presidential election|presidential nomination campaign]] of Democrat [[Eugene McCarthy]].<ref name="nyt090507"/> In early 1968, she was elected president of the Wellesley College Government Association, a position she held until early 1969.<ref name="bg011293"/><ref name="wcaddr"/> Following the [[assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.]], Rodham organized a two-day student strike and worked with Wellesley's black students to recruit more black students and faculty.<ref name="nyt090507">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/us/politics/05clinton.html|title=In Turmoil of '68, Clinton Found a New Voice|author=Leibovich, Mark|date=September 7, 2007|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=October 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011140448/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/us/politics/05clinton.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In her student government role, she played a role in keeping Wellesley from being embroiled in the [[campus protest|student disruptions]] common to other colleges.<ref name="bg011293"/>{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=53–54}} A number of her fellow students thought she might some day become the first female president of the United States.<ref name="bg011293"/>

To help her better understand her changing political views, Professor [[Alan Schechter]] assigned Rodham to intern at the [[Republican Conference of the United States House of Representatives|House Republican Conference]], and she attended the "Wellesley in Washington" summer program.<ref name="nyt090507"/> Rodham was invited by moderate New York Republican representative [[Charles Goodell]] to help Governor [[Nelson Rockefeller]]'s late-entry campaign for the Republican nomination.<ref name="nyt090507"/> Rodham attended the [[1968 Republican National Convention]] in [[Miami Beach, Florida|Miami Beach]]. However, she was upset by the way Richard Nixon's campaign portrayed Rockefeller and by what she perceived as the convention's "veiled" racist messages, and she left the Republican Party for good.<ref name="nyt090507"/>
Rodham [[Hillary Rodham senior thesis#Thesis|wrote her senior thesis]], a critique of the tactics of radical community organizer [[Saul Alinsky]], under Professor Schechter.<ref name="msn030207"/> Years later, while she was the first lady, access to her thesis was [[Hillary Rodham senior thesis#White House and Wellesley limiting of access|restricted at the request of the White House]], and it became the subject of some speculation. The thesis was later released.<ref name="msn030207">{{cite news |title=Reading Hillary Rodham's hidden thesis |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17388372 |author=Dedman, Bill |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=May 9, 2007 |author-link=Bill Dedman |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308205444/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17388372/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1969, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts,<ref name="nyt-bio"/> with departmental honors in political science.<ref name="msn030207"/> After some fellow seniors requested that the college administration allow a student speaker at commencement, she became the first student in Wellesley College history to speak at the event. Her address followed that of the [[commencement speaker]], Senator [[Edward Brooke]].<ref name="wcaddr">{{cite web|url=https://www.wellesley.edu/events/commencement/archives/1969commencement/studentspeech|title=Hillary D. Rodham's 1969 Student Commencement Speech|author=Rodham, Hillary|date=May 31, 1969|publisher=[[Wellesley College]]|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212212604/https://www.wellesley.edu/events/commencement/archives/1969commencement/studentspeech|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=34–36}} After her speech, she received a standing ovation that lasted seven minutes.<ref name="bg011293"/><ref>{{Cite news |title=Brooke Speech Challenged by Graduate |work=[[Fitchburg Sentinel]] |date=June 2, 1969}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Brooke Speech Draws Reply |work=[[Nevada State Journal]] |date=June 2, 1969}}</ref> She was featured in an article published in ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine,<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The Class of '69 |magazine=[[Life (magazine)|Life]] |date=June 20, 1969 |pages=28–33 |url=http://life.time.com/history/hillary-clinton-in-1969-photos-of-a-recent-college-grad/attachment/15_hillary2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225145440/http://life.time.com/history/hillary-clinton-in-1969-photos-of-a-recent-college-grad/attachment/15_hillary2/ |archive-date=December 25, 2014}} The article features Rodham and two student commencement speakers from other schools, with photos and excerpts from their speeches.</ref><ref name="time69">{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3502935/life-with-hillary-portraits-of-a-wellesley-grad-1969/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115203420/http://time.com/3502935/life-with-hillary-portraits-of-a-wellesley-grad-1969/ |url-status=live |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |title=Hillary Clinton: Photos of the Future First Lady as a Wellesley Grad |last=Cosgrove |first=Ben |date=February 15, 2014 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> because of the response to a part of her speech that criticized Senator Brooke.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=34–36}} She also appeared on [[Irv Kupcinet]]'s nationally syndicated television talk show as well as in Illinois and New England newspapers.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=70}} She was asked to speak at the 50th anniversary convention of the [[League of Women Voters]] in Washington, D.C. the next year.<ref>Clinton, ''What Happened'', p. 198.</ref> That summer, she worked her way across Alaska, washing dishes in [[Mount McKinley National Park]] and [[fish processing|sliming]] salmon in a fish processing cannery in [[Valdez, Alaska|Valdez]] (which fired her and shut down overnight when she complained about unhealthy conditions).<ref>Morris 1996, p.&nbsp;139; Bernstein 2007, p.&nbsp;105. Clinton would later write, and repeat on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'', that sliming fish was the best preparation she would ever have for living in Washington. Clinton 2003, pp.&nbsp;42–43.</ref>

===Yale Law School and postgraduate studies===
Rodham then entered [[Yale Law School]], where she was on the editorial board of the ''[[Yale Review of Law and Social Action]]''.<ref name="arkhc">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/hillary-diane-rodham-clinton-2744/|title=Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (1947–)|date=May 16, 2019|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture]]|publisher=[[Central Arkansas Library System]]|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=January 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119004054/http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2744|url-status=live}}</ref> During her second year, she worked at the [[Yale Child Study Center]],{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=42–43}} learning about new research on early childhood brain development and working as a research assistant on the seminal work, ''Beyond the Best Interests of the Child'' (1973).{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=75}}<ref>The authors of ''Beyond the Best Interests of the Child'' were center director Al Solnit, Yale Law professor Joe Goldstein, and [[Anna Freud]].</ref> She also took on cases of child abuse at [[Yale–New Haven Hospital]],{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=75}} and volunteered at New Haven Legal Services to provide free legal advice for the poor.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=42–43}} In the summer of 1970, she was awarded a grant to work at [[Marian Wright Edelman]]'s Washington Research Project, where she was assigned to Senator [[Walter Mondale]]'s [[Subcommittee on Migratory Labor]]. There she researched various [[migrant worker]]s' issues including education, health and housing.<ref>Morris 1996, pp.&nbsp;142–43.</ref> Edelman later became a significant mentor.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=71–74}} Rodham was recruited by political advisor [[Anne Wexler]] to work on the 1970 campaign of Connecticut U.S. Senate candidate [[Joseph Duffey]]. Rodham later crediting Wexler with providing her first job in politics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/08/AR2009080800058.html|title=Anne Wexler, Political Adviser and Lobbyist, Dies at 79|last=Weil |first=Martin|date=August 8, 2009|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706144342/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/08/AR2009080800058.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the spring of 1971, she began dating fellow law student [[Bill Clinton]]. During the summer, she interned at the [[Oakland, California]], law firm of [[Treuhaft, Walker and Burnstein]]. The firm was well known for its support of [[constitutional right]]s, [[civil liberties]] and [[Far-left politics|radical causes]] (two of its four partners were current or former [[Communist Party USA|Communist Party members]]);{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=82–83}} Rodham worked on child custody and other cases.{{efn|Research by ''[[The New York Sun]]'' in 2007 found it unclear exactly which cases beyond child custody ones Rodham worked on at the Treuhaft firm.<ref name="nys-rad"/> Anti-Clinton writers such as [[Barbara Olson]] would later charge Hillary Clinton with never repudiating Treuhaft's ideology, and for retaining social and political ties with his wife and fellow communist [[Jessica Mitford]].{{sfn|Olson|1999|pp=56–57}} Further ''Sun'' research revealed that Mitford and Hillary Clinton were not close, and had a falling-out over a 1980 Arkansas prisoner case.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/national/hillary-clintons-left-hook/67002/ |title=Hillary Clinton's Left Hook |author=Gerstein, Josh |work=[[The New York Sun]] |date=November 27, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2009 |archive-date=May 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531045154/http://www.nysun.com/national/hillary-clintons-left-hook/67002/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} Clinton canceled his original summer plans and moved to live with her in California;<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/national/clintons-berkeley-summer-of-love/66982/ |title=The Clintons' Berkeley Summer of Love |author=Gerstein, Josh |newspaper=[[The New York Sun]] |date=November 26, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2009 |archive-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201224450/http://www.nysun.com/national/clintons-berkeley-summer-of-love/66982/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the couple continued [[cohabitating|living together]] in New Haven when they returned to law school.<ref name="nys-rad">{{Cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/national/hillary-clintons-radical-summer/66933/ |title=Hillary Clinton's Radical Summer |last=Gerstein |first=Josh |newspaper=[[The New York Sun]] |date=November 26, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2009 |archive-date=May 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526054116/http://www.nysun.com/national/hillary-clintons-radical-summer/66933/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The following summer, [[1972 United States presidential election in Texas#McGovern campaign|Rodham and Clinton campaigned in Texas]] for unsuccessful [[George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign|1972 Democratic presidential candidate]] [[George McGovern]].{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=48–49}} She received a [[Juris Doctor]] degree from Yale in 1973,<ref name="nyt-bio">{{Cite news |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/hillary_rodham_clinton/index.html |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 13, 2008 |first=Helene |last=Cooper |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428044353/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/hillary_rodham_clinton/index.html |archive-date=April 28, 2008}}</ref> having stayed on an extra year to be with Clinton.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=89}} He first proposed marriage to her following graduation, but she declined, uncertain if she wanted to tie her future to his.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=89}}

Rodham began a year of postgraduate study on children and medicine at the Yale Child Study Center.<ref name="nfll">{{cite web |title=First Lady Biography: Hillary Clinton |url=http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=43 |publisher=[[National First Ladies' Library]] |access-date=August 22, 2006 |archive-date=April 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414204023/http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=43 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In late 1973, her first scholarly article, "Children Under the Law", was published in the ''[[Harvard Educational Review]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rodham |first=Hillary |year=1973 |title=Children Under the Law |journal=[[Harvard Educational Review]] |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=487–514 |doi=10.17763/haer.43.4.e14676283875773k | issn=0017-8055}}</ref> Discussing the new [[children's rights movement]], the article stated that "child citizens" were "powerless individuals"<ref>Troy 2006, p.&nbsp;21.</ref> and argued that children should not be considered equally [[Competence (law)|incompetent]] from birth to attaining legal age, but instead that courts should presume competence on a case-by-case basis, except when there is evidence otherwise.<ref name="nyt082492">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/24/us/1992-campaign-issues-women-families-legal-scholars-see-distortion-attacks.html |title=Legal Scholars See Distortion in Attacks on Hillary Clinton |last=Lewin |first=Tamar |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 24, 1992 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115191426/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/24/us/1992-campaign-issues-women-families-legal-scholars-see-distortion-attacks.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The article became frequently cited in the field.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/30351/0000753.pdf |title=What Hillary Rodham Clinton really said about children's rights and child policy |last1=Lindsey |first1=Duncan |last2=Sarri |first2=Rosemary C. |journal=[[Children and Youth Services Review]] |volume=14 |number=6 |year=1992 |pages=473–83 |doi=10.1016/0190-7409(92)90001-C |hdl=2027.42/30351 |hdl-access=free |access-date=November 28, 2014 |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205122327/http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/30351/0000753.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Marriage, family, legal career and first ladyship of Arkansas==
{{see also|Hillary Clinton's tenures as First Lady of Arkansas|Legal career of Hillary Clinton|Hillary Clinton's career in corporate governance}}

===From the East Coast to Arkansas===
During her postgraduate studies, Rodham was staff attorney for Edelman's newly founded [[Children's Defense Fund]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]],{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=91–92}} and as a consultant to the Carnegie Council on Children.{{sfn|Brock|1996|p=42}} In 1974, she was a member of the impeachment inquiry staff in Washington, D.C., and advised the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Committee on the Judiciary]] during the [[Watergate scandal]].{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=94–96, 101–03}} The committee's work culminated with the resignation of President Richard Nixon in August 1974.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=94–96, 101–03}}

By then, Rodham was viewed as someone with a bright political future. Democratic political organizer and consultant [[Betsey Wright]] moved from Texas to Washington the previous year to help guide Rodham's career.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=62}} Wright thought Rodham had the potential to become a future senator or president.{{sfn|Maraniss|1995|p=277}} Meanwhile, boyfriend Bill Clinton had repeatedly asked Rodham to marry him, but she continued to demur.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=90, 120}} After failing the [[District of Columbia]] [[Multistate Performance Test|bar exam]]<ref>Bernstein 2007, p.&nbsp;92; Allen and Parnes 2014, p.&nbsp;149. Taking an out-of-date bar study class may have been a factor. Two-thirds (551 of 817) of the candidates passed. Rodham did not tell even close friends of the failure until revealing it thirty years later in her autobiography.</ref> and passing the Arkansas exam, Rodham came to a key decision. As she later wrote, "I chose to follow my heart instead of my head".{{sfn|Clinton|2003|p=69}} She thus followed Clinton to Arkansas, rather than staying in Washington, where career prospects were brighter. He was then teaching law and running for a seat in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in his home state. In August 1974, Rodham moved to [[Fayetteville, Arkansas]], and became one of only two female faculty members at the [[University of Arkansas School of Law]] in Fayetteville, Arkansas.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=92}}{{sfn|Clinton|2003|p=70}}

===Early Arkansas years===
[[File:HillaryRodhamBillClintonLittleRockHouse1adjusted.jpg|thumb|alt=A small, one-story brick-faced house with a small yard in front|Hillary and [[Bill Clinton]] lived in this house in the [[Hillcrest (Little Rock)|Hillcrest neighborhood]] of [[Little Rock]] while he was [[Attorney general of Arkansas]] from 1977 to 1979.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clinton |first=Bill |title=My Life |publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf|Knopf Publishing Group]] |year=2004 |title-link=My Life (Bill Clinton autobiography) }} p.&nbsp;244.</ref>]]

Rodham became the first director of a new [[legal aid]] clinic at the University of Arkansas School of Law.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=126–27}} During her time in Fayetteville, Rodham and several other women founded the city's first rape crisis center.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=126–27}}

In 1974, Bill Clinton lost an Arkansas congressional race, facing incumbent Republican [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]].{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=57}} Rodham and Bill Clinton bought a house in Fayetteville in the summer of 1975 and she agreed to marry him.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=120}} The wedding took place on October 11, 1975, in a Methodist ceremony in their living room.{{sfn|Maraniss|1995|pp=121–22}} A story about the marriage in the ''[[Arkansas Gazette]]'' indicated that she decided to retain the name Hillary Rodham.{{sfn|Maraniss|1995|pp=121–22}}<ref name="pol-edu-83"/> Her motivation was threefold. She wanted to keep the couple's professional lives separate, avoid apparent conflicts of interest, and as she told a friend at the time, "it showed that I was still me".{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=157}} The decision upset both mothers, who were more traditional.{{sfn|Clinton|2003|pp=91–92}}

In 1976, Rodham temporarily relocated to [[Indianapolis]] to [[1976 United States presidential election in Indiana#Hillary Clinton’s role in the Carter campaign|work as an Indiana state campaign organizer]] for the presidential campaign of [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/behind-closed-doors/2015/10/02/hillary-clinton-indiana-basketball-indianoplace-email/73218878/ |title='Indianoplace'? That's what Hillary Clinton called us |last=Groppe |first=Maureen |date=October 7, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]] |access-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730150645/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/behind-closed-doors/2015/10/02/hillary-clinton-indiana-basketball-indianoplace-email/73218878/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/08/30/jimmy-carter-makes-fund-raising-plea-for-hillary-clinton/ |title=Jimmy Carter makes fund raising plea for Hillary Clinton |last=Sheinin |first=Aaron Gould |date=August 30, 2016 |website=ajc.com |publisher=AJC |access-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114531/http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/08/30/jimmy-carter-makes-fund-raising-plea-for-hillary-clinton/ |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In November 1976, Bill Clinton was elected [[Arkansas attorney general]], and the couple moved to the state capital of [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]].{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=57}} In February 1977, Rodham joined the venerable [[Rose Law Firm]], a bastion of Arkansan political and economic influence.<ref>Bernstein 2007, pp.&nbsp;128, 103. The firm was called Rose, Nash, Williamson, Carroll, Clay & Giroir, but it simplified its name to Rose Law Firm in 1980.</ref> She specialized in [[patent infringement]] and intellectual property law<ref name="arkhc"/> while working ''[[pro bono]]'' in child advocacy.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=133}} In 1977, Rodham cofounded [[Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families]], a state-level alliance with the Children's Defense Fund.<ref name="arkhc"/>{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=154}}

Later in 1977, President Jimmy Carter (for whom Rodham had been the 1976 campaign director of field operations in Indiana){{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=125}} appointed her to the board of directors of the [[Legal Services Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=7026 |title=Jimmy Carter: Nominations Submitted to the Senate, Week Ending Friday, December 16, 1977 |publisher=American Presidency Project |access-date=September 3, 2007 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060856/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=7026 |url-status=live }}</ref> She held that position from 1978 until the end of 1981.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=42598 |title=Ronald Reagan: Recess Appointment of Three Members of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation |date=January 22, 1982 |publisher=American Presidency Project |access-date=September 3, 2007 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061154/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=42598 |url-status=live }}</ref> From mid-1978 to mid-1980,{{efn|For the start date, see {{sfnlink|Brock|1996|p=96}}. Secondary sources give inconsistent dates as to when her time as chair ended. Primary sources indicate that between about April 1980 and September 1980, Rodham was replaced as chair by [[F. William McCalpin]]. See Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1981, "[{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=KWRBPOdZCdAC |page=145}} House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations]", U.S. House of Representatives, 1980. Rodham is still chair after having given birth "a few weeks ago"; Chelsea Clinton was born on February 27, 1980.}} she served as the first female chair of that board.<ref>Morris 1996, p.&nbsp;225.</ref>

Following her husband's November 1978 election as [[governor of Arkansas]], Rodham became that state's first lady in January 1979. She would hold that title for twelve nonconsecutive years (1979–1981, 1983–1992). Clinton appointed his wife to be the chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee the same year,<ref name="nyt012093mk">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/20/us/the-inauguration-the-first-couple-a-union-of-mind-and-ambition.html |title=The First Couple: A Union of Mind and Ambition |last=Kelly |first=Michael |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 20, 1993 |author-link=Michael Kelly (editor) |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524190132/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/20/us/the-inauguration-the-first-couple-a-union-of-mind-and-ambition.html |url-status=live }}</ref> in which role she secured federal funds to expand medical facilities in Arkansas's poorest areas without affecting doctors' fees.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=147}}

In 1979, Rodham became the first woman to be made a full partner in Rose Law Firm.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=60}} From 1978 until they entered the White House, she had a higher salary than her husband.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=130}} During 1978 and 1979, while looking to supplement their income, Rodham engaged in the trading of [[Hillary Rodham cattle futures controversy|cattle futures contracts]];{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=66–67}} an initial $1,000 investment generated nearly $100,000 when she stopped trading after ten months.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=73–76}} At this time, the couple began their ill-fated investment in the [[Whitewater Development Corporation]] real estate venture with [[Jim McDougal|Jim]] and [[Susan McDougal]].{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=66–67}} Both of these became [[#Scandals and investigations|subjects of controversy in the 1990s]].{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=72–73}}

On February 27, 1980, Rodham gave birth to the couple's only child, a daughter whom they named [[Chelsea Clinton|Chelsea]]. In November 1980, Bill Clinton was [[1980 Arkansas gubernatorial election|defeated in his bid for re-election]].{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=159–160}}

===Later Arkansas years===
[[File:President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan with Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton walking in the Cross Hall.jpg|thumb|alt=The Clintons and the Reagans walking a red carpet|The Clintons with [[Ronald Reagan|Ronald]] and [[Nancy Reagan]] in 1987]]

Two years after leaving office, Bill Clinton returned to the governorship of Arkansas after winning [[1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election|the election of 1982]]. During her husband's campaign, Hillary began to use the name "Hillary Clinton", or sometimes "Mrs. Bill Clinton", to assuage the concerns of Arkansas voters; she also took a [[leave of absence]] from Rose Law to campaign for him full-time.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=166}} During her second stint as the first lady of Arkansas, she made a point of using Hillary Rodham Clinton as her name.{{efn|name=ex04|As of 1993, she had not legally changed her name from Hillary Rodham.<ref name="nyt-name-93">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/14/us/again-it-s-hillary-rodham-clinton-got-that.html |title=Again: It's Hillary Rodham Clinton. Got That? |last=Kelly |first=Michael |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 14, 1993}}</ref> Bill Clinton's advisers thought her use of her maiden name to be one of the reasons for his 1980 gubernatorial re-election loss. During the following winter, [[Vernon Jordan]] suggested to Hillary Rodham that she start using the name Clinton, and she began to do so publicly with her husband's February 1982 campaign announcement to regain that office. She later wrote, "I learned the hard way that some voters in Arkansas were seriously offended by the fact that I kept my maiden name."{{sfnm |1a1=Clinton |1y=2003 |1pp=91–93 |2a1=Morris |2y=1996 |2p=113}} Once he was elected again, she made a point of using "Hillary Rodham Clinton" in work she did as First Lady of the state.<ref name="pol-edu-83">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/04/hillary-clinton-2016-arkansas-116939/ |title=The long, hot summer Hillary Clinton became a politician |author=Kruse, Michael |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=April 14, 2015 |access-date=April 16, 2015 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060854/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/04/hillary-clinton-2016-arkansas-116939 |url-status=live }}</ref> Once she became first lady of the United States in 1993, she publicly stated that she wanted to be known as "Hillary Rodham Clinton".<ref name="nyt-name-93"/> She has authored all her books under that name and she has continued to use that name on her website and elsewhere when becoming a U.S. senator.<ref name="bg-name-07"/> When running for president during 2007–2008, she used the name "Hillary Clinton" or just "Hillary" in campaign materials.<ref name="bg-name-07">{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/26/name_changes_define_clintons_various_career_stages/ |title=Name changes define Clinton's various career stages |last=Williams |first=Joseph |website=[[Boston.com]] |date=February 26, 2007 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215010707/http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/26/name_changes_define_clintons_various_career_stages/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She used "Hillary Rodham Clinton" again in official materials as secretary of state.<ref name="npr-name-15"/> As of the 2015 launch of her second presidential campaign, she again switched to using "Hillary Clinton" in campaign materials;<ref name="npr-name-15">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2015/04/13/399233906/hillary-clinton-is-back-but-will-there-be-a-return-of-the-rodham |title='Hillary Clinton' Is Back, But Will There Be A Return of the Rodham? |author=Elving, Ron |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=April 13, 2015}}</ref> in November 2015 both the [[Associated Press]] and ''The New York Times'' noted that they would no longer use "Rodham" in referring to Clinton, with the ''Times'' stating that "the Clinton campaign confirmed&nbsp;... that Mrs. Clinton prefers to be simply, 'Hillary Clinton{{'"}}.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lauren |last=Easton |url=https://blog.ap.org/announcements/updating-ap-style-on-hillary-clinton |title=Updating AP style on Hillary Clinton |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215012144/https://blog.ap.org/announcements/updating-ap-style-on-hillary-clinton |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |first=Amy |last=Chozick |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/11/30/times-drops-rodham-in-referring-to-hillary-clinton/ |title=Times Drops 'Rodham' in Referring to Hillary Clinton |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215010730/https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/11/30/times-drops-rodham-in-referring-to-hillary-clinton/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

Clinton became involved in state education policy. She was named chair of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee in 1983, where worked to reform the state's public education system.<ref name="bernstein-170">Bernstein 2007, pp.&nbsp;170–75. Bernstein states that "the political battle for education reform&nbsp;... would be her greatest accomplishment in public life until she was elected to the U.S. Senate."</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Hillary Clinton Guides Movement to Change Public Education in Arkansas |url=http://www.oldstatehouse.com/collections/classroom/arkansas_news.aspx?issue=29&page=1&detail=528 |date=Spring 1993 |publisher=[[Old State House (Little Rock)|Old State House Museum]] |access-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416183519/http://www.oldstatehouse.com/collections/classroom/arkansas_news.aspx?issue=29&page=1&detail=528 |archive-date=April 16, 2014}}</ref> In one of the Clinton governorship's most important initiatives, she fought a prolonged but ultimately successful battle against the [[Arkansas Education Association]] to establish mandatory teacher testing and state standards for curriculum and classroom size.<ref name="nyt012093mk"/><ref name="bernstein-170"/> In 1985, she introduced Arkansas's Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth, a program that helps parents work with their children in preschool preparedness and literacy.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Kearney, Janis F. |title=Conversations: William Jefferson Clinton, from Hope to Harlem |publisher=Writing Our World Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-9762058-1-4}} p.&nbsp;295.</ref>

Clinton continued to practice law with the Rose Law Firm while she was the first lady of Arkansas.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=63}}<ref name="nyt022694">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/26/us/rose-law-firm-arkansas-power-slips-as-it-steps-onto-a-bigger-stage.html |title=Rose Law Firm, Arkansas Power, Slips as It Steps Onto a Bigger Stage |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Labaton, Stephen |date=February 26, 1994 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215010711/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/26/us/rose-law-firm-arkansas-power-slips-as-it-steps-onto-a-bigger-stage.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The firm considered her a "[[Rainmaker (business)|rainmaker]]" because she brought in clients, partly thanks to the prestige she lent it and to her corporate board connections. She was also very influential in the appointment of state judges.<ref name="nyt022694"/> Bill Clinton's Republican opponent in his 1986 gubernatorial reelection campaign accused the Clintons of conflict of interest because Rose Law did state business; the Clintons countered the charge by saying that state fees were walled off by the firm before her profits were calculated.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=80–81}} Clinton was twice named by ''[[The National Law Journal]]'' as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America—in 1988 and 1991.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=87–88}} When Bill Clinton thought about not running again for governor in 1990, Hillary Clinton considered running. Private polls were unfavorable, however, and in the end he ran and was reelected for the final time.{{sfnm |1a1=Bernstein |1y=2007 |1pp=187–89 |2a1=Gerth |2a2=Van Natta |2y=2007 |2p=85}}

From 1982 to 1988, Clinton was on the board of directors, sometimes as chair, of the [[New World Foundation]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fair.org/press-release/limbaugh-responds-to-fair/ |title=Limbaugh Responds to FAIR |publisher=[[Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting|FAIR]] |date=June 28, 1994 |access-date=May 9, 2008 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060857/http://fair.org/press-release/limbaugh-responds-to-fair/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which funded a variety of [[New Left]] [[interest group]]s.<ref>Troy 2006, p.&nbsp;29.</ref> Clinton was chairman of the board of the Children's Defense Fund<ref name = "White House"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageNavigator/People_Board_Emeritus |title=Board of Directors Emeritus |publisher=[[Children's Defense Fund]] |access-date=May 31, 2007 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20061012030015/http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageNavigator/People_Board_Emeritus |archive-date=October 12, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and on the board of the [[Arkansas Children's Hospital]]'s Legal Services (1988–1992).<ref name="findlaw">{{cite web |url=http://pview.findlaw.com/view/1708556_1 |title=Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton |work=[[FindLaw]] |access-date=May 31, 2007 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061157/http://pview.findlaw.com/view/1708556_1 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to her positions with nonprofit organizations, she also held positions on the corporate board of directors of [[TCBY]] (1985–1992),<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/hillary-clinton/ |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=May 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612140914/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/hillary-clinton/ |archive-date=June 12, 2007}} Bio entry.</ref> [[Walmart|Wal-Mart Stores]] (1986–1992)<ref name="vv052400">{{cite news |title=Wal-Mart's First Lady |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-05-23/news/wal-mart-s-first-lady/ |last=Harkavy |first=Ward |date=May 24, 2000 |work=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=May 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524190623/http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-05-23/news/wal-mart-s-first-lady/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Lafarge (company)|Lafarge]] (1990–1992).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vermonters to Hillary: Don't Tread on Us |url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/vermonters-to-hillary-dont-tread-on-us/Content?oid=2128540 |author=Picard, Ken |date=May 4, 2005 |newspaper=[[Seven Days (newspaper)|Seven Days]] |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215012113/https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/vermonters-to-hillary-dont-tread-on-us/Content?oid=2128540 |url-status=live }}</ref> TCBY and Wal-Mart were Arkansas-based companies that were also clients of Rose Law.<ref name="nyt022694"/><ref name="nyt052007"/> Clinton was the first female member on Wal-Mart's board, added following pressure on chairman [[Sam Walton]] to name a woman to it.<ref name="nyt052007">{{Cite news |title=As a Director, Clinton Moved Wal-Mart Board, but Only So Far |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/us/politics/20walmart.html |author=Barbaro, Michael |date=May 20, 2007 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219121359/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/us/politics/20walmart.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Once there, she pushed successfully for Wal-Mart to adopt more environmentally friendly practices. She was largely unsuccessful in her campaign for more women to be added to the company's management and was silent about the company's famously anti-labor union practices.<ref name="vv052400"/><ref name="nyt052007"/><ref name="abc013108">{{Cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4218509 |title=Clinton Remained Silent As Wal-Mart Fought Unions |last1=Ross |first1=Brian |author-link1=Brian Ross (journalist) |last2=Sauer |first2=Maddy |last3=Schwartz |first3=Rhonda |agency=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> According to Dan Kaufman, awareness of this later became a factor in her loss of credibility with organized labor, helping contribute to her loss in the 2016 election, where slightly less than half of union members voted for [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/17/629718238/how-dark-money-gerrymandering-and-democratic-complacency-altered-wisconsin-polit |title=How Dark Money, Gerrymandering And Democratic Complacency Altered Wisconsin Politics |last=Davies |first=Dave |date=July 17, 2018 |publisher=NPR |access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/10/donald-trump-got-reagan-like-support-from-union-households/ |title=Donald Trump got Reagan-like support from union households |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=November 10, 2016 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810214522/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/10/donald-trump-got-reagan-like-support-from-union-households/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign===
{{further|Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign}}
[[File:Hillary Clinton 1992.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Formal color portrait of a middle aged Clinton|Clinton in 1992]]

Clinton received sustained national attention for the first time when her husband became a candidate for the [[1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries|1992 Democratic presidential nomination]]. Before the [[New Hampshire primary]], [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] publications printed allegations that Bill Clinton had engaged in an extramarital affair with [[Gennifer Flowers]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/25/us/the-1992-campaign-clintons-to-rebut-rumors-on-60-minutes.html |title=Clintons to Rebut Rumors on '60 Minutes' |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 25, 1992|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401082537/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/25/us/the-1992-campaign-clintons-to-rebut-rumors-on-60-minutes.html|archive-date=April 1, 2010}}</ref> In response, the Clintons appeared together on ''[[60 Minutes]]'', where Bill denied the affair, but acknowledged "causing pain in my marriage".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/flowers012792.htm |title=In 1992, Clinton Conceded Marital 'Wrongdoing' |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 26, 1992 |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-date=September 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902173817/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/flowers012792.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> This joint appearance was credited with rescuing his campaign.<ref>Troy 2006, pp.&nbsp;39–42; Gerth and Van Natta 2007, pp.&nbsp;94–96.</ref> During the campaign, Hillary made culturally disparaging remarks about [[Tammy Wynette]]'s outlook on marriage as described in her classic song "[[Stand by Your Man]]".{{efn|Clinton said in the joint ''60 Minutes'' interview, "I'm not sitting here as some little woman 'standing by my man' like Tammy Wynette. I'm sitting here because I love him and I respect him, and I honor what he's been through and what we've been through together." The seemingly sneering reference to [[country music]] provoked immediate criticism that Clinton was culturally tone-deaf, and Wynette herself did not like the remark because "Stand by Your Man" is not written in the first person.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/7/newsid_4385000/4385582.stm |title=2000: Hillary Clinton is first First Lady in Senate |work=[[BBC News]] |date=November 7, 2000 |access-date=July 18, 2007 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215012123/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/7/newsid_4385000/4385582.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Wynette added that Clinton had "offended every true country music fan and every person who has "made it on their own" with no one to take them to a White House".<ref>Troy 2006, p.&nbsp;42.</ref> A few days later, on ''[[Primetime (U.S. TV program)|Primetime Live]]'', Clinton apologized to Wynette. Clinton would later write that she had been careless in her choice of words and that "the fallout from my reference to Tammy Wynette was instant—as it deserved to be—and brutal".<ref>Clinton 2003, p.&nbsp;108.</ref> The two women later resolved their differences, with Wynette appearing at a Clinton fundraiser.}} 

Later in the campaign, she commented she could have chosen to be like women staying home and baking cookies and having teas, but wanted to pursue her career instead.{{efn|Less than two months after the Wynette remarks, Clinton was facing questions about whether she could have avoided possible conflicts of interest between her governor husband and work given to the Rose Law Firm when she remarked, "I've done the best I can to lead my life&nbsp;... You know, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was fulfill my profession, which I entered before my husband was in public life."<ref name="lh-109">Clinton 2003, p.&nbsp;109.</ref> The "cookies and teas" part of this statement prompted even more culture-based criticism of Clinton's apparent distaste for women who had chosen to be homemakers; the remark became a recurring campaign liability.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=205–06}} Clinton subsequently offered up some cookie recipes as a way of making amends and would later write of her chagrin: "Besides, I've done quite a lot of cookie baking in my life, and tea-pouring too!"<ref name="lh-109"/>}} The remarks were widely criticized, particularly by those who were, or defended, stay-at-home mothers. In retrospect, she admitted they were ill-considered. Bill said that in electing him, the nation would "get two for the price of one", referring to the prominent role his wife would assume.{{sfn|Burns|2008|p=140}} Beginning with [[Daniel Wattenberg]]'s August 1992 ''[[The American Spectator]]'' article "The Lady Macbeth of Little Rock", Hillary's own past ideological and ethical record came under attack from conservatives.<ref name="macbeth">
{{Cite news |title=The Lady Macbeth of Little Rock |author=Wattenberg, Daniel |work=[[The American Spectator]] |date=August 1992 |author-link=Daniel Wattenberg |url=http://spectator.org/articles/64729/lady-macbeth-little-rock |access-date=March 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316082812/http://spectator.org/articles/64729/lady-macbeth-little-rock |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
</ref> At least twenty other articles in major publications also drew comparisons between her and [[Lady Macbeth]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/24/us/1992-campaign-political-memo-backlash-for-hillary-clinton-puts-negative-image.html |title=Backlash for Hillary Clinton Puts Negative Image to Rout |date=September 24, 1992 |last=Toner |first=Robin |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519180914/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/24/us/1992-campaign-political-memo-backlash-for-hillary-clinton-puts-negative-image.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==First Lady of the United States (1993–2001)==
{{main|Hillary Clinton as First Lady of the United States}}
[[File:Hillary Rodham Clinton official White House portrait.jpg|left|thumb|256x256px|Hillary Clinton's official portrait as [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]], 1994]]
When Bill Clinton [[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|took office]] as president in January 1993, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first lady. Her press secretary reiterated she would be using that form of her name.{{efn|name=ex04}} She was the first in this role to have a [[Postgraduate education|postgraduate degree]] and her own professional career up to the time of entering the [[White House]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/clinton-hillary/ |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton |publisher=[[PBS]] |access-date=December 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228125947/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/clinton-hillary/ |archive-date=December 28, 2014 }} Clinton had the first postgraduate degree through regular study and scholarly work. [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] had previously been awarded a postgraduate honorary degree. Clinton's successor [[Laura Bush]] became the second first lady with a postgraduate degree.</ref> She was also the first to have an office in the [[West Wing]] of the White House in addition to the usual first lady offices in the [[East Wing]].<ref name="nfll"/><ref>Troy 2006, p.&nbsp;71.</ref> During [[Presidential transition of Bill Clinton|the presidential transition]], she was part of the innermost circle vetting appointments to the new administration. Her choices filled at least eleven top-level positions and dozens more lower-level ones.<ref>Troy 2006, p.&nbsp;68.</ref><ref name="vox">{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Richard |title=Bill Clinton set a bad example with his transition |url=https://www.vox.com/mischiefs-of-faction/2016/10/7/13143186/bill-clinton-transition-bad |website=Vox |access-date=February 1, 2021 |date=October 7, 2016 |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712144230/https://www.vox.com/mischiefs-of-faction/2016/10/7/13143186/bill-clinton-transition-bad |url-status=live }}</ref> After [[Eleanor Roosevelt]], Clinton was regarded as the most openly empowered presidential wife in American history.<ref>Troy 2006, p.&nbsp;xii.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=First Lady President? |author=Rajghatta, Chidanand |date=January–February 2004 |work=[[Verve (Indian magazine)|Verve]] |author-link=Chidanand Rajghatta |url=http://www.verveonline.com/27/people/hillary/full.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040701113441/http://www.verveonline.com/27/people/hillary/full.shtml |archive-date=July 1, 2004}}</ref>

Some critics called it inappropriate for the first lady to play a central role in public policy matters. Supporters pointed out that Clinton's role in policy was no different from that of other White House advisors, and that voters had been well aware she would play an active role in her husband's presidency.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The First Lady: Homemaker or Policy-Maker? |url=http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/first-lady-homemaker-or-policy-maker |author=Peart, Karen N. |publisher=[[Scholastic Press]] |access-date=August 22, 2006 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013130358/http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/first-lady-homemaker-or-policy-maker |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Health care and other policy initiatives===
{{See also|Clinton health care plan of 1993}}
[[File:Hillary Clinton healthcare presentation 53520u (cropped1).jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of Clinton making a presentation sitting at a table in front of a microphone|Clinton presenting her health care plan to Congress in 1993]]

In January 1993, President Clinton named Hillary to chair a [[Clinton health care plan of 1993|task force on National Health Care Reform]], hoping to replicate the success she had in leading the effort for Arkansas education reform.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=170–75}} The recommendation of the task force became known as the [[Clinton health care plan]]. This was a comprehensive proposal that would require employers to provide health coverage to their employees through individual [[health maintenance organization]]s. Its opponents quickly derided the plan as "Hillarycare" and it even faced opposition from some Democrats in Congress.{{sfnm |1a1=Bernstein |1y=2007 |1pp=287–89, 400–02 |2a1=Gerth |2a2=Van Natta |2y=2007 |2pp=139–40}}

Failing to gather enough support for a floor vote in either the House or the Senate (although Democrats controlled both chambers), the proposal was abandoned in September 1994.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=287–89, 400–02}} Clinton later acknowledged in her memoir that her political inexperience partly contributed to the defeat but cited many other factors. The first lady's approval ratings, which had generally been in the high-50 percent range during her first year, fell to 44&nbsp;percent in April 1994 and 35&nbsp;percent by September 1994.<ref>Bernstein 2007, pp.&nbsp;240, 380, 530. The [[Whitewater controversy|Whitewater investigations]] were also a factor in her declining rating.</ref>

The Republican Party negatively highlighted the Clinton health care plan in their campaign for the [[1994 United States elections|1994 midterm elections]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/may96/background/health_debate_page3.html |title=A Detailed Timeline of the Healthcare Debate portrayed in 'The System' |date=May 1996 |publisher=[[PBS]]|access-date=September 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029030146/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/may96/background/health_debate_page3.html |archive-date=October 29, 2007}}</ref> The Republican Party saw strong success in the midterms, and many analysts and pollsters found the healthcare plan to be a major factor in the Democrats' defeat, especially among [[independent (voter)|independent]] voters.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981987-2,00.html |title=The Once and Future Hillary |author=Carney, James |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=December 12, 1994 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201213410/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981987-2,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> After this, the White House subsequently sought to downplay Clinton's role in shaping policy.{{sfn|Burns|2008|p=141}}

Along with senators [[Ted Kennedy]] and [[Orrin Hatch]], Clinton was a force behind the passage of the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]] in 1997, which gave state support to children whose parents could not provide them health coverage. She participated in campaigns to promote the enrollment of children in the program after it took effect.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/giving-hillary-credit-for-schip/ |title=Giving Hillary Credit for SCHIP |author=Jackson, Brooks |publisher=[[FactCheck.org]] |date=March 18, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415011226/https://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/giving-hillary-credit-for-schip/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Enactment of [[welfare reform]] was a major goal of Bill Clinton's presidency. When the first two bills on the issue came from a Republican-controlled Congress lacking protections for people coming off welfare, Hillary urged her husband to veto the bills, which he did.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=461–65}}<ref name="nyt-041108">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/us/politics/11welfare.html |title=From Welfare Shift in '96, a Reminder for Clinton |author=Goodman, Peter S. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 11, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126164746/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/us/politics/11welfare.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A third version came up during his 1996 general election campaign that restored some of the protections but cut the scope of benefits in other areas. While Clinton was urged to persuade the president to similarly veto the bill,{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=461–65}} she decided to support the bill, which became the [[Welfare Reform Act of 1996]], as the best political compromise available.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=461–65}}<ref name="nyt-041108"/>

Together with [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Janet Reno]], Clinton helped create the [[Office on Violence Against Women]] at the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]].<ref name="nfll"/> In 1997, she initiated and shepherded the [[Adoption and Safe Families Act]], which she regarded as her greatest accomplishment as the first lady.<ref name="nfll"/><ref name="nyt102900c"/> In 1999, she was instrumental in the passage of the [[Foster Care Independence Act]], which doubled federal monies for teenagers [[aging out]] of [[foster care]].<ref name="nyt102900c">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/29/nyregion/campaigns-soft-pedal-on-children-and-the-poor.html |title=Campaigns Soft-Pedal on Children and the Poor |author=Sengupta, Somini |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 29, 2000 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125180533/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/29/nyregion/campaigns-soft-pedal-on-children-and-the-poor.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===International diplomacy and promotion of women's rights===
[[File:First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's Remarks to the Fourth Women's Conference in Beijing, China.webm|thumb|right|Footage of Clinton's speech in its entirety. At approximately the 14:45 mark, Clinton utters the famous line, "Women's rights are human rights"]]

Clinton traveled to 79&nbsp;countries as first lady,<ref name="nyt122607">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/politics/26clinton.html |title=The Résumé Factor: Those 8 Years as First Lady |author=Healy, Patrick |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 26, 2007 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125155418/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/politics/26clinton.html |url-status=live }}</ref> breaking the record for most-traveled first lady previously held by [[Pat Nixon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=38 |title=First Lady Biography: Pat Nixon |publisher=[[National First Ladies' Library]] |access-date=October 18, 2007 |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509084238/http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=38 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She did not hold a [[security clearance]] or attend [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] meetings, but played a role in U.S. diplomacy attaining its objectives.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/politics/26clinton.html |title=The Résumé Factor: Those 2 Terms as First Lady |author=Healy, Patrick |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 26, 2007 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125155418/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/politics/26clinton.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[Women's Rights Are Human Rights|a September 1995 speech]] before the [[Fourth World Conference on Women]] in [[Beijing]], Clinton argued forcefully against practices that abused women around the world and in the People's Republic of China itself. She declared, "It is no longer acceptable to discuss women's rights as separate from human rights."<ref name="nyt090695">{{Cite news |author=Tyler, Patrick |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/06/world/hillary-clinton-in-china-details-abuse-of-women.html |title=Hillary Clinton, In China, Details Abuse of Women |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 6, 1995 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125093333/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/06/world/hillary-clinton-in-china-details-abuse-of-women.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Delegates from over 180&nbsp;countries heard her declare, {{blockquote|If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights and [[women's rights are human rights]], once and for all.<ref name="nw-doctrine"/>}} In delivering these remarks, Clinton resisted both internal administration and Chinese pressure to soften her remarks.<ref name="nyt122607"/><ref name="nw-doctrine"/> The speech became a key moment in the empowerment of women and years later women around the world would recite Clinton's key phrases.{{sfn|Hudson|Leidl|2015|pp=7–8}}

During the late 1990s, Clinton was one of the most prominent international figures to speak out against the treatment of [[Taliban treatment of women|Afghan women by the Taliban]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Taliban: Islam, Oil and the New Great Game in Central Asia |author=Rashid, Ahmed |publisher=[[I.B. Tauris]] |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-86064-830-4 |author-link=Ahmed Rashid|title-link=Taliban: Islam, Oil and the New Great Game in Central Asia }} pp.&nbsp;70, 182.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.feminist.org/research/report/94_toc.html |title=Feminist Majority Joins European Parliament's Call to End Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan |publisher=[[Feminist Majority]] |date=Spring 1998 |access-date=September 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830042222/http://www.feminist.org/research/report/94_toc.html <!-- Added by H3llBot --> |archive-date=August 30, 2007}}</ref> She helped create [[Vital Voices]], an international initiative sponsored by the U.S. to encourage the participation of women in the political processes of their countries.{{sfn|Hudson|Leidl|2015|pp=25–26}}

===Scandals and investigations===
{{Further|topic=these investigations|Whitewater controversy|Travelgate|Filegate|Hillary Clinton cattle futures controversy}}
One prominent investigation regarding Clinton was the [[Whitewater controversy]], which arose out of real estate investments by the Clintons and associates made in the 1970s.<ref name="nyt030892">{{Cite news |author=Gerth, Jeff |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/08/us/1992-campaign-personal-finances-clintons-joined-s-l-operator-ozark-real-estate.html |title=Clintons Joined S.& L. Operator in an Ozark Real-Estate Venture |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 8, 1992 |author-link=Jeff Gerth |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115185041/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/08/us/1992-campaign-personal-finances-clintons-joined-s-l-operator-ozark-real-estate.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=72–73}}<ref name="nyt030892"/> As part of this investigation, on January 26, 1996, Clinton became the first spouse of a U.S. president to be [[subpoena]]ed to testify before a federal [[grand jury]].<ref name="pbs100797">{{Cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/arkansas/docs/recs.html |work=[[Frontline (U.S. TV series)|Frontline]] |title=Once Upon a Time in Arkansas: Rose Law Firm Billing Records |date=October 7, 1997 |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-date=May 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516135104/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/arkansas/docs/recs.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After several Independent Counsels had investigated, a final report was issued in 2000 that stated there was insufficient evidence that either Clinton had engaged in criminal wrongdoing.<ref name=nyt092100>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/21/us/statement-by-independent-counsel-on-conclusions-in-whitewater-investigation.html |title=Statement by Independent Counsel on Conclusions in Whitewater Investigation |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 21, 2000 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630110733/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/21/us/statement-by-independent-counsel-on-conclusions-in-whitewater-investigation.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Hillary Clinton Bill Chelsea on parade.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The Clinton family walking and greeting the crowds|Chelsea, Bill, and Hillary Clinton walking down [[Pennsylvania Avenue]] to start Bill's second presidential term in 1997]]

Another investigated scandal involving Clinton was the [[White House travel office controversy]], often referred to as "Travelgate".{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=327–28}} Another scandal that arose was the [[Hillary Clinton cattle futures controversy]], which related to cattle futures trading Clinton had made in 1978 and 1979.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/18/us/top-arkansas-lawyer-helped-hillary-clinton-turn-big-profit.html |title=Top Arkansas Lawyer Helped Hillary Clinton Turn Big Profit |author=Gerth, Jeff |author-link=Jeff Gerth |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 18, 1994 |display-authors=etal |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208191901/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/18/us/top-arkansas-lawyer-helped-hillary-clinton-turn-big-profit.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Some in the press had alleged that Clinton had engaged in a conflict of interest and disguised a bribery. Several individuals analyzed her trading records; however, no formal investigation was made and she was never charged with any wrongdoing in relation to this.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Rosett, Claudia |url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/?id=65000476 |title=Hillary's Bull Market |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=October 26, 2000 |author-link=Claudia Rosett |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001208164800/http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/?id=65000476 |archive-date=December 8, 2000}}</ref>

An outgrowth of the "Travelgate" investigation was the June 1996 discovery of improper White House access to hundreds of FBI background reports on former Republican White House employees, an affair that some called "[[White House FBI files controversy|Filegate]]".<ref name="cnn072800"/> Accusations were made that Clinton had requested these files and had recommended hiring an unqualified individual to head the White House Security Office.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/01/filegate/index.html |title='Filegate' Depositions Sought From White House Aides |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=April 1, 1998 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815165307/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/01/filegate/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2000 final Independent Counsel report found no substantial or credible evidence that Clinton had any role or showed any misconduct in the matter.<ref name="cnn072800">{{Cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/28/clinton.filegate/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030124154710/http://edition.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/28/clinton.filegate/ |archive-date=January 24, 2003 |title=Independent counsel: No evidence to warrant prosecution against first lady in 'filegate' |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=July 28, 2000}}</ref>

In early 2001, a controversy arose over gifts that were sent to the White House; there was a question whether the furnishings were White House property or the Clintons' personal property. During the last year of Bill Clinton's time in office, those gifts were shipped to the Clintons' private residence.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-10-mn-23723-story.html |title=Clintons Began Taking White House Property a Year Ago |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 10, 2001 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228045404/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/feb/10/news/mn-23723 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/02/06/clintons-say-theyll-return-disputed-gifts/accd07f5-3cd2-4ebf-ba49-b3ac30a35a7d/ |title=Clintons Say They'll Return Disputed Gifts |author=Lardner, George Jr |date=February 6, 2001 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125232520/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/02/06/clintons-say-theyll-return-disputed-gifts/accd07f5-3cd2-4ebf-ba49-b3ac30a35a7d/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''It Takes a Village'' and other writings===
In 1996, Clinton presented a vision for American children in the book ''[[It Takes a Village|It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us]]''. In January 1996, she went on a ten-city book tour and made numerous television appearances to promote the book,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/17/style/chronicle-075248.html | title=Chronicle | last=Brozan | first=Nadine | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=January 17, 1996 | access-date=July 28, 2007 | quote="It takes a village to raise a child" | archive-date=November 8, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075758/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/17/style/chronicle-075248.html | url-status=live }}</ref> although she was frequently hit with questions about her involvement in the [[Whitewater controversy|Whitewater]] and [[Travelgate]] controversies.<ref name="nyt011496">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/18/us/on-book-tour-first-lady-courts-public.html | title=On Book Tour, Mrs. Clinton Defends Herself | first=Doreen | last=Carvajal | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=January 14, 1996 | access-date=July 28, 2007 | archive-date=May 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526164755/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/18/us/on-book-tour-first-lady-courts-public.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E5DA1139F934A25752C0A960958260 | title= With Resolve, First Lady Lays Out Defense | author=Purdum, Todd S. | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=January 17, 1996 | access-date=July 28, 2007| author-link= Todd S. Purdum }}</ref>
The book spent 18&nbsp;weeks on the [[New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' Best Seller List]] that year, including three weeks at number one.<ref>See results of [https://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection&region=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/%22it+takes+a+village%22+%22best+sellers%22+week/since1851/allresults/1/allauthors/oldest/ this New York Times archive search] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321212821/http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection&region=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/%22it+takes+a+village%22+%22best+sellers%22+week/since1851/allresults/1/allauthors/oldest/ |date=March 21, 2018 }}. On list January 28 through May 26, 1996. At number one February 4, 11 and 18.</ref> By 2000, it had sold 450,000&nbsp;copies in hardcover and another 200,000 in paperback.<ref name="wapo-prep">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/10/04/white-house-welcome/2be3bfdd-e26b-420b-a7f0-f9df48cc373b/ | title=White House Welcome | author=Roberts, Roxanne | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=October 4, 2000 | access-date=May 14, 2019 | archive-date=August 18, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818113318/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/10/04/white-house-welcome/2be3bfdd-e26b-420b-a7f0-f9df48cc373b/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton received the [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]] in 1997 for the book's audio recording.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=446}}

Other books published by Clinton when she was the first lady include ''[[Dear Socks, Dear Buddy|Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets]]'' (1998) and ''[[An Invitation to the White House|An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History]]'' (2000). In 2001, she wrote an afterword to the children's book ''[[Beatrice's Goat]]''.<ref name="Apuzzo-2005">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eyAiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2745,3345580 |title=Read a Book, Buy a Goat |author=Apuzzo, Matt |newspaper=[[The Day (New London)|The Day]] |date=November 16, 2005 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215010848/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eyAiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2745%2C3345580 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clinton also published a weekly [[Print syndication|syndicated]] newspaper column titled "Talking It Over" from 1995 to 2000.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[BuzzFeed]] |first=Christopher |last=Massie |date=April 21, 2015 |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/christophermassie/r-kelly-big-bird-and-28-other-highlights-from-hillary-clinto |title=R. Kelly, Big Bird, And 28 Other Highlights From Hillary Clinton's First Lady Columns |access-date=July 23, 2016 |archive-date=March 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301090638/http://www.buzzfeed.com/christophermassie/r-kelly-big-bird-and-28-other-highlights-from-hillary-clinto |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.creators.com/opinion/hillary-clinton.html |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton&nbsp;– Talking It Over |publisher=[[Creators Syndicate]] |access-date=August 24, 2007 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225727/http://www.creators.com/opinion/hillary-clinton.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It focused on her experiences and those of women, children and families she met during her travels around the world.<ref name="White House"/>

===Response to Lewinsky scandal===
{{Further|Clinton–Lewinsky scandal}}

In 1998, the Clintons' private concerns became the subject of much speculation when investigations revealed the president had engaged in an extramarital affair with 22-year-old White House intern [[Monica Lewinsky]].<ref>Troy 2006, pp.&nbsp;176–77.</ref> Events surrounding the [[Lewinsky scandal]] eventually led to the [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment]] of the president by the House of Representatives; he was later acquitted by the Senate. When the allegations against her husband were first made public, Hillary Clinton stated that the allegations were part of a "[[vast right-wing conspiracy]]".<ref>Troy 2006, p.&nbsp;183.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Grant |first1=Philippe R.|editor1-last=Knight|editor1-first=Peter |title=Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia |url=https://archive.org/details/conspiracytheori00knig_851 |url-access=limited |date=2003 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=978-1576078129 |page=[https://archive.org/details/conspiracytheori00knig_851/page/n194 177] |quote=Concerned by the many conspiracy theories involving her husband, [she] claimed&nbsp;... there was a 'vast right-wing conspiracy' to undermine their credibility.}}</ref> Clinton characterized the Lewinsky charges as the latest in a long, organized, collaborative series of charges by Bill's political enemies{{efn|Clinton was referring to the [[Arkansas Project]] and its funder [[Richard Mellon Scaife]], Kenneth Starr's connections to Scaife, [[Regnery Publishing]] and its connections to [[Lucianne Goldberg]] and [[Linda Tripp]], [[Jerry Falwell]], and others.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/02/02/time/kirn.html |title=Persecuted or Paranoid? A look at the motley characters behind Hillary Clinton's 'vast right-wing conspiracy' |last=Kirn |first=Walter |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=February 9, 1998 |author-link=Walter Kirn |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805071701/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/02/02/time/kirn.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}} rather than any wrongdoing by her husband. She later said she had been misled by his initial claims that no affair had taken place.<ref>Troy 2006, p.&nbsp;187.</ref> After the evidence of President Clinton's encounters with Lewinsky became incontrovertible, she issued a public statement reaffirming her commitment to their marriage. Privately, she was reported to be furious at him and was unsure if she wanted to remain in the marriage.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=512, 517–18, 521}} The White House residence staff noticed a pronounced level of tension between the couple during this period.{{sfn|Brower|2015|pp=141–49}}

Public response to Clinton's handling of the matter varied. Women variously admired her strength and poise in private matters that were made public. They both sympathized with her as a victim of her husband's insensitive behavior and criticized her as being an [[Codependency|enabler]] to her husband's indiscretions. They also accused her of cynically staying in a failed marriage as a way of keeping or even fostering her own political influence. In the wake of the revelations, her public approval ratings shot upward to around 70&nbsp;percent, the highest they had ever been.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=195}}

===Save America's Treasures initiative===
Clinton was the founding chair of [[Save America's Treasures]], a nationwide effort matching federal funds with private donations to preserve and restore historic items and sites.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saveamericastreasures.org/about.htm |title=Save America's Treasures&nbsp;– About Us |publisher=[[Save America's Treasures]] |access-date=March 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228125335/http://www.saveamericastreasures.org/about.htm |archive-date=December 28, 2007}}</ref> This included the flag that inspired "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]" and the First Ladies National Historic Site in [[Canton, Ohio]].<ref name="nfll"/>

===Traditional duties===
Clinton was the head of the [[White House Millennium Council]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://archives.cnn.com/1999/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/31/clinton.kickoff.02/ |title=Clinton toasts 2000 at White House VIP dinner |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=December 31, 1999 |access-date=July 11, 2007 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061158/http://archives.cnn.com/1999/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/31/clinton.kickoff.02/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and hosted Millennium Evenings,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clinton4.nara.gov/Initiatives/Millennium/evenings.html |title=Millennium Evenings |publisher=[[White House Millennium Council]] |access-date=June 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513073528/http://clinton4.nara.gov/Initiatives/Millennium/evenings.html |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a series of lectures that discussed [[futures studies]], one of which became the first live simultaneous [[webcast]] from the White House.<ref name="nfll"/> Clinton also created the first White House Sculpture Garden, located in the [[Jacqueline Kennedy Garden]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/EOP/First_Lady/html/generalspeeches/1996/1-5-96.html |title=Remarks By First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at The Sculpture Garden Reception |publisher=[[The White House]] |date=January 5, 1996 |access-date=March 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408110858/http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/EOP/First_Lady/html/generalspeeches/1996/1-5-96.html |archive-date=April 8, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Working with Arkansas interior decorator Kaki Hockersmith over an eight-year period, Clinton oversaw extensive, privately funded redecoration efforts of the White House. Overall the redecoration received a mixed reaction.{{sfn|Brower|2015|pp=50–55}}

Clinton hosted many large-scale events at the White House. Examples include a state dinner for visiting Chinese dignitaries, a New Year's Eve celebration at the turn of the 21st century, and a state dinner honoring the bicentennial of the White House in November 2000.<ref name="nfll"/>

==U.S. Senate (2001–2009)==
{{Main|US Senate career of Hillary Clinton}}

===2000 U.S. Senate election===
{{Main|2000 United States Senate election in New York}}
[[File:Hillary Rodham Clinton.jpg|thumb|Hillary Clinton's official senate portrait]]
When New York's long-serving U.S. senator [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]] announced his retirement in November 1998, several prominent Democratic figures, including Representative [[Charles Rangel]] of New York, urged Clinton to run for his open seat in the [[2000 United States Senate elections|Senate election of 2000]].{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=530}} Once she decided to run, the Clintons purchased a home in [[Chappaqua, New York]], north of New York City, in September 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Nagourney, Adam |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/03/nyregion/with-some-help-clintons-purchase-a-white-house.html |title=With Some Help, Clintons Purchase a White House |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 3, 1999 |author-link=Adam Nagourney |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722193731/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/03/nyregion/with-some-help-clintons-purchase-a-white-house.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She became the first wife of the president of the United States to be a candidate for elected office.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=204}} Initially, Clinton expected to face [[Rudy Giuliani]]—the mayor of New York City—as her Republican opponent in the election. Giuliani withdrew from the race in May 2000 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer and matters related to his failing marriage became public. Clinton then faced [[Rick Lazio]], a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represented [[New York's 2nd congressional district]]. Throughout the campaign, opponents accused Clinton of [[Parachute candidate|carpetbagging]], because she had never resided in New York State or participated in the state's politics before the 2000 Senate race.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=200, 204}}

[[Bill de Blasio]] was Clinton's campaign manager. She began her drive to the U.S. Senate by visiting all 62 counties in the state, in a "listening tour" of small-group settings.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=210}} She devoted considerable time in traditionally Republican [[Upstate New York]] regions. Clinton vowed to improve the economic situation in those areas, promising to deliver 200,000&nbsp;jobs to the state over her term. Her plan included tax credits to reward job creation and encourage business investment, especially in the high-tech sector. She called for personal tax cuts for college tuition and long-term care.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://cgi.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/11/07/senate.ny/ |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton scores historic win in New York |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=November 8, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115201929/http://cgi.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/11/07/senate.ny/ |archive-date=January 15, 2016 }}</ref>

The contest drew national attention. During a September debate, Lazio blundered when he seemed to invade Clinton's [[personal space]] by trying to get her to sign a fundraising agreement.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=212–13}} Their campaigns, along with Giuliani's initial effort, spent a record combined $90&nbsp;million.<ref name="nyt121300">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/13/nyregion/lazio-sets-spending-mark-for-a-losing-senate-bid.html |title=Lazio Sets Spending Mark for a Losing Senate Bid |author=Levy, Clifford J. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 13, 2000 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630115812/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/13/nyregion/lazio-sets-spending-mark-for-a-losing-senate-bid.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton won the election on November 7, 2000, with 55&nbsp;percent of the vote to Lazio's 43&nbsp;percent.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=212–13}} She was sworn in as U.S. senator on January 3, 2001, and as [[George W. Bush]] was still 17 days away from being inaugurated as president after winning the 2000 presidential election, that meant from January 3–20, she simultaneously held the titles of First Lady and Senator&nbsp;– a first in U.S. history.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=6}}

===First term===
[[File:ClintonSenate (1).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Al Gore administering Hillary Clinton's oath of office as Bill and Chelsea look on|2001 reenactment of Hillary Clinton's swearing-in as a U.S. senator by vice president [[Al Gore]]]]

Because Bill Clinton's term as president did not end until 17 days after she was sworn in, upon entering the Senate, Clinton became the first and so far only first lady to serve as a senator and first lady concurrently. Clinton maintained a low public profile and built relationships with senators from both parties when she started her term.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0310/p01s01-uspo.html |title=Clinton's quiet path to power |author=Chaddock, Gail Russell |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=March 10, 2003 |access-date=December 17, 2005 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060915/https://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0310/p01s01-uspo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She forged alliances with religiously inclined senators by becoming a regular participant in the Senate Prayer Breakfast.<ref name="mj0907">{{Cite news |title=Hillary's Prayer: Hillary Clinton's Religion and Politics |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/09/hillarys-prayer-hillary-clintons-religion-and-politics |work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |date=September–October 2007 |author=Joyce, Kathryn |author2=Sharlet, Jeff |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215010715/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/09/hillarys-prayer-hillary-clintons-religion-and-politics/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=548}} She sat on five Senate committees: [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Committee on Budget]] (2001–02),<ref name="umich">{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/congress/sncom012.html |title=Senate Temporary Committee Chairs |publisher=[[University of Michigan]] Documents Center |date=May 24, 2001 |access-date=May 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707064827/http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/congress/sncom012.html |archive-date=July 7, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]] (2003–09),<ref name="hwar">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/magazine/03Hillary-t.html |title=Hillary's War |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |date=May 29, 2007 |author=Gerth, Jeff |author-link1=Jeff Gerth |author2=Van Natta, Don Jr. |author-link2=Don Van Natta Jr. |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125165546/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/magazine/03Hillary-t.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]] (2001–09), [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]] (2001–09)<ref name="umich"/> and [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]].<ref name="hccom">{{cite web |url=http://clinton.senate.gov/senate/committees/index.cfm |title=Committees |publisher=Official U.S. Senate website |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011195718/http://clinton.senate.gov/senate/committees/index.cfm}}</ref>
She was also a member of the [[Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutCommission.Commissioners&CFID=3874739&CFTOKEN=75235387 |title=About the Commission: Commissioners |publisher=[[Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe]] |access-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103052420/http://www.csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutCommission.Commissioners&CFID=813748&CFTOKEN=79881044 |archive-date=January 3, 2009}}</ref> (2001–09).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/2001/200109.shtml |title=Senate, House appoint Helsinki commissioners |work=[[The Ukrainian Weekly]] |date=May 20, 2001 |access-date=April 27, 2008 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060914/http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/2001/200109.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the September 11 [[September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks]], Clinton sought to obtain funding for the recovery efforts in New York City and security improvements in her state. Working with New York's senior senator, [[Chuck Schumer]], she was instrumental in securing $21&nbsp;billion in funding for the [[World Trade Center site]]'s redevelopment.{{sfnm |1a1=Bernstein |1y=2007 |1p=548 |2a1=Gerth |2a2=Van Natta |2y=2007 |2pp=231–32}} She subsequently took a leading role in investigating the [[Health effects arising from the September 11 attacks|health issues faced by 9/11 first responders]].{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=238–39}} Clinton voted for the [[USA Patriot Act]] in October 2001. In 2005, when the act was up for renewal, she expressed concerns with the USA Patriot Act Reauthorization Conference Report regarding civil liberties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/~clinton/news/statements/details.cfm?id=249895 |title=Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the USA Patriot Act Reauthorization Conference Report |publisher=Official U.S. Senate website |date=December 16, 2005 |archive-date=February 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214165103/https://www.senate.gov/~clinton/news/statements/details.cfm?id=249895}}</ref> In March 2006, she voted in favor of the [[USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005]] that had gained large majority support.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00029 |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress&nbsp;– 2nd Session ... On the Conference Report (H.R. 3199 Conference Report) |publisher=[[United States Senate]] |date=March 2, 2006 |access-date=April 24, 2008 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060922/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00029 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clinton strongly supported the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|2001 U.S. military action in Afghanistan]], saying it was a chance to combat terrorism while improving the lives of Afghan women who suffered under the Taliban government.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=New Hope For Afghanistan's Women |url=http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,185643,00.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |author=Clinton, Hillary |date=November 24, 2001 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061539/http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,185643,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton voted in favor of the October 2002 [[Iraq War Resolution]], which authorized President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq.<ref name="balz-76">{{harvnb|Balz|Johnson|2009|pp=74, 76–77}}</ref>

After the [[Iraq War]] began, Clinton made trips to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit American troops stationed there. On a visit to Iraq in February 2005, Clinton noted that the insurgency had failed to disrupt the democratic elections held earlier and that parts of the country were functioning well.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Clinton says insurgency is failing |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-02-19-iraq-senators_x.htm |agency=Associated Press |work=[[USA Today]] |date=February 19, 2005 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=February 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213054856/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-02-19-iraq-senators_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Observing that war deployments were draining regular and reserve forces, she co-introduced legislation to increase the size of the regular [[U.S. Army]] by 80,000&nbsp;soldiers to ease the strain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://poststandard.newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-post-standard/2005-07-14/page-279/ |title=Clinton among senators urging larger-sized army |last=Lyman |first=Peter |date=July 14, 2005 |website=poststandard.newspaperarchive.com |access-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811121016/https://poststandard.newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-post-standard/2005-07-14/page-279/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In late 2005, Clinton said that while immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake, Bush's pledge to stay "until the job is done" was also misguided, as it gave Iraqis "an open-ended invitation not to take care of themselves".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hillary Clinton says immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be 'a big mistake' |agency=Associated Press |work=[[U-T San Diego]] |date=November 21, 2005 |url=http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20051121-1341-hillaryclinton-iraq.html |author=Fitzgerald, Jim |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122001004/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20051121-1341-hillaryclinton-iraq.html |archive-date=November 22, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her stance caused frustration among those in the Democratic Party who favored quick withdrawal.{{sfn|Heilemann|Halperin|2010|pp=34, 39}} Clinton supported retaining and improving health benefits for reservists and lobbied against the closure of several military bases, especially those in New York.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hillary's Military Offensive |url=http://www.newsweek.com/hillarys-military-offensive-113773 |author=Meadows, Susannah |date=December 12, 2005 |work=[[Newsweek]] |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060913/http://www.newsweek.com/hillarys-military-offensive-113773 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="landler-nytm"/> She used her position on the Armed Services Committee to forge close relationships with a number of high-ranking military officers.<ref name="landler-nytm">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/magazine/how-hillary-clinton-became-a-hawk.html |title=H is for Hawk |author=Landler, Mark |author-link=Mark Landler |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |date=April 24, 2016 |pages=28–35 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202031415/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/magazine/how-hillary-clinton-became-a-hawk.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2014 and 2015 Clinton had fully reversed herself on the Iraq War Resolution, saying she "got it wrong" and the vote in support had been a "mistake".<ref>{{cite news |author=Lerner, Adam |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/hillary-clinton-iraq-war-vote-mistake-iowa-118109 |title=Hillary Clinton says her Iraq war vote was a 'mistake' |work=[[Politico]] |date=May 19, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2016 |archive-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223211225/https://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/hillary-clinton-iraq-war-vote-mistake-iowa-118109 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clinton voted against President Bush's two major tax cut packages, the [[Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001]] and the [[Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003]].<ref name="pvs-hrc"/> In 2003, Simon & Schuster released her memoir ''[[Living History (book)|Living History]]''.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|p=544}} The book set a first-week sales record for a nonfiction work,<ref name="Donahue2003">{{Cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2003-06-17-hillary-list_x.htm |title=Clinton memoir tops Best-Selling Books list |author=Donahue, Deirdre |work=[[USA Today]] |date=June 17, 2003 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804030855/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2003-06-17-hillary-list_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> went on to sell more than one million copies in the first month following publication,<ref name="Clinton-2003">{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-75361570.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511212054/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-75361570.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |title=Clinton's Book Sales Top 1 Million |agency=Associated Press |date=July 9, 2003}}</ref> and was translated into twelve foreign languages.<ref name="Clinton Presidential Center-2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/the-administration/hillary-rodham-clinton |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton |publisher=[[William J. Clinton Presidential Center]] |access-date=May 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708145221/http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/the-administration/hillary-rodham-clinton |archive-date=July 8, 2009}}</ref> Clinton's audio recording of the book earned her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.<ref name="BBC News-2004">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3472495.stm |title=Gorbachev and Clinton win Grammy |work=BBC News |date=February 9, 2004 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=September 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912065505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3472495.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton's [[Official White House portraits of Bill and Hillary Clinton|official White House portrait]] was painted by [[Simmie Knox]] and was unveilled in a ceremony at the White House in June 2004.<ref name='WHHA'>{{cite web|title=Official White House Portraits|url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/press-room/press-backgrounders/official-white-house-portraits|publisher=[[White House Historical Association]]|accessdate=18 February 2025}}</ref>

Clinton voted against the 2005 confirmation of [[John Roberts]] as [[Chief Justice of the United States|chief justice of the United States]] and the 2006 confirmation of [[Samuel Alito]] to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], [[filibuster]]ing the latter.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/us/politics/28judges.html |title=Stark Contrasts Between McCain and Obama in Judicial Wars |author=Lewis, Neil A. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 28, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630111412/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/us/politics/28judges.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Anti-Alito filibuster soundly defeated |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/30/alito/ |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=January 30, 2006 |access-date=April 27, 2016 |archive-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207093056/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/30/alito/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2005, Clinton called for the [[Federal Trade Commission]] to investigate how [[Hot Coffee mod|hidden sex scenes]] showed up in the controversial video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Clinton wades into GTA sex storm |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4682533.stm |date=July 14, 2005 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018063322/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4682533.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Along with senators [[Joe Lieberman]] and [[Evan Bayh]], she introduced the [[Family Entertainment Protection Act]], intended to protect children from inappropriate content found in video games. In 2004 and 2006, Clinton voted against the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]] that sought to prohibit same-sex marriage.<ref name="pvs-hrc">{{cite web |url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/55463/hillary-clinton |title=Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton&nbsp;– Voting Record |publisher=[[Project Vote Smart]] |access-date=April 14, 2008 |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105122338/http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/55463/hillary-clinton |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13181735 |title=Gay marriage ban defeated in Senate vote |agency=Associated Press |work=[[NBC News]] |date=June 7, 2006 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=June 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629081329/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/13181735/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Looking to establish a "progressive infrastructure" to rival that of [[American conservatism]], Clinton played a formative role in conversations that led to the 2003 founding of former Clinton administration chief of staff [[John Podesta]]'s [[Center for American Progress]], shared aides with [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]], founded in 2003 and advised the Clintons' former antagonist [[David Brock]]'s [[Media Matters for America]], created in 2004.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=267–69, 313, 401}} Following the [[2004 United States Senate elections|2004 Senate elections]], she successfully pushed new Democratic Senate leader [[Harry Reid]] to create a Senate [[war room]] to handle daily political messaging.{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|pp=267–69}}

===2006 reelection campaign===
{{Main|2006 United States Senate election in New York}}

In November 2004, Clinton announced she would seek a second Senate term. She easily won the Democratic nomination over opposition from antiwar activist [[Jonathan Tasini]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016/Senator |title=Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016/Senator |website=ballotpedia.org |access-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108182130/https://ballotpedia.org/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016/Senator |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=GOP Primary Turnout Was Lowest in More Than 30 Years |work=Newsday |date=September 17, 2006}} {{Dead link|date=July 2022}}</ref> The early frontrunner for the Republican nomination, [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]] [[District Attorney]] [[Jeanine Pirro]], withdrew from the contest after several months of poor campaign performance.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/21/ny.pirro/index.html |title=Sen. Clinton's GOP challenger quits race |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=December 21, 2005 |author=Hirschkorn, Phil |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027164336/http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/21/ny.pirro/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton's eventual opponent in the general election was Republican candidate [[John Spencer (mayor)|John Spencer]], a former mayor of [[Yonkers, New York|Yonkers]]. Clinton won the election on November 7, 2006, with 67&nbsp;percent of the vote to Spencer's 31&nbsp;percent,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2006/general/2006_ussen.pdf |title=New York State Board of Elections, General Election Results |publisher=New York State |date=December 14, 2006 |access-date=December 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822221220/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2006/general/2006_ussen.pdf |archive-date=August 22, 2012 }}</ref> carrying all but four of New York's sixty-two counties.<ref>{{Cite news |work=Newsweek |url=http://www.newsweek.com/campaign-2008-us-ready-woman-president-105521 |title=Is America Ready? |date=December 25, 2006 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=November 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122124551/http://www.newsweek.com/campaign-2008-us-ready-woman-president-105521 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her campaign spent $36&nbsp;million for her reelection, more than any other candidate for Senate in the 2006 elections. Some Democrats criticized her for spending too much in a one-sided contest, while some supporters were concerned she did not leave more funds for a potential presidential bid in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kornblut |first1=Anne |last2=Zeleny |first2=Jeff |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Clinton Won Easily, but Bankroll Shows the Toll |date=November 21, 2006 |page=A1}}</ref> In the following months, she transferred $10&nbsp;million of her Senate funds toward her presidential campaign.{{Sfn|Balz|Johnson|2009|p=91}}

===Second term===
[[File:Hillary Clinton at the Senate Armed Services Committee.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Clinton listens as the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Mullen, responds to a question during his 2007 confirmation hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee. She is in the background, sitting behind a desk with a placard bearing the words "MRS CLINTON", and is wearing a blue suit. A man wearing a black suit sits behind Clinton, taking notes.|Clinton listens as the [[Chief of Naval Operations|chief of naval operations]], Admiral [[Michael Mullen]], responds to a question during his 2007 confirmation hearing with the [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Senate Armed Services Committee]].]]

Clinton opposed the [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007]], for both military and domestic political reasons (by the following year, she was privately acknowledging the surge had been successful).{{efn|General [[Jack Keane]], one of the architects of the surge, later related that he tried to convince Clinton of its merits at the time, but that she felt it would not succeed and that U.S. casualties would be too high. Keane said that sometime during 2008 she told him, "You were right, this really did work".<ref name="landler-nytm"/> In 2014, Secretary of Defense Gates related that after Clinton had left the Senate and become Secretary of State, she told President Obama that her opposition to the 2007 Iraq surge had been political, due to her facing a strong challenge from the anti-Iraq War Obama in the upcoming Democratic presidential primary. Gates also quotes Clinton as saying, "The Iraq surge worked."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/01/10/_hillary_told_the_president_that_her_opposition_to_the_surge_in_iraq_had.html |title=Hillary Told the President That Her Opposition to the Surge in Iraq Had Been Political |author=Weigel, David |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319080111/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2014/01/robert-gates-duty-hillary-told-the-president-that-her-opposition-to-the-surge-in-iraq-had-been-political.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton responded that Gates had misinterpreted her remark regarding the reason for her opposition.<ref name="landler-nytm"/>}} In March of that year, she voted in favor of a war-spending bill that required President Bush to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq by a deadline; it passed almost completely along party lines<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bush Repeats Veto Threat on Spending Bill That Includes Iraq Withdrawal Timetable |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/bush-repeats-veto-threat-on-spending-bill-that-includes-iraq-withdrawal-timetable/ |publisher=[[Fox News Channel]] |date=March 28, 2007 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227190747/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/03/28/bush-repeats-veto-threat-on-spending-bill-that-includes-iraq-withdrawa-687978709/ |archive-date=December 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> but was subsequently vetoed by Bush. In May, a compromise war funding bill that removed withdrawal deadlines but tied funding to progress benchmarks for the Iraqi government passed the Senate by a vote of 80–14 and would be signed by Bush; Clinton was one of those who voted against it.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/24/iraq.funding/index.html |title=House, Senate pass war funding bill |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=May 25, 2007 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=July 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726121024/http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/24/iraq.funding/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She responded to General [[David Petraeus]]'s September 2007 [[Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq]] by saying, "I think that the reports that you provide to us really require a willing suspension of disbelief."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-spars-with-petraeus-on-credibility/62426/ |title=Clinton Spars With Petraeus on Credibility |author=Lake, Eli |work=[[The New York Sun]] |date=September 12, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2009 |archive-date=May 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526041951/http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-spars-with-petraeus-on-credibility/62426/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2007, in response to the [[2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys|dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy]], Clinton called on Attorney General [[Alberto Gonzales]] to resign.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hillary Clinton Calls for Gonzales' Resignation |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2948538&page=1 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=March 13, 2007 |access-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126072804/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2948538&page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Regarding the high-profile, hotly debated immigration reform bill known as the [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007]], Clinton cast several votes in support of the bill, which eventually failed to gain [[cloture]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00228 |title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S.1639) |date=June 26, 2007 |publisher=[[United States Senate]] |access-date=April 22, 2008 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060924/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00228 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As the [[2008 financial crisis]] reached a peak with the [[bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers]], Clinton supported the [[proposed bailout of the U.S. financial system]], voting in favor of the [[Public Law 110-343|$700&nbsp;billion law that created]] the [[Troubled Asset Relief Program]], saying it represented the interests of the American people. It passed the Senate 74–25.<ref name="ny1-tarp">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ny1.com/archives/nyc/all-boroughs/2008/10/02/senate-passes-economic-rescue-package-NYC_86538.old.html |title=Senate Passes Economic Rescue Package |publisher=[[NY1 News]] |date=October 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401080451/http://www.ny1.com/archives/nyc/all-boroughs/2008/10/02/senate-passes-economic-rescue-package-NYC_86538.old.html |archive-date=April 1, 2016}}</ref>

In 2007, Clinton and Virginia senator [[Jim Webb]] called for an investigation into whether the body armor issued to soldiers in Iraq was adequate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/12/03/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-hillary-clintons-senate-career |title=10 things you didn't know about Hillary Clinton's senate career |last=O' Shea |first=Jennifer |date=December 3, 2008 |website=[[US News]] |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816201543/http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/12/03/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-hillary-clintons-senate-career |url-status=live }}</ref>

==2008 presidential campaign==
{{Main|Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential primary campaign}}

Clinton had been preparing for a potential candidacy for U.S. president since at least early 2003.{{sfn|Bernstein|2007|pp=550–52}} On January 20, 2007, she announced via her website the formation of a presidential [[exploratory committee]] for the [[2008 United States presidential election|United States presidential election of 2008]], stating: "I'm in and I'm in to win."{{sfn|Gerth|Van Natta|2007|p=5}} No woman had ever been nominated by a major party for the presidency, and no first lady had ever run for president.
When Bill Clinton became president in 1993, a [[blind trust]] was established; in April 2007, the Clintons liquidated the blind trust to avoid the possibility of ethical conflicts or political embarrassments as Hillary undertook her presidential race. Later disclosure statements revealed the couple's worth was now upwards of $50&nbsp;million.<ref name="msn090407">{{Cite news |title=Hillary Clinton: Midas touch at work |url=http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/MutualFunds/HillaryClintonMidasTouchAtWork.aspx?page=1 |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |author=Middleton, Tim |date=September 4, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129065550/http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/MutualFunds/HillaryClintonMidasTouchAtWork.aspx?page=1 |archive-date=January 29, 2008}}</ref> They had earned over $100&nbsp;million since 2000—most of it coming from Bill's books, speaking engagements and other activities.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7331834.stm |title=Clintons' earnings exceed $100m |work=[[BBC News]] |date=April 5, 2008 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408041817/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7331834.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Hillary Clinton Speaks to College Democrats.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Photograph of Clinton speaking at a lectern to the College Democrats|Clinton at the 2007 CDA National Convention]]

Throughout the first half of 2007, Clinton led candidates competing for the Democratic presidential nomination in [[Nationwide opinion polling for the Democratic Party 2008 presidential primaries|opinion polls for the election]]. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former senator [[John Edwards]] of North Carolina were her strongest competitors.<ref name="balz-76"/> The biggest threat to her campaign was her past support of the Iraq War, which Obama had opposed from the beginning.<ref name="balz-76"/> Clinton and Obama both set records for early fundraising, swapping the money lead each quarter.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/02/campaign.cash/ |title=Clinton outpaces Obama in fundraising for third quarter |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=October 2, 2007 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=June 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614043122/http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/02/campaign.cash/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the end of October, Clinton fared [[Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential primary campaign#Debate performance in Philadelphia|poorly in her debate performance]] against Obama, Edwards, and her other opponents.{{Sfn|Balz|Johnson|2009|pp=95–99}}{{sfn|Heilemann|Halperin|2010|pp=145–49}} Obama's message of change began to resonate with the Democratic electorate better than Clinton's message of experience.<ref name="time5mis"/>

In the first vote of 2008, she placed third in the January{{nbsp}}3 [[Iowa Democratic caucuses, 2008|Iowa Democratic caucus]] behind Obama and Edwards.{{sfn|Kornblut|2009|p=57}} Obama gained ground in national polling in the next few days, with all polls predicting a victory for him in the [[2008 New Hampshire Democratic primary|New Hampshire primary]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/nh/new_hampshire_democratic_primary-194.html |title=New Hampshire Democratic Primary |publisher=[[RealClearPolitics]] |date=January 8, 2008 |access-date=January 9, 2008 |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306051727/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/nh/new_hampshire_democratic_primary-194.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton gained a surprise win there on January 8, narrowly defeating Obama.{{sfn|Heilemann|Halperin|2010|pp=186–90}} It was the first time a woman had won a major American party's presidential primary for the purposes of delegate selection.<ref name="cawp-firsts">{{cite web |url=http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/fast_facts/resources/Firsts.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216234346/http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/fast_facts/resources/Firsts.php |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |title=Firsts for Women in U.S. Politics |publisher=[[Center for American Women and Politics]] |access-date=August 18, 2014}} Also [https://web.archive.org/web/20090430130147/http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/fast_facts/elections/preswatch_clinton.php "The 2008 Presidential Campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton"] from them. See [[Shirley Chisholm#1972 presidential campaign]] for the previous marks for best performance by a major-party woman presidential candidate.</ref> Explanations for Clinton's New Hampshire comeback varied but often centered on her being seen more sympathetically, especially by women, after her eyes welled with tears and her voice broke while responding to a voter's question the day before the election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-10-na-newhamp10-story.html |title=Clinton had voters' sympathy&nbsp;– and a message they liked |author1=Decker, Cathleen |author2=Barabak, Mark Z. |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 10, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061200/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jan/10/nation/na-newhamp10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The nature of the contest fractured in the next few days. Several remarks by Bill Clinton and other surrogates,<ref name="cbs012608">{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/analysis-bill-clintons-lost-legacy/ |title=Analysis: Bill Clinton's Lost Legacy |author=Ververs, Vaughn |work=[[CBS News]] |date=January 26, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2018 |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203003633/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/analysis-bill-clintons-lost-legacy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and a remark by Hillary Clinton concerning Martin Luther King Jr. and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]],{{efn|When asked for her reaction to an Obama remark about the possibility that his campaign represented false hope, Clinton responded: "I would point to the fact that Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he was able to get through Congress something that President Kennedy was hopeful to do, the President before had not even tried, but it took a president to get it done. That dream became a reality, the power of that dream became real in people's lives because we had a president who said we are going to do it, and actually got it accomplished."<ref name="nyt-tamp"/>}} were perceived by many as, accidentally or intentionally, limiting Obama as a racially oriented candidate or otherwise denying the post-racial significance and accomplishments of his campaign.<ref name="nyt-tamp">{{Cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/bill-clinton-tries-to-tamp-down-fairy-tale-remark-about-obama/ |title=Bill Clinton Tries to Tamp Down 'Fairy-Tale' Remark About Obama |last1=Hulse |first1=Carl |last2=Healy |first2=Patrick |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 11, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119120851/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/bill-clinton-tries-to-tamp-down-fairy-tale-remark-about-obama/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite attempts by both Hillary and Obama to downplay the issue, Democratic voting became more polarized as a result, with Clinton losing much of her support among African Americans.<ref name="cbs012608"/><ref name="balz-165">{{harvnb|Balz|Johnson|2009|pp=163–66}}</ref> She lost by a two-to-one margin to Obama in the January 26, [[2008 South Carolina Democratic primary|South Carolina primary]],<ref name="balz-165"/> setting up, with Edwards soon dropping out, an intense two-person contest for the twenty-two February{{nbsp}}5 [[Super Tuesday, 2008|Super Tuesday]] states. The South Carolina campaign had done lasting damage to Clinton, eroding her support among the Democratic establishment and leading to the prized endorsement of Obama by Ted Kennedy.{{Sfn|Balz|Johnson|2009|pp=56, 173–78}}

On Super Tuesday, Clinton won the largest states, such as [[2008 California Democratic primary|California]], [[2008 New York Democratic primary|New York]], [[2008 New Jersey Democratic primary|New Jersey]] and [[2008 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|Massachusetts]], while Obama won more states;{{Sfn|Balz|Johnson|2009|pp=188–89}} they almost evenly split the total popular vote.{{sfn|Heilemann|Halperin|2010|p=223}} But Obama was gaining more [[pledged delegate]]s for his share of the popular vote due to better exploitation of the Democratic proportional allocation rules.<ref name="sizemore">{{Cite news |url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/jms2008060501/ |title=How Obama Did It |author=Sizemore, Justin M. |publisher=[[University of Virginia Center for Politics|Center for Politics at the University of Virginia]] |date=June 5, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061203/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/jms2008060501/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Clinton campaign had counted on winning the nomination by Super Tuesday and was unprepared financially and logistically for a prolonged effort; lagging in Internet fundraising as Clinton began loaning money to her campaign.<ref name="time5mis">{{Cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1738496,00.html |title=The Five Mistakes Clinton Made |author=Tumulty, Karen |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=May 8, 2008 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010105705/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1738496,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nyt-recon"/> There was continuous turmoil within the campaign staff, and she made several top-level personnel changes.<ref name="nyt-recon"/>{{Sfn|Balz|Johnson|2009|pp=148–54, 190–92}} Obama won the next eleven February contests across the country, often by large margins and took a significant pledged delegate lead over Clinton.<ref name="sizemore"/><ref name="nyt-recon">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08recon.html |title=The Long Road to a Clinton Exit |author1=Baker, Peter |author2=Rutenberg, Jim |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 8, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209030041/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08recon.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 4, Clinton broke the string of losses by winning in [[2008 Ohio Democratic primary|Ohio]] among other places,<ref name="nyt-recon"/> where her criticism of NAFTA, a major legacy of her husband's presidency, helped in a state where the trade agreement was unpopular.{{Sfn|Balz|Johnson|2009|p=196}} Throughout the campaign, Obama dominated [[Caucus#In the United States|caucuses]], for which the Clinton campaign largely ignored and failed to prepare.<ref name="time5mis"/><ref name="sizemore"/> Obama did well in primaries where African Americans or younger, college-educated, or more affluent voters were heavily represented; Clinton did well in primaries where Hispanics or older, non-college-educated, or working-class white voters predominated.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/18/pennsylvania-pitch-can-obama-connect-with-lower-income-whites/ |title=Pennsylvania Pitch: Can Obama Connect With Lower-Income Whites? |author=Phillips, Matt |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=March 18, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060920/https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/18/pennsylvania-pitch-can-obama-connect-with-lower-income-whites/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/us/politics/22age.html |title=In Clinton vs. Obama, Age Is a Great Predictor |author=Seelye, Katherine Q. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106064844/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/us/politics/22age.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Behind in delegates, Clinton's best hope of winning the nomination came in persuading uncommitted, party-appointed [[superdelegate]]s.<ref name="balz-217">{{harvnb|Balz|Johnson|2009|pp=216–17}}</ref>

[[File:Hillary Rodham Clinton DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Clinton speaking on behalf of Barack Obama before a convention audience during the second night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. Multiple audience members in the foreground wave white flags with the word "Hillary" written in marker.|Clinton speaks on behalf of her former rival, Barack Obama, during the second night of the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]].]]

Following the final primaries on June 3, 2008, Obama had gained enough delegates to become the [[presumptive nominee]].{{sfn|Heilemann|Halperin|2010|p=25}} In a speech before her supporters on June 7, Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed Obama.{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=25, 30}} By campaign's end, Clinton had won 1,640&nbsp;pledged delegates to Obama's 1,763;<ref name="cnn-end">{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#D |title=Election Center 2008: Delegate Scorecard |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=June 4, 2008 |access-date=July 6, 2008 |archive-date=September 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910141651/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#D |url-status=live }}</ref> at the time of the clinching, Clinton had 286 superdelegates to Obama's 395,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/election_stats.php |title=The Final Math |author=Kleefeld, Eric |publisher=[[Talking Points Memo]] |date=June 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701201010/http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/election_stats.php |archive-date=July 1, 2008}}</ref> with those numbers widening to 256 versus 438 once Obama was acknowledged the winner.<ref name="cnn-end"/> Clinton and Obama each received over 17&nbsp;million votes during the nomination process{{efn|{{cite web |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_vote_count.html |title=2008 Democratic Popular Vote |publisher=[[RealClearPolitics]] |access-date=July 8, 2008}} The popular vote count for a nomination process is unofficial, and meaningless in determining the nominee. It is difficult to come up with precise totals due to some caucus states not reporting popular vote totals and thus having to be estimated. It is also difficult to compare Clinton and Obama's totals, due to only her name having been on the ballot in the Michigan primary.<ref name="balz-217"/>}} with both breaking the previous record.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/eye-on-2008/clinton-puts-up-popular-vote-a.html |title=Clinton Puts Up Popular Vote Ad |author=Cillizza, Chris |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 1, 2008 |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910212501/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/eye-on-2008/clinton-puts-up-popular-vote-a.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Clinton was the first woman to run in the primary or caucus of every state and she eclipsed, by a very wide margin, Congresswoman [[Shirley Chisholm]]'s [[Shirley Chisholm#1972 presidential campaign|1972 marks]] for most votes garnered and delegates won by a woman.<ref name="cawp-firsts"/> Clinton gave a passionate speech supporting Obama at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] and campaigned frequently for him in fall 2008, which concluded with his victory over McCain in the general election on November 4.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/us/politics/23hillary.html |title=Clinton-Obama Détente: From Top Rival to Top Aide |author=Bumiller, Elisabeth |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 22, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630120708/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/us/politics/23hillary.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Secretary of State (2009–2013)==
{{Main|Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State}}
{{See also|Foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration|List of international trips made by Hillary Clinton as United States Secretary of State}}
[[File:2009 0121 clinton 290 1.jpg|thumb|right|Hillary Clinton was sworn in as Secretary of State by Associate Judge [[Kathryn Oberly]] on January 21, 2009.]]

===Nomination and confirmation===
In mid-November 2008, President-elect Obama and Clinton discussed the possibility of her serving as [[U.S. Secretary of State|secretary of state]] in his administration.{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=48–52}} She was initially quite reluctant, but on November 20 she told Obama she would accept the position.<ref name="nytm-rock">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/magazine/hillary-clintons-last-tour-as-a-rock-star-diplomat.html |title=Last Tour of the Rock-Star Diplomat |author=Myers, Steven Lee |magazine=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |date=July 1, 2012 |pages=18–23, 49 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127154018/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/magazine/hillary-clintons-last-tour-as-a-rock-star-diplomat.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=58–60}} On December 1, President-elect Obama formally announced that Clinton would be his nominee for secretary of state.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/deadlineusa/2008/dec/01/obama-clinton-secretary-of-state |title=As it happened: Obama nominates Hillary Clinton for secretary of state |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=December 1, 2008 |first=Elana |last=Schor |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212131552/https://www.theguardian.com/world/deadlineusa/2008/dec/01/obama-clinton-secretary-of-state |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sky120108">{{Cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927114952/http://news.sky.com/story/651982/obama-confirms-hillary-in-top-job |archive-date=September 27, 2012 |url=http://news.sky.com/story/651982/obama-confirms-hillary-in-top-job |title=Obama Confirms Hillary in Top Job |publisher=[[Sky News]] |date=December 1, 2008}}</ref> Clinton said she did not want to leave the Senate, but that the new position represented a "difficult and exciting adventure".<ref name="sky120108"/> As part of the nomination and to relieve concerns of conflict of interest, Bill Clinton agreed to accept several conditions and restrictions regarding his ongoing activities and fundraising efforts for the [[Clinton Foundation|William J. Clinton Foundation]] and the [[Clinton Global Initiative]].{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|p=81}}

The appointment required a [[Saxbe fix]], passed and signed into law in December 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/bush-approves-bill-reducing-secretary-of-states-pay/ |title=Bush Approves Bill Reducing Secretary of State's Pay |author=Falcone, Michael |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 19, 2008 |access-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-date=November 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119122455/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/bush-approves-bill-reducing-secretary-of-states-pay/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Confirmation hearings before the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]] began on January 13, 2009, a week before the Obama inauguration; two days later, the committee voted 16–1 to approve Clinton.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28624112 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409043257/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28624112/ |archive-date=April 9, 2014 |title=Senate panel backs Clinton as secretary of state |agency=Associated Press |work=[[NBC News]] |url-status=live |date=January 15, 2009}}</ref> By this time, her public approval rating had reached 65&nbsp;percent, the highest point since the Lewinsky scandal.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/113740/Senate-Hearings-Begin-Hillary-Clintons-Image-Soars.aspx |title=As Senate Hearings Begin, Hillary Clinton's Image Soars |author=Jones, Jeffrey M. |publisher=[[Gallup Organization]] |date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=January 16, 2009 |archive-date=September 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902071020/http://www.gallup.com/poll/113740/Senate-Hearings-Begin-Hillary-Clintons-Image-Soars.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 21, 2009, Clinton was confirmed in the full Senate by a vote of 94–2.<ref name="kate phillips">{{Cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/senate-debates-clinton-confirmation/ |title=Senate Confirms Clinton as Secretary of State |last=Phillips |first=Kate |date=January 21, 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202012055/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/senate-debates-clinton-confirmation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton took the oath of office of secretary of state, [[resignation from the United States Senate|resigning from the Senate]] later that day.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Clinton sworn in at State Dept. and then resigns Senate |first=Brian |last=Tumulty |work=[[The Journal News]] |date=January 21, 2009 |url=http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2009/01/21/clinton-has-resigned-the-senate-sworn-in-at-state-dept |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201014210/http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2009/01/21/clinton-has-resigned-the-senate-sworn-in-at-state-dept |archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> She became the first former first lady to be a member of the [[Cabinet of the United States|United States Cabinet]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hillary Rodham Clinton Biography |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/clinton-hillary-rodham-clinton-biography/ |website=PBS |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>

===Tenure===
During her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton and President Obama forged a positive working relationship that lacked power struggles. Clinton was regarded to be a team player within the Obama administration. She was also considered a defender of the administration to the public. She was regarded to be cautious to prevent herself or her husband from upstaging the president.<ref name="elle-2012"/><ref name="nyt-relat">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/us/politics/19policy.html |title=From Bitter Campaign to Strong Alliance |author=Landler, Mark |author2=Cooper, Helene |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 19, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119222501/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/us/politics/19policy.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Obama and Clinton both approached foreign policy as a largely non-ideological, pragmatic exercise.<ref name="nytm-rock"/> Clinton met with Obama weekly, but did not have the close, daily relationship that some of her predecessors had had with their presidents.<ref name="nyt-relat"/> Nevertheless, Obama was trusting of Clinton's actions.<ref name="nytm-rock"/> Clinton also formed an alliance with Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]] with whom she shared similar strategic outlooks.<ref name="a-p-gates">Allen and Parnes 2014, pp.&nbsp;117–21.</ref>

As secretary of state, Clinton sought to lead a rehabilitation of the United States' reputation on the world stage. After taking office, Clinton spent several days telephoning dozens of world leaders and indicating that [[U.S. foreign policy]] would change direction. Days into her tenure, she remarked, "We have a lot of damage to repair."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-28-fg-clinton28-story.html |title=World breathes sigh of relief, Hillary Clinton says |author=Richter, Paul |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 28, 2009 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061540/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/28/world/fg-clinton28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clinton advocated an expanded role in global economic issues for the State Department, and cited the need for an increased U.S. diplomatic presence, especially in Iraq where the Defense Department had conducted [[diplomatic missions]].<ref name="nyt122208">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/us/politics/23diplo.html |title=Clinton Moves to Widen Role of State Dept. |author=Landler, Mark |author2=Cooper, Helene |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 22, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102062019/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/us/politics/23diplo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton announced the most ambitious of her departmental reforms, the [[Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review]], which establishes specific objectives for the State Department's diplomatic missions abroad; it was modeled after [[Quadrennial Defense Review|a similar process]] in the Defense Department that she was familiar with from her time on the [[Senate Armed Services Committee]].{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=150–51}} The first such review was issued in late 2010 and called for the U.S. to lead through "civilian power".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2010/1215/Hillary-Clinton-s-vision-for-foreign-policy-on-a-tight-budget |title=Hillary Clinton's vision for foreign policy on a tight budget |author=LaFranchi, Howard |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=December 15, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |archive-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119213011/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2010/1215/Hillary-Clinton-s-vision-for-foreign-policy-on-a-tight-budget |url-status=live }}</ref> and prioritize the empowerment of women throughout the world.<ref name="nw-doctrine"/> One cause that Clinton promoted throughout her tenure was the adoption of [[Improved cookstove|cookstove]]s in the developing world, to foster cleaner and more environmentally sound food preparation and reduce smoke dangers to women.<ref name="nytm-rock"/>

[[File:Lavrov and Clinton reset relations-1 (cropped).jpg|thumb|alt=Hillary Clinton standing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Both of them are holding a "reset button". They are in a room with a window to the left and an American flag behind them|Russian foreign minister [[Sergey Lavrov]] and Clinton holding a "reset button", 2009]]

In a 2009 internal Obama administration debate regarding the War in Afghanistan, Clinton sided with the military's recommendations for a maximal "Afghanistan surge", recommending 40,000 troops and no public deadline for withdrawal. She prevailed over Vice President [[Joe Biden]]'s opposition but eventually supported Obama's compromise plan to send an additional 30,000 troops and [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2011–2016)|tie the surge to a timetable for eventual withdrawal]].<ref name="landler-nytm"/>{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=122–24}}

In March 2009, Clinton presented Russian Foreign Minister [[Sergey Lavrov]] with a "reset button" symbolizing U.S. attempts to rebuild ties with that country under its new president, [[Dmitry Medvedev]].<ref name="nyt-putin">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/europe/3-presidents-and-a-riddle-named-putin.html |title=3 Presidents and a Riddle Named Putin |author=Baker, Peter |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 23, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709075652/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/europe/3-presidents-and-a-riddle-named-putin.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=136–38}} The policy, which became known as the [[Russian reset]], led to improved cooperation in several areas during Medvedev's presidency.<ref name="nyt-putin"/> However Clinton noted at the time that the U.S. was concerned about Russia's use of energy as a tool of intimidation.<ref name="dwdgp">{{cite news |title=Russia's Gazprom - Corrupt politicians and the greed of the west |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCNHwH9MxGA |agency=YouTube |publisher=DW Documentary |date=10 February 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2024 |archive-date=February 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210172759/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCNHwH9MxGA |url-status=live }}</ref> Bilateral relations, however, would decline considerably, after Medvedev's presidency ended in 2012 and [[Vladimir Putin]]'s return to the Russian presidency.<ref>{{cite news |title=DNC Email Hack: Why Vladimir Putin Hates Hillary Clinton |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/why-putin-hates-hillary-clinton-n617236 |work=NBC News |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213164647/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/why-putin-hates-hillary-clinton-n617236 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2009, on a trip to Switzerland, Clinton's intervention overcame last-minute snafues and managed to secure the final signing of an [[2009 Armenia–Turkey Accord|historic Turkish–Armenian accord]] that established diplomatic relations and opened the border between the two long-hostile nations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/8749600 |title=Turkey, Armenia sign historic accord |author=Lee, Matthew |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=October 10, 2009 |access-date=December 11, 2016 |archive-date=June 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630111450/http://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/8749600 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/world/middleeast/05clinton.html |title=In Middle East Peace Talks, Clinton Faces a Crucial Test |author=Landler, Mark |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323062620/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/world/middleeast/05clinton.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Beginning in 2010, she helped organize a diplomatic isolation and international sanctions regime against Iran, in an effort to force curtailment of [[Nuclear program of Iran|that country's nuclear program]]; this eventually lead to the multinational [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] being agreed to in 2015.<ref name="nytm-rock"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/world/middleeast/17diplo.html |title=Iran Policy Now More in Sync With Clinton's Views |first=Mark |last=Landler |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 16, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021024337/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/world/middleeast/17diplo.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-iran-nuclear-deal-120078.html |title=Hillary Clinton endorses nuclear deal |first=Michael |last=Crowley |work=Politico |date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822061549/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-iran-nuclear-deal-120078.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, greets Service members after her speech at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam 101029-N-QE566-002.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Clinton greeting U.S. military personnel at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The personnel are wearing uniforms and standing side by side.|Clinton greeting service members at [[Andersen Air Force Base]] in 2010]]

In a prepared speech in January 2010, Clinton drew analogies between the [[Iron Curtain]] and the free and unfree Internet,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jan-23-la-fg-google-china23-2010jan23-story.html |title=Sino-U.S. ties hit new snag over Internet issues |author=Richter, Paul |author2=Pierson, David |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 23, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061546/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/23/world/la-fg-google-china23-2010jan23 |url-status=live }}</ref> which marked the first time that a senior American government official had clearly defined the Internet as a key element of American foreign policy.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/world/asia/23china.html |title=China Rebuffs Clinton on Internet Warning |author=Landler, Mark |author2=Wong, Edward |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 22, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203001648/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/world/asia/23china.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2010, she visited South Korea, where she and [[Cheryl Mills]] successfully worked to convince SAE-A, a large apparel subcontractor, to invest in Haiti despite the company's deep concerns about plans to raise the minimum wage.<ref name="Sontag">{{cite news|title=Earthquake Relief Where Haiti Wasn't Broken|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/world/americas/earthquake-relief-where-haiti-wasnt-broken.html|access-date=August 24, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 5, 2012|author=Sontag, Deborah|archive-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722212434/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/world/americas/earthquake-relief-where-haiti-wasnt-broken.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This tied into the "build back better" program initiated by her husband after he was named the UN Special Envoy to Haiti in 2009 following a tropical storm season that caused $1&nbsp;billion in damages to Haiti.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8056762.stm | title=Bill Clinton to be UN Haiti envoy | work=BBC News | date=May 19, 2009 | access-date=August 24, 2019 | archive-date=March 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305021150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8056762.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[2011 Egyptian protests]] posed the most challenging foreign policy crisis yet for the Obama administration.<ref name="pol-egypt-hrc">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/02/clinton-is-key-in-dance-with-mubarak-048658 |title=Hillary Clinton plays key role in dance with Hosni Mubarak |author=Thrush, Glenn |work=[[Politico]] |date=February 2, 2011 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509134819/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/48658.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton's public response quickly evolved from an early assessment that the government of [[Hosni Mubarak]] was "stable", to a stance that there needed to be an "orderly transition [to] a democratic participatory government", to a condemnation of violence against the protesters.<ref name="reut-evol">{{cite news |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFN0219913120110202?sp=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511071154/http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFN0219913120110202?sp=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |title=Factbox&nbsp;– Evolution of U.S. stance on Egypt |work=[[Reuters]] |date=February 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nation.com.pk/International/04-Feb-2011/Hillary-urges-probe-into-new-Cairo-violence |title=Hillary urges probe into new Cairo violence |newspaper=[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]] |location=Lahore |date=February 4, 2011 |access-date=September 15, 2014 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018061542/http://nation.com.pk/international/04-Feb-2011/hillary-urges-probe-into-new-cairo-violence |url-status=dead }}</ref> Obama came to rely upon Clinton's advice, organization and personal connections in the behind-the-scenes response to developments.<ref name="pol-egypt-hrc"/> As [[Arab Spring]] protests spread throughout the region, Clinton was at the forefront of a U.S. response that she recognized was sometimes contradictory, backing some regimes while supporting protesters against others.<ref name="nyt-libya-change">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19policy.html |title=Obama Takes Hard Line With Libya After Shift by Clinton |author=Cooper, Helene |author2=Myers, Steven Lee |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 18, 2011 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815030426/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19policy.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

As the [[Libyan Civil War (2011)|Libyan Civil War]] took place, Clinton's shift in favor of military intervention aligned her with [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations|Ambassador to the UN]] [[Susan Rice]] and National Security Council figure [[Samantha Power]]. This was a key turning point in overcoming internal administration opposition from Defense Secretary Gates, security advisor [[Thomas E. Donilon]] and counterterrorism advisor [[John O. Brennan|John Brennan]] in gaining the backing for, and Arab and U.N. approval of, the [[2011 military intervention in Libya]].<ref name="nyt-libya-change"/><ref name="time-smart"/><ref name="pol-no-2nd">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/03/no-fly-win-for-lame-duck-clinton-051515 |title=Day after saying no second term, a big win for Hillary Clinton |author=Thrush, Glenn |work=[[Politico]] |date=March 17, 2011 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319084310/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51515.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Secretary Clinton testified to Congress that the administration did not need [[Declaration of war by the United States|congressional authorization]] for its military intervention in Libya, despite objections from some members of both parties that the administration was violating the [[War Powers Resolution]]. The State Department's legal advisor argued the same point when the Resolution's 60-day limit for unauthorized wars was passed (a view that prevailed in a legal debate within the Obama administration).<ref>{{cite book |author=Savage, Charlie |title=Power Wars: Inside Obama's Post-9/11 Presidency |pages=639, 643–49 |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |location=New York |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-316-28657-2 |author-link=Charlie Savage (author)}}</ref> Clinton later used U.S. allies and what she called "convening power" to promote unity among the [[Anti-Gaddafi forces|Libyan rebels]] as they eventually overthrew the [[Gaddafi regime]].<ref name="time-smart">{{cite news |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2097973,00.html |title=Hillary Clinton and the Rise of Smart Power |author=Calabresi, Massimo |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=November 7, 2011 |pages=26–31 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=December 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210202829/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2097973,00.html |url-status=live }} See also {{cite news |url=http://am.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/28/time-magazine-editor-explains-hillary-clintons-smart-power/ |title=TIME magazine editor explains Hillary Clinton's 'smart power' |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923040419/http://am.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/28/time-magazine-editor-explains-hillary-clintons-smart-power/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Aftermath of the 2011 Libyan Civil War|aftermath of the Libyan Civil War]] saw the country becoming a [[failed state]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/08/politics/hillary-clinton-libya-election-2016/index.html |title=Hillary Clinton's real Libya problem |author=Collinson, Stephen |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217044853/http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/08/politics/hillary-clinton-libya-election-2016/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The wisdom of the intervention and interpretation of what happened afterward would become the subject of considerable debate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/07/libya-intervention-daalder_n_6809756.html |title=Was The 2011 Libya Intervention A Mistake? |first=Nick |last=Robins-Early |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=March 7, 2015 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=April 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422122912/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/07/libya-intervention-daalder_n_6809756.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Obama's Libya Debacle |first=Alan J. |last=Kuperman |journal=[[Foreign Affairs]] |date=March–April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/libya/2015-04-20/who-lost-libya |title=Who Lost Libya? |first1=Derek |last1=Chollet |first2=Ben |last2=Fishman |journal=[[Foreign Affairs]] |issue=May/June 2015 |date=May–June 2015 |volume=94 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060657/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/libya/2015-04-20/who-lost-libya |url-status=live }}</ref>

During April 2011, internal deliberations of the president's innermost circle of advisors over whether to order [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. special forces]] to conduct a raid into Pakistan against [[Osama bin Laden]], Clinton was among those who argued in favor, saying the importance of getting bin Laden outweighed the risks to the U.S. relationship with Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book |first=Mark |last=Bowden |author-link=Mark Bowden |title=The Finish: The Killing of Osama Bin Laden |publisher=[[Atlantic Monthly Press]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-8021-2034-2 |pages=198–204}}</ref>{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=233–37}} Following the completion of the mission on May{{nbsp}}2 resulting in [[Death of Osama bin Laden|bin Laden's death]], Clinton played a key role in the administration's decision not to release photographs of the dead al-Qaeda leader.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/why-obama-nixed-the-photo-release-20110504 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110507030825/http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/why-obama-nixed-the-photo-release-20110504 |url-status=dead |archive-date= May 7, 2011 |title=Why Obama Nixed the Photo Release |last1=Ambinder |first1=Marc |last2=Cooper |first2=Matthew |magazine=[[National Journal]] |date=May 4, 2011}}</ref> During internal discussions regarding Iraq in 2011, Clinton argued for keeping a residual force of up to 10,000–20,000 U.S. troops there. (All of them ended up being withdrawn after negotiations for a revised [[U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement]] failed.)<ref name="landler-nytm"/><ref name="time-crowley"/>

[[File:Secretary Clinton Meets Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for Dinner (6437448295).jpg|thumb|alt=Clinton standing with Aung San Suu Kyi. The two women are discussing something during Clinton's 2011 visit to Burma.|Clinton with [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] during her 2011 visit to Myanmar]]

In a speech before the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] in December 2011, Clinton said that, "Gay rights are human rights", and that the U.S. would advocate for [[gay rights]] and legal protections of gay people abroad.{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|p=372}} The same period saw her overcome internal administration opposition with a direct appeal to Obama and stage the first visit to [[Burma]] by a U.S. secretary of state since 1955. She met with Burmese leaders as well as opposition leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] and sought to support the [[2011–15 Myanmar political reforms|2011 Burmese democratic reforms]].<ref name="nyt-backstage"/>{{sfn|Ghattas|2013|pp=294–304}} She also said the 21st century would be "America's Pacific century",<ref>{{cite journal |last=Clinton |first=Hillary |title=America's Pacific Century |journal=[[Foreign Policy]] |issue=189 |date=November 2011 |pages=56–63}}</ref> a declaration that was part of the [[East Asian foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration|Obama administration's "pivot to Asia"]].{{sfn|Ghattas|2013|p=187}}

During the [[Syrian Civil War]], Clinton and the Obama administration initially sought to persuade Syrian president [[Bashar al-Assad]] to engage popular demonstrations with reform. As government violence allegedly rose in August 2011, they called for him to resign from the presidency.{{sfn|Ghattas|2013|pp=282–85}} The administration joined several countries in delivering non-lethal assistance to so-called [[Syrian opposition|rebels opposed to the Assad government]] and humanitarian groups working in Syria.<ref>{{cite news |last=Myers |first=Steven Lee |title=U.S. joins effort to equip and pay rebels in Syria |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/world/middleeast/us-and-other-countries-move-to-increase-assistance-to-syrian-rebels.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211230217/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/world/middleeast/us-and-other-countries-move-to-increase-assistance-to-syrian-rebels.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During mid-2012, Clinton formed a plan with CIA Director David Petraeus to further strengthen the opposition by arming and training vetted groups of Syrian rebels. The proposal was rejected by White House officials who were reluctant to become entangled in the conflict, fearing that extremists hidden among the rebels might turn the weapons against other targets.<ref name="nyt-backstage">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/us/politics/in-behind-scene-blows-and-triumphs-sense-of-clinton-future.html |title=Backstage Glimpses of Clinton as Dogged Diplomat, Win or Lose |author=Gordon, Michael R. |author2=Landler, Mark |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 3, 2013 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317020322/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/us/politics/in-behind-scene-blows-and-triumphs-sense-of-clinton-future.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|p=340}}

In December 2012, Clinton was hospitalized for a few days for treatment of a [[Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis|blood clot]] in her [[Transverse sinuses|right transverse]] [[Dural venous sinuses|venous sinus]].{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=339–42, 360–62}} Her doctors had discovered the clot during a follow-up examination for a [[concussion]] she had sustained when she fainted and fell nearly three weeks earlier, as a result of severe dehydration from a viral [[gastroenteritis|intestinal ailment]] acquired during a trip to Europe.{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=339–42, 360–62}}<ref name="nyt-hosp"/> The clot, which caused no immediate neurological injury, was treated with [[anticoagulant]] medication, and her doctors have said she has made a full recovery.<ref name="nyt-hosp"/><ref name="health-2015"/>{{efn|While generally experiencing good health in her life, Clinton had previously had a potentially serious blood clot behind her knee (a [[deep vein thrombosis]]) while first lady in 1998, for which she had required anticoagulant treatment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/hillary-clinton-life-60-article-1.228020 |title=Hillary Clinton: My life at 60 |author=Evans, Heidi |work=[[New York Daily News|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=October 25, 2007 |access-date=January 2, 2013 |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124124620/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/hillary-clinton-life-60-article-1.228020 |url-status=live }}</ref> An elbow fracture and subsequent painful recuperation had caused Clinton to miss two foreign trips as Secretary of State in 2009.{{sfn|Allen|Parnes|2014|pp=139–41}} It was also disclosed in 2015 that she had a second deep vein thrombosis in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hillary-clinton-has-not-been-quick-to-share-health-information/2016/09/11/822b1b0c-784d-11e6-bd86-b7bbd53d2b5d_story.html|title=Hillary Clinton has not been quick to share health information|last=Frankel|first=Todd C.|date=September 11, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 22, 2020|archive-date=January 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131071316/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hillary-clinton-has-not-been-quick-to-share-health-information/2016/09/11/822b1b0c-784d-11e6-bd86-b7bbd53d2b5d_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2012 concussion and clot episode caused Clinton to postpone her congressional testimony on the [[Benghazi attack]] and to miss any foreign trips planned for the rest of her tenure.<ref name="nyt-hosp"/> After returning to public activity, she wore special glasses for two months, with a [[Fresnel lens]] for the left eye to compensate for [[double vision]], a lingering effect of the concussion.<ref name="health-2015"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hillary-clintons-glasses-concussion-fashion/story?id=18313426 |title=Hillary Clinton's Glasses Are For Concussion, Not Fashion |author=Hughes, Dana |author2=Childs, Dan |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=January 25, 2013 |access-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214103018/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hillary-clintons-glasses-concussion-fashion/story?id=18313426 |url-status=live }}</ref> She remained on anticoagulant medication as a precaution.<ref name="health-2015">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-health-excellent-doctor-letter-2016-campaign-120861.html |title=Hillary's health 'excellent,' doctor says |author=Karni, Annie |work=[[Politico]] |date=July 31, 2015 |access-date=August 1, 2015 |archive-date=August 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820094953/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-health-excellent-doctor-letter-2016-campaign-120861.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

====Overall themes====
[[File:Obama and Biden await updates on bin Laden.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Obama and Biden, along with members of the national security team watching a live feed|Clinton, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on Operation Neptune Spear in the White House Situation Room in 2011. Everyone in the room is watching a live feed from drones operating over the Osama bin Laden complex.]]

Throughout her time in office (and mentioned in her final speech concluding it), Clinton viewed "[[smart power]]" as the strategy for asserting U.S. leadership and values. In a world of varied threats, weakened central governments and increasingly important nongovernmental entities, smart power combined military [[hard power]] with diplomacy and U.S. [[soft power]] capacities in global economics, development aid, technology, creativity and human rights advocacy.<ref name="time-smart"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-farewell-speech-clinton-calls-for-smart-power-on-global-stage/ |title=In farewell speech, Clinton calls for 'smart power' on global stage |author=Madison, Lucy |work=[[CBS News]] |date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=April 1, 2018 |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019202202/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-farewell-speech-clinton-calls-for-smart-power-on-global-stage/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As such, she became the first secretary of state to methodically implement the smart power approach.{{sfn|Ghattas|2013|p=334}} In debates over use of military force, she was generally one of the more [[War hawk|hawkish]] voices in the administration.<ref name="landler-nytm"/><ref name="a-p-gates"/><ref name="time-crowley">{{cite magazine |url=https://swampland.time.com/2014/01/14/hillary-clintons-unapologetically-hawkish-record-faces-2016-test/ |title=Hillary Clinton's Unapologetically Hawkish Record Faces 2016 Test |author=Crowley, Michael |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307235624/http://swampland.time.com/2014/01/14/hillary-clintons-unapologetically-hawkish-record-faces-2016-test/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2011 she hailed the ongoing multinational military intervention in Libya and the initial U.S. response towards the Syrian Civil War as examples of smart power in action.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/clinton-us-using-smart-power-for-libya-syria/ |title=Clinton: US using 'smart power' for Libya, Syria |work=[[CBS News]] |date=August 16, 2011 |access-date=April 1, 2018 |archive-date=December 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216102815/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/clinton-us-using-smart-power-for-libya-syria/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clinton greatly expanded the State Department's use of [[social media]], including Facebook and Twitter, to get its message out and to help empower citizens of foreign countries vis-à-vis their governments.<ref name="time-smart"/>
And in the Mideast turmoil, Clinton particularly saw an opportunity to advance one of the central themes of her tenure, the empowerment and welfare of women and girls worldwide.<ref name="nw-doctrine">{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/06/the-hillary-doctrine.html |title=The Hillary Doctrine |author=Lemmon, Gayle Tzemach |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=March 6, 2011 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318090334/http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/06/the-hillary-doctrine.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Moreover, in a formulation that became known as the "[[Hillary Doctrine]]", she viewed women's rights as critical for U.S. security interests, due to a link between the level of violence against women and gender inequality within a state, and the instability and challenge to international security of that state.<ref name="elle-2012">{{cite news |url=http://www.elle.com/life-love/society-career/at-the-pinnacle-of-hillary-clintons-career-654140 |title=At the Pinnacle of Hillary Clinton's Career |author=Combe, Rachael |magazine=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]] |date=April 5, 2012 |access-date=September 15, 2014 |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218153941/http://www.elle.com/life-love/society-career/at-the-pinnacle-of-hillary-clintons-career-654140 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Hudson|Leidl|2015|pp=3–4}} In turn, there was a trend of women around the world finding more opportunities, and in some cases feeling safer, as the result of her actions and visibility.{{sfn|Hudson|Leidl|2015|pp=57–60}}

Clinton visited 112&nbsp;countries during her tenure, making her the most widely traveled secretary of state<ref name="nyt-amplified">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/us/politics/scare-amplifies-fears-that-clintons-work-has-taken-heavy-toll.html |title=Scare Adds to Fears That Clinton's Work Has Taken Toll |last=Landler |first=Mark |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 4, 2013 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912165655/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/us/politics/scare-amplifies-fears-that-clintons-work-has-taken-heavy-toll.html%26pagewanted%3Dall%26_r%3D0 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|Clinton's 112 countries visited broke [[Madeleine Albright]]'s previous mark of 96.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/frequent-flier-clinton-hits-100-country-mark-073258740.html |title=Frequent flier Hillary Clinton hits 100-country mark |author=Lee, Matthew |agency=Associated Press |publisher=[[Yahoo! News]] |date=June 28, 2012 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125025346/http://news.yahoo.com/frequent-flier-clinton-hits-100-country-mark-073258740.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton's sum of 956,733 air miles traveled, however, fell short of [[Condoleezza Rice]]'s record for mileage.<ref name="nyt-amplified"/> That total, 1,059,207, was bolstered late in her tenure by repeated trips to the Middle East.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/06/clinton-rice-vie-for-most-traveled-secretary-of-state/1 |title=Clinton, Rice vie for most traveled secretary of State |author=Jackson, David |work=[[USA Today]] |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123002703/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/06/clinton-rice-vie-for-most-traveled-secretary-of-state/1 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} ([[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] wrote that "Clinton's endurance is legendary".)<ref name="time-smart"/> The first secretary of state to visit countries like [[Togo]] and [[East Timor]], she believed that in-person visits were more important than ever in the virtual age.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/departing-secretary-state-hillary-clinton-leaves-legacy-firsts/story?id=18039755&singlePage=true |title=Departing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Leaves Behind a Legacy of Firsts |author=Parnass, Sarah |author2=Hughes, Dana |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=December 23, 2012 |access-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918153528/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/departing-secretary-state-hillary-clinton-leaves-legacy-firsts/story?id=18039755&singlePage=true |url-status=live }}</ref> As early as March 2011, she indicated she was not interested in serving a second term as secretary of state should Obama be [[2012 United States presidential election|re-elected in 2012]];<ref name="pol-no-2nd"/> in December 2012, following that re-election, Obama nominated Senator [[John Kerry]] to be Clinton's successor.<ref name="nyt-hosp">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/31/us/hillary-clinton-goes-to-hospital-after-exam-finds-a-blood-clot.html |title=Clinton's Blood Clot Is Located Near Her Brain, Doctors Say |author=Cooper, Helene |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 31, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130013614/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/31/us/hillary-clinton-goes-to-hospital-after-exam-finds-a-blood-clot.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her last day as secretary of state was February 1, 2013.<ref name="cbs-next">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-hillary-clinton-closing-the-door-on-politics/ |title=Is Hillary Clinton closing the door on politics? |author=Miller, Jake |work=[[CBS News]] |date=January 29, 2013 |access-date=April 1, 2018 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818160247/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-hillary-clinton-closing-the-door-on-politics/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon her departure, analysts commented that Clinton's tenure did not bring any signature diplomatic breakthroughs as some other secretaries of state had accomplished,<ref name="lat-legacy">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2013-jan-28-la-na-clinton-legacy-20130128-story.html |title=Hillary Clinton's legacy at State: Splendid but not spectacular |author=Richter, Paul |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 28, 2013 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109161557/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/28/nation/la-na-clinton-legacy-20130128 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nykr-legacy">{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/02/11/long-engagements |title=Long Engagements |author=Packer, George |author-link=George Packer |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=February 11, 2013 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224112959/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/02/11/long-engagements |url-status=live }}</ref> and highlighted her focus on goals she thought were less tangible but would have more lasting effect.{{sfn|Ghattas|2013|pp=216, 225}} She has also been criticized for accepting millions in dollars in donations from foreign governments to the [[Clinton Foundation]] during her tenure as Secretary of State.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/foreign-governments-gave-millions-to-foundation-while-clinton-was-at-state-dept/2015/02/25/31937c1e-bc3f-11e4-8668-4e7ba8439ca6_story.html |title=Foreign governments gave millions to foundation while Clinton was at State Dept. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 25, 2015 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224135159/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/foreign-governments-gave-millions-to-foundation-while-clinton-was-at-state-dept/2015/02/25/31937c1e-bc3f-11e4-8668-4e7ba8439ca6_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Benghazi attack and subsequent hearings===
{{See also|2012 Benghazi attack|United States House Select Committee on Benghazi}}
[[File:Obama and Clinton at Transfer of Remains Ceremony for Benghazi attack victims Sep 14, 2012.jpg|thumb|alt=Obama and Clinton at a somber occasion, honoring the Benghazi attack victims at the Transfer of Remains Ceremony, held at Andrews Air Force Base on September 14, 2012. Soldiers are standing behind Obama and Clinton, and everyone is standing on a large wooden floor with their left hands to their side and their right hands on their upper chests.|Obama and Clinton honor the [[Benghazi attack]] victims at the Transfer of Remains Ceremony, held at [[Andrews Air Force Base]] on September 14, 2012.]]

On September 11, 2012, [[2012 Benghazi attack|the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked]], resulting in the deaths of the U.S. Ambassador, [[J. Christopher Stevens]] and three other Americans. The attack, questions surrounding the security of the U.S. consulate, and the [[2012 Benghazi attack#U.S. government response|varying explanations given afterward by administration officials]] for what had happened became politically controversial in the U.S.<ref name="cnn-attack-resp">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/15/us/clinton-benghazi/index.html |title=Clinton: I'm responsible for diplomats' security |author=Labott, Elise |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=October 16, 2012 |access-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210032414/https://www.cnn.com/2012/10/15/us/clinton-benghazi/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 15, Clinton took responsibility for the question of security lapses saying the differing explanations were due to the inevitable [[fog of war]] confusion after such events.<ref name="cnn-attack-resp"/><ref>{{cite news |author=Gordon, Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/world/africa/clinton-takes-responsibility-for-libya-security-failure.html |title=Clinton Takes Responsibility for Security Failure in Libya |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 15, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203090345/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/world/africa/clinton-takes-responsibility-for-libya-security-failure.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 19, a panel led by [[Thomas R. Pickering]] and [[Michael Mullen]] issued its report on the matter. It was sharply critical of State Department officials in Washington for ignoring requests for more guards and safety upgrades and for failing to adapt security procedures to a deteriorating security environment.<ref name="upi-arb">{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/12/19/Clinton-accepts-Benghazi-panel-guidance/UPI-34121355896475/ |title=Three in State Dept. resign after report |work=[[United Press International]] |date=December 19, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018060927/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/12/19/Clinton-accepts-Benghazi-panel-guidance/UPI-34121355896475/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It focused its criticism on the department's [[Bureau of Diplomatic Security]] and [[Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs]]; four State Department officials at the assistant secretary level and below were removed from their posts as a consequence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/us/politics/3-state-dept-officials-resign-following-benghazi-report.html |title=4 Are Out at State Dept. After Scathing Report on Benghazi Attack |author=Gordon, Michael R. |author2=Schmitt, Eric |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 19, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207084143/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/us/politics/3-state-dept-officials-resign-following-benghazi-report.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton said she accepted the conclusions of the report and that changes were underway to implement its suggested recommendations.<ref name="upi-arb"/>

Clinton gave testimony to two congressional foreign affairs committees on January 23, 2013, regarding the Benghazi attack. She defended her actions in response to the incident, and while still accepting formal responsibility, said she had had no direct role in specific discussions beforehand regarding consulate security.<ref name="cnn-0123-hearings">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/23/politics/clinton-benghazi/index.html |title=Clinton takes on Benghazi critics, warns of more security threats |author=Dougherty, Jill |author2=Cohen, Tom |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209132450/https://www.cnn.com/2013/01/23/politics/clinton-benghazi/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Congressional Republicans challenged her on several points, to which she responded. In particular, after persistent questioning about whether or not the administration had issued inaccurate "talking points" after the attack, Clinton responded with the much-quoted rejoinder, "With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided that they'd they go kill some Americans? What difference at this point does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, Senator."<ref name="cnn-0123-hearings"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/may/08/context-hillary-clintons-what-difference-does-it-m/ |title=In Context: Hillary Clinton's 'What difference does it make' comment |website=[[PolitiFact]] |date=May 8, 2013 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=September 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911124046/http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/may/08/context-hillary-clintons-what-difference-does-it-m/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2014, the [[House Intelligence Committee]] issued a report that concluded there had been no wrongdoing in the administration's response to the attack.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-house-benghazi-20141123-story.html |title=GOP panel on Benghazi finds no Obama administration wrongdoing |agency=Associated Press |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 22, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102155119/http://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-house-benghazi-20141123-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Republican-led [[United States House Select Committee on Benghazi|House Select Committee on Benghazi]] was created in May 2014 and conducted a two-year investigation related to the 2012 attack.<ref name="usa-bengcom">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/28/analysis-house-benghazi-committee-report-clinton/86475012/ |title=Analysis: House Benghazi Committee report was drowned by politics |last=Singer |first=Paul |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=June 28, 2016 |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-date=June 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628202506/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/28/analysis-house-benghazi-committee-report-clinton/86475012/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The committee was criticized as partisan,<ref name="usa-bengcom"/><ref name="nyt-bengcom"/> including by one of its ex-staffers.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Tapper |first1=Jake |last2=Diamond |first2=Jeremy |date=October 10, 2015 |title=Ex-staffer: Benghazi committee pursuing 'partisan investigation' targeting Hillary Clinton |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/10/politics/benghazi-committee-investigation-political-hillary-clinton-brad-podliska-lawsuit/index.html |access-date=December 20, 2022 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712144109/https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/10/politics/benghazi-committee-investigation-political-hillary-clinton-brad-podliska-lawsuit/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Some Republicans admitted that the committee aimed to lower Clinton's poll numbers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/30/boehners-likely-successor-credits-benghazi-committee-for-lowering-hillary-clintons-poll-numbers/ |title=Boehner's likely successor credits Benghazi committee for lowering Hillary Clinton's poll numbers |last=Weigel |first=David |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 30, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-date=January 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108031458/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/30/boehners-likely-successor-credits-benghazi-committee-for-lowering-hillary-clintons-poll-numbers/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |date=October 15, 2015 |title=House Republican says Benghazi committee was "designed" to hit Clinton |url=https://www.vox.com/2015/10/15/9539481/republican-benghazi-committee-designed |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=Vox |archive-date=December 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220033001/https://www.vox.com/2015/10/15/9539481/republican-benghazi-committee-designed |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 22, 2015, Clinton testified at an all-day and nighttime session before the committee.<ref name="ShearSchmidt">{{cite news |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |first2=Michael S. |last2=Schmidt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/23/us/politics/hillary-clinton-benghazi-committee.html |title=Benghazi Panel Engages Clinton in Tense Session |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116083600/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/23/us/politics/hillary-clinton-benghazi-committee.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wapo-nosolid">{{cite news |first1=David A. |last1=Fahrenthold |first2=Elise |last2=Viebeck |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clintons-benghazi-testimony-today-has-high-political-stakes-for-both-sides/2015/10/22/beff40d2-7838-11e5-bc80-9091021aeb69_story.html |title=GOP lands no solid punches while sparring with Clinton over Benghazi |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313180407/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clintons-benghazi-testimony-today-has-high-political-stakes-for-both-sides/2015/10/22/beff40d2-7838-11e5-bc80-9091021aeb69_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clinton was widely seen as emerging largely unscathed from the hearing, because of what the media perceived as a calm and unfazed demeanor and a lengthy, meandering, repetitive line of questioning from the committee.<ref>For accounts of Clinton's appearance before the select committee, see {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-back-in-the-benghazi-hot-seat-withstands-republicans-grilling/2015/10/22/3ce69dbe-78e4-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html |author=Gearan, Anne |author2=Tumulty, Karen |author3=Viebeck, Elise |title=Clinton, back in the Benghazi hot seat, withstands Republicans' grilling |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=January 26, 2016 |archive-date=June 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614062435/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-back-in-the-benghazi-hot-seat-withstands-republicans-grilling/2015/10/22/3ce69dbe-78e4-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/257844-clinton-largely-unscathed-by-gop-benghazi-hearing/ |author=Hattern, Julian |author2=Parnes, Amie |title=Clinton largely unscathed by GOP Benghazi hearing |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=October 22, 2015 }}; {{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/trey-gowdy-hillary-clinton-benghazi-215032 |author=Bade, Rachael |author-link=Rachael Bade |title=Clinton survives 11-hour Benghazi grilling |work=[[Politico]] |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=January 26, 2016 |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206102121/https://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/trey-gowdy-hillary-clinton-benghazi-215032 |url-status=live }}; {{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/where-the-benghazi-committee-went-wrong |title=Where the Benghazi Committee Went Wrong |author=Cassidy, John |magazine=The New Yorker |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108170140/http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/where-the-benghazi-committee-went-wrong |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/10/22/hillary-clinton-benghazi-committee-trey-gowdy/74352358/ |title=No clear wins for GOP at Benghazi hearing |author=Troyan, Mary |work=[[USA Today]] |date=October 23, 2015 |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-date=November 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106160929/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/10/22/hillary-clinton-benghazi-committee-trey-gowdy/74352358/ |url-status=live }}; and {{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/politics/hillary-clinton-benghazi-hearing-updates/ |title=Marathon Benghazi hearing leaves Hillary Clinton largely unscathed |author=Collinson, Stephen |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=October 23, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-date=January 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119030320/http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/politics/hillary-clinton-benghazi-hearing-updates |url-status=live }}</ref> The committee issued competing final reports in June 2016; the Republican report offered no evidence of culpability by Clinton.<ref name="nyt-bengcom">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/us/politics/hillary-clinton-benghazi.html |title=House Benghazi Report Finds No New Evidence of Wrongdoing by Hillary Clinton |author=Herszenhorn, David M. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 28, 2016 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202145945/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/us/politics/hillary-clinton-benghazi.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="usa-bengcom"/>

== Email controversy ==
{{Main|Hillary Clinton email controversy}}
[[File:2015 03 10 Hillary Clinton by Voice of America (cropped to collar).jpg|thumb|Clinton addressing the email controversy in 2015]]

During her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton conducted official business exclusively through her private email server, as opposed to her government email account.{{Sfn|Allen|Parnes|2017|pp=53-57}} Some experts, officials, members of Congress and political opponents contended that her use of private [[Message transfer agent|messaging system]] software and a private server violated State Department protocols and procedures, and federal laws and regulations governing [[Records management|recordkeeping requirements]]. The controversy occurred against the backdrop of Clinton's 2016 presidential election campaign and hearings held by the House Select Committee on Benghazi.<ref>{{cite news |author=Schmidt, Michael S. |author2=Chozick, Amy |date=March 3, 2015 |title=Using Private Email, Hillary Clinton Thwarted Record Requests |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/politics/using-private-email-hillary-clinton-thwarted-record-requests.html |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227095010/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/politics/using-private-email-hillary-clinton-thwarted-record-requests.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wapo-email">{{cite news |author=Leonnig, Carol D. |author2=Helderman, Rosalind S. |author3=Gearan, Anne |date=March 6, 2015 |title=Clinton email review could find security issues |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/state-department-reviewing-whether-clinton-e-mail-violated-security-rules/2015/03/05/16d1547e-c378-11e4-9271-610273846239_story.html |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106035253/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/state-department-reviewing-whether-clinton-e-mail-violated-security-rules/2015/03/05/16d1547e-c378-11e4-9271-610273846239_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a joint statement released on July 15, 2015, the inspector general of the State Department and the inspector general of the intelligence community said their review of the emails found information that was classified when sent, remained so at the time of their inspection and "never should have been transmitted via an unclassified personal system". They also stated unequivocally this classified information should never have been stored outside of secure government computer systems. Clinton had said over a period of months that she kept no classified information on the private server that she set up in her house.<ref name="NYT72415">{{cite news |author=Schmidt, Michael S. |author2=Apuzzo, Matt |date=July 24, 2015 |title=Hillary Clinton Emails Said to Contain Classified Data |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/us/politics/hillary-clinton-email-classified-information-inspector-general-intelligence-community.html |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521112206/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/us/politics/hillary-clinton-email-classified-information-inspector-general-intelligence-community.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Government policy, reiterated in the nondisclosure agreement signed by Clinton as part of gaining her security clearance, is that sensitive information can be considered as classified even if not marked as such.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dilanian |first=Ken |date=February 4, 2016 |title=Clinton Emails Held Indirect References to Undercover CIA Officers |work=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/clinton-emails-held-indirect-references-undercover-cia-officers-n510741 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310104304/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/clinton-emails-held-indirect-references-undercover-cia-officers-n510741 |archive-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref> After allegations were raised that some of the emails in question fell into the so-called "born classified" category, an FBI probe was initiated regarding how classified information was handled on the Clinton server.<ref name="NYT8815">{{cite news |author=Schmidt, Michael S. |author2=Apuzzo, Matt |date=August 8, 2015 |title=Hillary Clinton Emails Take Long Path to Controversy |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/us/hillary-clinton-emails-take-long-path-to-controversy.html |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413040355/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/us/hillary-clinton-emails-take-long-path-to-controversy.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported in February 2016 that nearly 2,100 emails stored on Clinton's server were retroactively marked classified by the State Department. Additionally, the intelligence community's inspector general wrote Congress to say that some of the emails "contained classified State Department information when originated".<ref>{{cite news |author=Kessler, Glenn |date=March 9, 2016 |title=Fact checking the Hillary Clinton email controversy |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/03/09/fact-checking-the-hillary-clinton-email-controversy/ |access-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160602052307/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/03/09/fact-checking-the-hillary-clinton-email-controversy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2016, the inspector general of the State Department criticized her use of a private email server while secretary of state, stating that she had not requested permission for this and would not have received it if she had asked.<ref>{{cite news |last=Myers |first=Steven Lee |date=May 25, 2016 |title=Hillary Clinton Is Criticized for Private Emails in State Dept. Review |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/us/politics/state-department-hillary-clinton-emails.html |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160602055414/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/us/politics/state-department-hillary-clinton-emails.html?emc=edit_na_20160525&nlid=73270920&ref=cta&_r=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clinton maintained she did not send or receive any emails from her personal server that were confidential at the time they were sent. In a Democratic debate with [[Bernie Sanders]] on February 4, 2016, Clinton said, "I never sent or received any classified material—they are retroactively classifying it." On July 2, 2016, Clinton stated: "Let me repeat what I have repeated for many months now, I never received nor sent any material that was marked classified."<ref>{{cite web |date=July 5, 2016 |title=FBI Probe Contradicts Clinton's Claim She Never Sent Classified Emails |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbi-investigation-sheds-light-hillary-clintons-past-email/story?id=40350589 |access-date=July 12, 2016 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |archive-date=July 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714235632/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbi-investigation-sheds-light-hillary-clintons-past-email/story?id=40350589 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |date=August 27, 2015 |title=Clinton's claims about receiving or sending 'classified material' on her private e-mail system |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/08/27/clintons-claims-about-receiving-or-sending-classified-material-on-her-private-email-system/ |access-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-date=July 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708092010/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/08/27/clintons-claims-about-receiving-or-sending-classified-material-on-her-private-email-system/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 5, 2016, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] concluded its investigation. In a statement, FBI director [[James Comey]] said:

<blockquote>110 e-mails in 52 e-mail chains have been determined by the owning agency to contain classified information at the time they were sent or received. Eight of those chains contained information that was Top Secret at the time they were sent; 36 chains contained Secret information at the time; and eight contained Confidential information, which is the lowest level of classification. Separate from those, about 2,000 additional e-mails were "up-classified" to make them Confidential; the information in those had not been classified at the time the e-mails were sent.<ref name="fbi.gov">{{cite web |date=July 5, 2016 |title=Statement by FBI Director James B. Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton's Use of a Personal E-Mail System |url=https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717123318/https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clinton2019s-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system |archive-date=July 17, 2016 |access-date=July 12, 2016 |publisher=Fbi.gov}}</ref><ref name="Kiely">{{cite web |last=Kiely |first=Eugene |date=July 7, 2016 |title=Revisiting Clinton and Classified Information |url=http://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/revisiting-clinton-and-classified-information/ |access-date=July 22, 2016 |publisher=Factcheck.org |archive-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725053705/http://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/revisiting-clinton-and-classified-information/ |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

Out of 30,000, three emails were found to be marked as classified, although they lacked classified headers and were marked only with a small "c" in parentheses, described as "portion markings" by Comey. He also said it was possible Clinton was not "technically sophisticated" enough to understand what the three classified markings meant.<ref name="Kiely" /> The probe found Clinton used her personal email extensively while outside the United States, both sending and receiving work-related emails in the territory of sophisticated adversaries. Comey acknowledged that it was "possible that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clinton's personal email account". He added that "[although] we did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information, there is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information". Nevertheless, Comey asserted that "no reasonable prosecutor" would bring criminal charges in this case, despite the existence of "potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information". The FBI recommended that the Justice Department decline to prosecute.<ref name="fbi.gov" /> On July 6, 2016, U.S. Attorney General [[Loretta Lynch]] confirmed that the probe into Clinton's use of private email servers would be closed without criminal charges.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zapotosky |first=Matt |date=December 14, 2012 |title=Justice Department closes Clinton email probe without charges |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-department-closes-clinton-email-probe-without-charges/2016/07/06/0ad8feda-43c2-11e6-88d0-6adee48be8bc_story.html |access-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-date=July 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708203241/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-department-closes-clinton-email-probe-without-charges/2016/07/06/0ad8feda-43c2-11e6-88d0-6adee48be8bc_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Two weeks before the election, on October 28, 2016, Comey notified Congress that the FBI had begun looking into newly discovered Clinton emails. On November 6, Comey notified Congress that the FBI had not changed the conclusion it had reached in July.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schouten |first1=Fredreka |last2=Johnson |first2=Kevin |last3=Przybyla |first3=Heidi |date=November 6, 2016 |title=FBI declares it is finally done investigating Hillary Clinton's email |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/2016/11/06/fbi-not-recommending-charges-over-new-clinton-emails/93395808/ |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201213410/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/2016/11/06/fbi-not-recommending-charges-over-new-clinton-emails/93395808/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The notification was later cited by Clinton as a factor in her loss in the [[#2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Chozick |first=Amy |date=November 12, 2016 |title=Hillary Clinton Blames F.B.I. Director for Election Loss |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/us/politics/hillary-clinton-james-comey.html |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=April 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420052442/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/us/politics/hillary-clinton-james-comey.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> The emails controversy received more media coverage than any other topic during the 2016 presidential election.<ref name="Watts-2017">{{Cite magazine |title=Don't blame the election on fake news. Blame it on the media. |magazine=Columbia Journalism Review |url=https://www.cjr.org/analysis/fake-news-media-election-trump.php |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Patterson-2016">{{Cite news |date=September 21, 2016 |title=News Coverage of the 2016 National Conventions: Negative News, Lacking Context |publisher=[[Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy]] |url=https://shorensteincenter.org/news-coverage-2016-national-conventions/ |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Faris-2016">{{Cite web |title=Partisanship, Propaganda, and Disinformation: Online Media and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election |publisher= Berkman Klein Center |url=https://cyber.harvard.edu/publications/2017/08/mediacloud |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref>

The State Department finished its internal review in September 2019. It found that Clinton's use of a personal email server increased the risk of information being compromised, but concluded there was no evidence of "systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Matthew |last2=Jalonick |first2=Mary Clare |date=October 19, 2019 |title=38 people cited for violations in Clinton email probe |work=The Associated Press |url=https://www.apnews.com/14b14afc5d8647858489a2cf5385c28d}}</ref>

== Clinton Foundation, ''Hard Choices,'' and speeches ==
{{Main|Clinton Foundation|Hard Choices}}
[[File:Former Secretary of State Clinton Delivers Remarks at Groundbreaking Ceremony of the U.S. Diplomacy Center (14943786999) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Clinton standing behind lectern wearing a charcoal-colored suit, smiling and looking to her right|Clinton in 2014]]

When Clinton left the State Department, she returned to private life for the first time in thirty years.<!--Since Bill started his second stint as Governor on January 11, 1983; note she did a lot of private sector things as First Lady of Arkansas--><ref name="reut-depart">{{cite news |author=Holland, Steve |date=January 16, 2013 |title=Hillary Clinton leaving world stage, but for how long? |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-politics-hillary-idUSBRE90F0A820130116}}</ref> She and her daughter joined her husband as named members of the [[Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation]] in 2013.<ref name="a-p-cf">Allen and Parnes 2014, pp.&nbsp;374–75, 382–85.</ref> There she focused on early childhood development efforts, including an initiative called Too Small to Fail and a $600&nbsp;million initiative to encourage the enrollment of girls in secondary schools worldwide, led by former Australian Prime Minister [[Julia Gillard]].<ref name="a-p-cf" /><ref>{{cite news |date=September 25, 2014 |title=Hillary Clinton unveils $600m global female education plan |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/25/hillary-clinton-gobal-female-education}}</ref>

In 2014, Clinton published a second memoir, ''[[Hard Choices]]'', which focused on her time as secretary of state. {{as of|2015|July}}, the book had sold about 280,000 copies.<ref name="Berenson-2016">{{cite news |last1=Berenson |first1=Tessa |title=Here's Which 2016 Candidate's Book Sold the Most Copies |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=https://time.com/3956146/ted-cruz-hillary-clinton-election-books/ |access-date=July 28, 2016}}</ref>
Clinton also led the No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project, a partnership with the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] to gather and study data on the progress of women and girls around the world since the Beijing conference in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |author=Rucker, Philip |date=February 13, 2014 |title=Hillary Clinton launches global data project on women and girls |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/13/hillary-clinton-launches-global-data-project-on-women-and-girls/}}</ref> The foundation began accepting new donations from foreign governments, which it had stopped doing while she was secretary of state.{{efn|name=excf|During Clinton's tenure there were several cases where foreign governments continued making donations to the Clinton Foundation at the same level they had before Clinton became secretary of state, which was permissible under the agreement forged before she took office. There was one instance of a new donation, $500,000 from Algeria for earthquake relief in Haiti, that was outside the bounds of the continuation provision and should have received a special State Department ethics review but did not.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/foreign-governments-gave-millions-to-foundation-while-clinton-was-at-state-dept/2015/02/25/31937c1e-bc3f-11e4-8668-4e7ba8439ca6_story.html |title=Foreign governments gave millions to foundation while Clinton was at State Dept. |first1=Rosalind S. |last1=Helderman |first2=Tom |last2=Hamburger |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 25, 2015}}</ref> The foundation's new stance {{as of|2015|April|lc=y}} and Clinton's presidential candidacy was to accept foreign governmental donations only from Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/04/16/clinton-foundation-only-allowing-six-foreign-countries-donate/A2flfieY3giKysnZjlxqXJ/story.html |title=Clinton Foundation only allowing six foreign countries to donate |author=Braun, Stephen |agency=Associated Press |work=[[Boston Globe]] |date=April 16, 2015}}</ref>}} However, even though the Clinton Foundation had stopped taking donations from foreign governments, they continued to take large donations from foreign citizens who were sometimes linked to their governments.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dong |first1=Xiao |last2=Milholland |first2=Brandon |last3=Vijg |first3=Jan |date=March 20, 2015 |title=The Clinton Foundation and Conflicts of Interest |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/hillarys-campaign-is-built-on-a-shaky-foundation/388324/ |journal=[[The Atlantic]] |volume=538 |issue=7624 |pages=257–259 |doi=10.1038/nature19793 |pmid=27706136 |access-date=October 6, 2016 |s2cid=3623127|pmc=11673931 }}</ref>

She began work on another volume of memoirs and made appearances on the paid speaking circuit.<ref name="nyt-lucre">{{cite news |author=Chozick, Amy |date=July 11, 2013 |title=Hillary Clinton Taps Speechmaking Gold Mine |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/12/us/politics/hillary-clinton-hits-the-lucrative-speechmaking-trail.html}}</ref> There she received $200,000–225,000 per engagement, often appearing before [[Wall Street]] firms or at [[business convention]]s.<ref name="nyt-lucre" /><ref name="nyt-wall-ties" /> She also made some unpaid speeches on behalf of the foundation.<ref name="nyt-lucre" /> For the fifteen months ending in March 2015, Clinton earned over $11&nbsp;million from her speeches.<ref>{{cite news |author=Gold, Matea |author2=Helderman, Rosalind S. |author3=Gearan, Anne |date=May 15, 2015 |title=Clintons have made more than $25&nbsp;million for speaking since January 2014 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clintons-earn-more-than-25-million-in-speaking-fees-since-january-2014/2015/05/15/52605fbe-fb4d-11e4-9ef4-1bb7ce3b3fb7_story.html}}</ref> For the overall period 2007–14, the Clintons earned almost $141&nbsp;million, paid some $56&nbsp;million in federal and state taxes and donated about $15&nbsp;million to charity.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 31, 2015 |title=Clintons earned nearly $141M from 2007 to 2014, tax returns show |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/hillary-clinton-tax-returns/}}</ref> {{as of|2015}}, she was estimated to be worth over $30&nbsp;million on her own, or $45–53&nbsp;million with her husband.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fontevecchia |first1=Agustino |date=September 29, 2015 |title=The Richest And Poorest Presidential Candidates: From Hillary's Millions To Marco Rubio's Debts |work=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/afontevecchia/2015/09/29/the-richest-and-poorest-presidential-candidates-from-hillarys-millions-to-marco-rubios-debts/}}</ref>

Clinton resigned from the board of the Clinton Foundation in April 2015, when she began her presidential campaign. The foundation said it would accept new foreign governmental donations from six Western nations only.{{efn|name=excf}}

== 2016 presidential campaign ==
{{Main|Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign}}
{{Further|2016 United States presidential election|2016 Democratic Party presidential candidates|2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries|}}
[[File:Bernie Sanders & Hillary Clinton (28250130386).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Clinton standing at a podium speaking and looking to her right; Bernie Sanders is standing behind her.|Clinton accepting [[Bernie Sanders]]' endorsement in 2016]]

On April 12, 2015, Clinton formally announced her candidacy for the presidency in the 2016 election.<ref name="nyt-2016-announ">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/us/politics/hillary-clinton-2016-presidential-campaign.html |title=Hillary Clinton Announces 2016 Presidential Bid |author=Chozick, Amy |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 12, 2015}}</ref> She had a campaign-in-waiting already in place, including a large donor network, experienced operatives and the [[Ready for Hillary]] and [[Priorities USA Action]] political action committees and other infrastructure.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/933/can-anyone-stop-hillary/ |title=Can Anyone Stop Hillary? |author=Von Drehle, David |magazine=Time |date=January 27, 2014}}</ref> Prior to her campaign, Clinton had claimed in an interview on [[NDTV]] in May 2012 that she would not seek the presidency again, but later wrote in her 2014 autobiography ''Hard Choices'' that she had not decided.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/05/hillary-clinton-drops-out-2016-presidential-race/328502/|title=Hillary Clinton Drops Out of the 2016 Presidential Race|last=Bennett|first=Dashiell|date=May 7, 2012|magazine=The Atlanticaccess-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Pilkington|first=Ed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/22/-sp-hillary-clinton-interview-will-she-run-for-president-2016|title=Hillary Clinton interview: will she or won't she run for president in 2016?|date=June 21, 2014|newspaper=The Observer|access-date=February 25, 2020|issn=0029-7712}}</ref> The campaign's headquarters were established in the New York City [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Brooklyn]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-office-brooklyn-inside-look-120230 |title=A peek inside Hillary Clinton's Brooklyn HQ |last=Karnie |first=Annie |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=July 16, 2015}}</ref> Her campaign focused on: raising middle class incomes, establishing [[universal preschool]], making college more affordable and improving the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/hillary-clinton-mending-ties-liberals |title=This time around, Clinton aligns position with progressive Democrats |agency=Associated Press |publisher=[[PBS]] |date=April 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="ap-pace"/> Initially considered a prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination,<ref name="nyt-2016-announ"/> Clinton faced an unexpectedly strong challenge from [[democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] Senator [[Bernie Sanders]] of Vermont. His longtime stance against the influence of corporations and the wealthy in American politics resonated with a dissatisfied citizenry troubled by the effects of [[income inequality in the U.S.]] and contrasted with Clinton's Wall Street ties.<ref name="nyt-wall-ties">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/us/politics/in-race-defined-by-income-gap-hillary-clintons-wall-street-ties-incite-rivals.html |title=Hillary Clinton's Paid Speeches to Wall Street Animate Her Opponents |author=Confessore, Nicholas |author2=Horowitz, Jason |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name="ap-pace">{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-01-30/america-and-its-politics-in-flux-as-2016-voting-begins |title=For some Americans, politicians' promises of change and disruption have come too slowly, or failed altogether |author=Pace, Julie |agency=Associated Press |work=[[USA Today]] |date=January 30, 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Hillary Clinton by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg|alt=Clinton speaking at an event in Des Moines, Iowa, during her second presidential campaign.|thumb|250x250px|Clinton speaking at an event in [[Des Moines, Iowa]], during [[Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign|her second presidential campaign]].]]
In the initial contest of the primaries season, Clinton only very narrowly won the [[Iowa Democratic caucuses, 2016|Iowa Democratic caucuses]], held February 1, over an increasingly popular Sanders<ref name="whotv.com">{{cite news |url=http://whotv.com/2016/02/02/hillary-clinton-narrowly-defeats-bernie-sanders-in-iowa-democratic-caucuses/ |title=All Precincts Reported: Clinton Defeats Sanders By Historically Small Margin |publisher=[[WHO-TV]] |author=Hepker, Aaron |date=February 2, 2016 |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |access-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317205502/http://whotv.com/2016/02/02/hillary-clinton-narrowly-defeats-bernie-sanders-in-iowa-democratic-caucuses/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/bernie-sanders-iowa-results-gain-error-recount-hillary-clinton |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208062933/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/bernie-sanders-iowa-results-gain-error-recount-hillary-clinton |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2016 |title=Clinton hangs on in revised Iowa caucus results |work=The Hill |author=Richardson, Bradford |date=February 7, 2016}}</ref>&nbsp;— the first woman to win them.<ref name="whotv.com"/> In the first primary, [[2016 New Hampshire Democratic primary|held in New Hampshire]] on February 9, she lost to Sanders by a wide margin.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/09/politics/new-hampshire-primary-highlights/index.html |title=Outsiders sweep to victory in New Hampshire |author=Collison, Stephen |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=February 10, 2016}}</ref> Sanders was an increasing threat in the next contest, the [[2016 United States presidential election in Nevada#Democratic caucuses|Nevada caucuses]] on February 20,<ref name="pol-saved"/> but Clinton managed a five-percentage-point win, aided by final-days campaigning among casino workers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/20/politics/nevada-caucus-democrats-2016/index.html |title=Hillary Clinton takes Nevada in victory over Bernie Sanders |author=Reston, Maeve |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=February 21, 2016}}</ref> Clinton followed that with a lopsided victory in the [[2016 United States presidential election in South Carolina#Democratic primary|South Carolina primary]] on February 27.<ref name="pol-saved"/> These two victories stabilized her campaign and showed an avoidance of the management turmoil that harmed her 2008 effort.<ref name="pol-saved">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/how-clinton-saved-her-campaign-220165 |title=How Clinton hit the reset button on 2016 |author=Thrush, Glenn |author2=Karni, Annie |work=[[Politico]] |date=March 3, 2016}}</ref>

On March 1 [[Super Tuesday 2016|Super Tuesday]], Clinton won 7 of 11 contests, including a string of dominating victories across the South buoyed, as in South Carolina, by African-American voters. She opened up a significant lead in pledged delegates over Sanders.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/us/politics/democratic-primary-results.html |title=Minority Voters Push Hillary Clinton to Victories |author=Healy, Patrick |author2=Chozick, Amy |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 1, 2016}}</ref> She maintained this delegate lead across subsequent contests during the primary season, with a consistent pattern throughout. Sanders did better among younger, whiter, more rural and more liberal voters and states that held caucuses or where [[Open primaries in the United States|eligibility was open]] to independents. Clinton did better among older, black and Hispanic voter populations, and in states that held primaries or where eligibility was restricted to registered Democrats.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-caucuses_us_56db537ce4b03a405678e2c2 |title=Bernie Sanders Wins Caucuses As Map Ahead Gets Tougher |author=Terkel, Amanda |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=March 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-delegates-221270 |title=Bernie's math: Improbable, not impossible |author=Shepard, Steven |work=[[Politico]] |date=March 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/new-yorks-closed-primary-could-be-bernie-sanders-achilles-heel |title=New York's closed primary could be Bernie Sanders' Achilles' heel |author=Seitz-Wald, Alex |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=April 11, 2016}}</ref>

By June 5, 2016, she had earned enough pledged delegates and supportive superdelegates for the media to consider her the presumptive nominee.<ref name="presumptive">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/07/us/politics/hillary-clinton-presidential-race.html |title=Hillary Clinton Has Clinched Democratic Nomination, Survey Reports |last1=Chozick |first1=Amy |date=June 6, 2016 |last2=Healy |first2=Patrick |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> On June 7, after winning most of the states in the final major round of primaries, Clinton held a victory rally in Brooklyn becoming the first woman to claim the status of presumptive nominee for a major American political party.<ref name="signal">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/07/politics/primary-results-highlights/ |title=Hillary Clinton celebrates victory |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=June 8, 2016 |author=Collinson, Stephen}}</ref> By campaign's end, Clinton had won 2,219 pledged delegates to Sanders' 1,832; with an estimated 594 superdelegates compared to Sanders' 47.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/election/primaries/parties/democrat |title=Democratic Party: CNN delegate estimate |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref> She received almost 17&nbsp;million votes during the nominating process, as opposed to Sanders' 13&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/D |title=Democratic Convention 2016 |publisher=[[The Green Papers]] |access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

Clinton was formally nominated at the [[2016 Democratic National Convention]] in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016, becoming the first woman to be nominated for president by a major U.S. political party.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rappeport |first1=Alan |last2=Alcindor |first2=Yamiche |last3=Martin |first3=Jonathan |title=Democrats Nominate Hillary Clinton Despite Sharp Divisions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/27/us/politics/dnc-speakers-sanders-clinton.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> Her choice of vice presidential [[running mate]], Senator [[Tim Kaine]], was nominated by the convention the following day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keneally |first1=Meghan |last2=Struyk |first2=Ryan |title=Tim Kaine Nominated as Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tim-kaine-nominated-democratic-vice-presidential-candidate/story?id=40934814 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=July 27, 2016}}</ref> Her opponents in the general election included Republican Donald Trump, [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] [[Gary Johnson]] and [[Jill Stein]] of the [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]]. Around the time of the convention, [[WikiLeaks]] released [[Podesta emails|emails]] that suggested the DNC and the Clinton campaign tilted the primary in Clinton's favor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parks |first1=Mary Alice |last2=Struyk |first2=Ryan |last3=Kruzel |first3=John |last4=Fitzgerel |first4=Noah |title=Emails Released by WikiLeaks Appear to Show DNC Trying to Aid Hillary Clinton |url=https://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/emails-released-wikileaks-show-dnc-aid-hillary-clinton/story%3fid=40815253 |website=ABC News |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>

Clinton held a significant lead in [[Nationwide opinion polling for the 2016 United States presidential election|national polls]] over Trump throughout most of 2016. In early July, Trump and Clinton were tied in major polls following the FBI's conclusion of its investigation into her emails.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/us/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-poll.html |title=Poll Finds Voters in Both Parties Unhappy With Their Candidates |last1=Chozick |first1=Amy |date=July 14, 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]] |last2=Thee-Brennan |first2=Megan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/data-points/poll-clinton-trump-now-tied-gop-convention-kicks-n611936 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821180517/http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/amp/poll-clinton-trump-now-tied-gop-convention-kicks-n611936 |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |title=Poll: Clinton and Trump Now Tied as GOP Convention Kicks Off |date=July 19, 2016 |work=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI Director]] James Comey concluded Clinton had been "extremely careless" in her handling of classified government material.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-polls-trump-2016-7 |title=The polls are swinging against Hillary Clinton because she gave voters reason to distrust her |last=Barro |first=Josh |date=July 14, 2016 |work=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> In late July, Trump gained his first lead over Clinton in major polls following a three to four percentage point [[convention bounce]] at the [[2016 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]]. This was in line with the average bounce in conventions since [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]], although it was toward the low side by historical standards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/election-update-why-our-model-is-bullish-on-trump-for-now/ |title=Election Update: Why Our Model Is Bullish On Trump, For Now| website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|date=July 28, 2016 |access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-convention-bounce-20160725-snap-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728122033/http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-convention-bounce-20160725-snap-story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 28, 2016 |title=Trump takes lead over Clinton as GOP convention generates a bounce for its nominee |last=Lauter |first=David |date=July 25, 2016 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=July 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/25/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-poll/index.html |title=Donald Trump bounces into the lead |last=Agiesta |first=Jennifer |date=July 25, 2016 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=July 25, 2016}}</ref> Following Clinton's seven percentage point convention bounce at the Democratic National Convention, she regained a significant lead in national polls at the start of August.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://election.princeton.edu/2016/08/01/post-democratic-convention-bounce/ |title=Post-Democratic convention bounce: 7 points for Clinton|website=election.princeton.edu|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/election-update-clintons-bounce-appears-bigger-than-trumps/?ex_cid=538twitter |title=Election Update: Clinton's Bounce Appears Bigger Than Trump's |date=August 1, 2016 |website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref> In fall 2016, Clinton and Tim Kaine published ''[[Stronger Together (book)|Stronger Together]]'', which outlined their vision for the United States.<ref name="Chozick-2016">{{cite news |last=Chozick |first=Amy |date=September 14, 2016 |title=Sales of Hillary Clinton's New Book Are Off to a Slow Start |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/us/politics/clinton-book-stronger-together.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York|access-date=October 1, 2016}}</ref>
[[File:HRC 2016 concession speech 22.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|alt=Photograph of Clinton delivering her concession speech|Clinton delivering her concession speech]]

Clinton was defeated by Donald Trump in the November 8, 2016, presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-wins-presidency-defeats-clinton-in-historic-election-upset/ |title=Fox News projects: Trump wins presidency, defeats Clinton in historic election upset |date=November 8, 2016 |publisher=[[Fox News]] Channel |access-date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> By the early morning hours of November 9, Trump had received 279 projected electoral college votes, with 270 needed to win; media sources proclaimed him the winner.<ref name="NYTimes:Clinton vs. Trump: Voters Have Their Say on Election Day">{{Cite news |title=Clinton vs. Trump: Voters Have Their Say on Election Day |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/08/us/politics/election-day-voting.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 9, 2016 |date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> Clinton then phoned Trump to concede and to congratulate him on his victory, whereupon Trump gave his victory speech.<ref name="Huffington Post: Clinton Delays Concession Speech As Trump Seizes Victory">{{Cite news |last1=Horowitz Satlin |first1=Alana |title=Clinton Delays Concession Speech As Trump Seizes Victory |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-concession-speech_us_5822d001e4b0d9ce6fbff613 |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=November 9, 2016 |date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> The next morning Clinton made a public concession speech in which she acknowledged the pain of her loss, but called on her supporters to accept Trump as their next president, saying: "We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/donald-trump-won-now-what.html |title=Highlights of Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech and President Obama's Remarks |date=November 9, 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 17, 2016}}</ref> Though Clinton lost the election by capturing only 232 electoral votes to Trump's 306, she won the popular vote by more than 2.8&nbsp;million votes, or 2.1% of the voter base.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Begley |first1=Sarah |title=Hillary Clinton Leads by 2.8 Million in Final Popular Vote Count |url=https://time.com/4608555/hillary-clinton-popular-vote-final/ |access-date=December 21, 2018 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Krieg |first1=Gregory |title=It's official: Clinton swamps Trump in popular vote |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/21/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote-final-count/index.html |access-date=December 21, 2018 |work=[[CNN]] |date=December 22, 2016}}</ref> She is the fifth presidential candidate in U.S. history to win the popular vote but lose the election.{{efn|The others were: [[Andrew Jackson]] who lost to [[John Quincy Adams]]; [[Samuel Tilden]] who lost by one electoral vote to [[Rutherford B Hayes]]; [[Grover Cleveland]] who lost to [[Benjamin Harrison]]; and [[Al Gore]] who lost to [[George W Bush]].}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/popular-vote-electoral-college-five-presidential-nominees-hillary-clinton-al-gore-a7420971.html |title=Five presidential nominees who won popular vote but lost the election |last=Revesz |first=Rachael |date=November 16, 2016 |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Remnick |first1=David |title=Hillary Clinton Looks Back in Anger |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/09/25/hillary-clinton-looks-back-in-anger |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |access-date=September 14, 2017 |date=September 13, 2017}}</ref> She won the most votes of any candidate who did not take office and the third-most votes of any candidate in history,<ref name="TheNation_VoteTally">{{cite news|last1=Nichols|first1=John|title=Hillary Clinton's Popular-Vote Victory Is Unprecedented&nbsp;– and Still Growing|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/hillary-clintons-popular-vote-victory-is-unprecedented-and-still-growing/|access-date=March 6, 2018|work=[[The Nation]]|date=November 16, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306203442/https://www.thenation.com/article/hillary-clintons-popular-vote-victory-is-unprecedented-and-still-growing/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="CNN_VoteTally">{{cite news|last1=Kreig|first1=Gregory|title=It's official: Clinton swamps Trump in popular vote|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/21/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote-final-count/index.html|access-date=March 6, 2018|work=[[CNN]]|date=December 22, 2016}}</ref> though she did not have the greatest percentage win of a losing candidate. ([[Andrew Jackson]] won the popular vote by 10.4% but lost to [[John Quincy Adams]].)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/largest-landslide-victories-in-us-presidential-election-history.html|title=Largest Landslide Victories in US Presidential Election History|website=worldtlas.com|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref>

On December 19, 2016, when electors formally voted, Clinton lost five of her initial 232 votes due to [[Faithless electors in the 2016 United States presidential election|faithless electors]], with three of her [[Washington (state)|Washington]] votes being cast instead for [[Colin Powell]], one being cast for [[Faith Spotted Eagle]], and one in [[Hawaii]] being cast for Bernie Sanders.<ref name="nytimestrackingtheelectoralcollegevote2">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/19/us/elections/electoral-college-results.html |title=Tracking the Electoral College Vote |date=December 19, 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]] |last2=Schmidt |first2=Kiersten |last1=Andrews |first1=Wilson |access-date=March 9, 2017}}</ref>

== Post–2016 election activities ==
{{Main|Activities of Hillary Clinton subsequent to 2016}}
[[File:Bill and Hillary Clinton at 58th Inauguration 01-20-17 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|alt=The Clintons sitting and smiling|The Clintons at Trump's inauguration in 2017]]

Clinton maintained a low profile in the months following her defeat in the 2016 presidential election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/02/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump/index.html |title=Hillary Clinton just delivered a stunning indictment of the 2016 election – and Donald Trump |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=May 2, 2017 |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419041815/https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/02/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump/index.html |archive-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> She frequently engaged in nature walks in Chappaqua, with various sightings of Clinton circulating on social media.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-what-happened-walks-woods-science-nature-benefits-2017-9 |title=There's a scientific reason why escaping to the woods was the best decision Hillary Clinton made after the election |last=Brodwin |first=Erin |date=September 19, 2017 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707144635/https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-what-happened-walks-woods-science-nature-benefits-2017-9 |archive-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref> On January 20, 2017, she attended the [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|inauguration of Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/hillary-bill-clinton-attend-donald-trump-s-inauguration-n702736 |title=Hillary and Bill Clinton to Attend Donald Trump's Inauguration |last1=Alba |first1=Monica |last2=Silva |first2=Daniella |date=January 3, 2017 |website=[[NBC News]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812031645/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/hillary-bill-clinton-attend-donald-trump-s-inauguration-n702736 |archive-date=August 12, 2022}}</ref> On her decision to attend, Clinton stated: "I'm here today to honor our democracy & its enduring values, I will never stop believing in our country & ''[sic]'' its future."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/politics/hillary-bill-clinton-attend-donald-trump-inauguration-george-w-bush-jimmy-carter/ |title=Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Shake Hands at Inaugural Luncheon |last=Petit |first=Stephanie |date=January 20, 2017 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621163053/https://people.com/politics/hillary-bill-clinton-attend-donald-trump-inauguration-george-w-bush-jimmy-carter/ |archive-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref> Clinton also began work on a book of personal essays, in which she would reflect on her defeat in the election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/hillary-clinton-reflect-election-loss-donald-trump-new-book-970908/ |title=Hillary Clinton to Reflect on Election Loss to Donald Trump in New Book |last= |first= |date=February 1, 2017 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520023830/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/hillary-clinton-reflect-election-loss-donald-trump-new-book-970908/ |archive-date=May 20, 2022}}</ref> The book, ''[[What Happened (Clinton book)|What Happened]]'', was released on September 12, 2017, alongside a [[picture book]] adaption of ''It Takes a Village''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/books/hillary-clinton-memoir-what-happened.html |title=New Details From Hillary Clinton's Memoir Revealed |last=Alter |first=Alexandra |date=July 27, 2017 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510224837/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/books/hillary-clinton-memoir-what-happened.html |archive-date=May 10, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/hillary-clinton-has-a-new-childrens-book-you-may-recognize-its-message/2017/09/06/8fd9a97c-9312-11e7-89fa-bb822a46da5b_story.html |title=Hillary Clinton has a new children's book. You may recognize its message. |last=Krug |first=Nora |date=September 7, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623072630/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/hillary-clinton-has-a-new-childrens-book-you-may-recognize-its-message/2017/09/06/8fd9a97c-9312-11e7-89fa-bb822a46da5b_story.html |archive-date=June 23, 2024}}</ref>

Clinton delivered a [[St. Patrick's Day]] speech in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]], on March 17, 2017. In it, alluding to reports that she had been seen taking walks in the woods around Chappaqua following her loss in the presidential election,<ref name=woods>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/18/hillary-clinton-says-shes-ready-come-out-woods/99346698/ |title=Hillary Clinton says she's 'ready to come out of the woods' |date=March 18, 2017 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/in-the-chappaqua-woods-a-search-for-hillary-clinton/2016/12/17/60daea40-c3c0-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html |title=In the Chappaqua woods, a search for Hillary Clinton |last=McCrummen |first=Stephanie |date=December 17, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref> Clinton indicated her readiness to emerge from "the woods" and become politically active again.<ref name=woods/> However, the following month she confirmed she would not seek public office again.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-clinton-20170406-story.html |title=Hillary Clinton says she won't run for public office again |last=Demick |first=Barbara |date=April 6, 2017 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 7, 2017}}</ref> She reiterated her comments in March 2019 and stated she would not run for president [[2020 United States presidential campaign|in 2020]].<ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[News 12 Westchester]] |location=Yonkers, New York |date=March 4, 2019 |title='I'm not running': Hillary Clinton rules out 2020 bid for first time on camera in exclusive interview with News 12 |access-date=March 4, 2019 |url=http://westchester.news12.com/story/40067049/im-not-running-hillary-clinton-rules-out-2020-bid-for-first-time-on-camera-in-exclusive-interview-with-news-12}}</ref>

In May 2017, Clinton announced the formation of [[Onward Together]], a new political action committee that she wrote is "dedicated to advancing the progressive vision that earned nearly 66 million votes in the last election".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/333484-clinton-launches-new-political-action-group/ |title=Clinton launches new political action group |date=May 15, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |first=Ben |last=Kamisar}}</ref> Clinton has also made occasional comments on political issues in the time since losing her presidential campaign,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/hillary-clinton-failure-disastrous-gop-health-bill-victory-all-americans-n739821 |title=Hillary Clinton: Failure of 'Disastrous' GOP Health Bill a 'Victory for All Americans' |first=Daniella |last=Silva |date=March 29, 2017 |work=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> and authored several [[op-ed]]s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clinton |first1=Hillary Rodham |title=American Democracy Is in Crisis |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/09/american-democracy-is-in-crisis/570394/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=February 23, 2021 |date=September 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Clinton |first1=Hillary |title=Opinion {{!}} Hillary Clinton: Mueller documented a serious crime against all Americans. Here's how to respond. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hillary-clinton-mueller-documented-a-serious-crime-against-all-americans-heres-how-to-respond/2019/04/24/1e8f7e16-66b7-11e9-82ba-fcfeff232e8f_story.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=February 23, 2021 |date=April 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Clinton |first1=Hillary Rodham |date=December 10, 2020 |title=A National Security Reckoning |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-10-09/hillary-clinton-national-security-reckoning |access-date=February 23, 2021 |magazine=[[Foreign Affairs]]}}</ref>

On April 28, 2020, Clinton endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President [[Joe Biden]], for president in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 election]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://text.npr.org/s.php?sId=847376418|title=Former Democratic Nominee Hillary Clinton Endorses Joe Biden|first=Alana|last=Wise|date=April 28, 2020|publisher=NPR}}</ref> and she addressed the [[2020 Democratic National Convention]] in August.<ref>{{cite web |title=Democrats Announce Additional Speakers and Schedule Updates for 2020 Democratic National Convention: "Uniting America" |url=https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/democrats-announce-additional-speakers-and-schedule-updates-for-2020-democratic-national-convention-uniting-america/ |website=2020 Democratic National Convention |access-date=August 11, 2020 |date=August 11, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814232353/https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/democrats-announce-additional-speakers-and-schedule-updates-for-2020-democratic-national-convention-uniting-america/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On July 21, 2024, Clinton endorsed [[Kamala Harris]] for president in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/politics/clintons-kamala-harris-endorsement.html |url-access=subscription |title=Clintons Endorse Kamala Harris to Be Democrats' Nominee for President |last=McCreesh |first=Shawn |date=July 21, 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=August 20, 2024}}</ref> On 19 August 2024, Clinton spoke at the [[2024 Democratic National Convention]]. In her speech, she referenced the [[Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York|34 felony convictions]] of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, prompting chants of "Lock him up!" from the crowd in an ironic reference to Trump's own chants of "Lock her up!" in reference to Clinton's email scandal during his 2016 campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gangitano |first1=Alex |date=19 August 2024 |title=DNC crowd chants 'lock him up' on Trump during Hillary Clinton remarks |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4836033-dnc-lock-him-up-trump-clinton/ |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref>

Since the election, Clinton has released several books. Clinton and her daughter Chelsea co-authored 2019's ''[[The Book of Gutsy Women]]'' and 2020's ''Grandma's Gardens''.<ref name="Simon & Schuster">{{Cite web|url=http://about.simonandschuster.biz/news/gutsy-women-clinton/|title=Simon & Schuster to Publish Celebration of Gutsy Women by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton|date=August 6, 2019|publisher=Simon & Schuster|access-date=October 30, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215012138/http://about.simonandschuster.biz/news/gutsy-women-clinton/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 12, 2021, Clinton co-authored the fiction novel ''[[State of Terror]]'' with [[Louise Penny]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whitten |first1=Sarah |title=Hillary Clinton is co-writing a thriller novel that reckons with a post-Trump world |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/23/hillary-clinton-writing-a-novel-that-reckons-with-a-post-trump-world.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=February 23, 2021 |date=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Clinton is set to release another memoir, ''Something Lost, Something Gained'', on September 17, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/06/25/hillary-clinton-publish-new-memoir-this-fall/ |url-access=limited |title=Hillary Clinton to publish new memoir this fall |last=Nguyen |first=Sophia |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 25, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625150014/https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/06/25/hillary-clinton-publish-new-memoir-this-fall/ |archive-date=June 25, 2024}}</ref>

Clinton has also been involved in a number of media ventures. Clinton collaborated with director [[Nanette Burstein]] on the [[documentary film]] ''[[Hillary (film)|Hillary]]'', which was released on [[Hulu]] in March 2020.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hillary Clinton on her candid Hulu docuseries: 'I'd never done anything like this before' |url=https://ew.com/tv/2020/03/06/hillary-clinton-interview-hulu-docuseries/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 18, 2021 |date=March 6, 2020}}</ref> On September 29, 2020, Clinton launched an interview [[podcast]] in collaboration with [[iHeartRadio]] titled ''You and Me Both''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hillary Clinton to Launch Interview Podcast 'You and Me Both' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/podcasts/9453508/hillary-clinton-interview-podcast-details/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 18, 2021 |date=September 22, 2020}}</ref> She has also produced television series, so far being a producer on the [[Apple TV+]] series ''Gutsy''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lopez |first1=Kristen |title=Hillary Clinton's 'Gutsy' Shows the Limits of Politicians Making TV |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/09/apple-tv-series-gutsy-hillary-clinton-relatable-1234759058/ |publisher=IndieWire |access-date=November 12, 2022 |date=September 13, 2022}}</ref> and the upcoming [[The CW]] adaption of ''[[The Woman's Hour]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Patrick |title=Hillary Clinton developing new drama, 'The Woman's Hour,' for CW |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/10/01/hillary-clinton-the-womans-hour-cw/5882319002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=May 20, 2021 |date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

On January 2, 2020, it was announced that Clinton would take up the position of [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] at [[Queen's University Belfast]]. Clinton became the 11th and first female chancellor of the university, filling the position that had been vacant since 2018 after the death of her predecessor, [[Thomas J. Moran (businessman)|Thomas J. Moran]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moriarty |first1=Gerry |date=January 2, 2020 |title=Hillary Clinton appointed chancellor of Queen's University Belfast |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/hillary-clinton-appointed-chancellor-of-queen-s-university-belfast-1.4128734 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50970400|title=Hillary Clinton is new chancellor of NI university|last=Meredith|first=Robbie|date=January 2, 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=January 21, 2020}}</ref> In January 2023, [[Columbia University]] announced that Clinton would join the university as professor of practice at the [[School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University|School of International and Public Affairs]] and as a presidential fellow at Columbia World Projects.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahn |first=Ashley |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Hillary Clinton joins Columbia University as a professor and fellow in global affairs |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/06/1147376178/hillary-clinton-columbia-university |access-date=January 9, 2023}}</ref>

==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Hillary Clinton}}
[[File:Secretary Clinton Meets With King Abdullah.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of Secretary of State Clinton meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. She is seated on the left, he is on the right. Their interpreters are in the background.|Clinton with King [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia]].

Clinton supports maintaining U.S. influence in the [[United States foreign policy in the Middle East|Middle East]].]]
Using her Senate votes, several organizations have attempted to measure Clinton's place on the [[political spectrum]] scientifically. ''[[National Journal]]''{{'}}s 2004 study of roll-call votes assigned Clinton a rating of 30 on the political spectrum, relative to the Senate at the time, with a rating of{{nbsp}}1 being most liberal and 100 being most conservative.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8573139 |title=Clinton burnishes hawkish image |date=July 14, 2005 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |author=Curry, Tom}}</ref> ''National Journal''{{'}}s subsequent rankings placed her as the 32nd-most liberal senator in 2006 and 16th-most liberal senator in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-journal-obama-most-liberal-senator-in-2007/ |title=National Journal: Obama Most Liberal Senator In 2007 |last1=Montopoli |first1=Brian |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> A 2004 analysis by political scientists Joshua D. Clinton of [[Princeton University]] and Simon Jackman and Doug Rivers of [[Stanford University]] found her likely to be the sixth-to-eighth-most liberal senator.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://my.vanderbilt.edu/joshclinton/files/2011/10/CJR_2004.pdf |title="The Most Liberal Senator"? Analyzing and Interpreting Congressional Roll Calls |journal=[[Political Science & Politics]] |date=October 2004 |last1=Clinton |first1=Joshua D. |last2=Jackman |first2=Simon |last3=Rivers |first3=Doug |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=805–11|doi=10.1017/S1049096504045196 |s2cid=155197878 }}</ref> ''[[The Almanac of American Politics]]'', edited by [[Michael Barone (pundit)|Michael Barone]] and [[Richard E. Cohen]], rated her votes from 2003 through 2006 as liberal on economics, social issues, and foreign policy.{{efn|See {{Cite book |title=The Almanac of American Politics |year=2008 |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |last2=Cohen |first2=Richard E. |author-link2=Richard E. Cohen |publisher=[[National Journal]] |page=1126 |author-link=Michael Barone (pundit)|title-link=The Almanac of American Politics }} And 2006 edition of same, 1152. The scores for individual years are [highest rating 100, format: liberal, (conservative)]: 2003: Economic&nbsp;{{=}} 90 (7), Social&nbsp;{{=}} 85 (0), Foreign&nbsp;{{=}} 79 (14). Average&nbsp;{{=}} 85 (7). 2004: Economic&nbsp;{{=}} 63 (36), Social&nbsp;{{=}} 82 (0), Foreign&nbsp;{{=}} 58 (41). Average&nbsp;{{=}} 68 (26). 2005: Economic&nbsp;{{=}} 84 (15), Social&nbsp;{{=}} 83 (10), Foreign&nbsp;{{=}} 66 (29). Average&nbsp;{{=}} 78 (18). 2006: Economic&nbsp;{{=}} 63 (35), Social&nbsp;{{=}} 80 (14), Foreign&nbsp;{{=}} 62 (35). Average&nbsp;{{=}} 68 (28).}} According to ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]''{{'}}s measure of political ideology, "Clinton was one of the most liberal members during her time in the Senate."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/hillary-clinton-was-liberal-hillary-clinton-is-liberal/ |title=Hillary Clinton Was Liberal. Hillary Clinton Is Liberal. |date=May 19, 2015 |website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|access-date=July 27, 2016}}</ref>

Organizations have also attempted to provide more recent assessments of Clinton after she reentered elective politics in 2015. Based on her stated positions from the 1990s to the present, [[On the Issues]] places her in the "Left Liberal" region on their two-dimensional grid of social and economic ideologies, with a social score of 80 on a scale of zero more-restrictive to 100 less-government stances, with an economic score of ten on a scale of zero more-restrictive to 100 less-government stances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/hillary_clinton.htm |title=Hillary Clinton |publisher=[[On the Issues]] |access-date=June 23, 2016}}</ref> [[Crowdpac]], which does a data aggregation of campaign contributions, votes and speeches, gives her a 6.5L rating on a one-dimensional left-right scale from 10L (most liberal) to 10C (most conservative).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crowdpac.com/elections/2016-presidential-election |title=2016 Presidential Candidates |publisher=[[Crowdpac]] |access-date=February 28, 2016}}</ref>

=== Economics ===
In March 2016, Clinton laid out a detailed economic plan, which ''The New York Times'' called "optimistic" and "wide-ranging". Basing her economic philosophy on [[inclusive capitalism]], Clinton proposed a "clawback" that would rescind tax relief and other benefits for companies that move jobs overseas; providing incentives for companies that share profits with employees, communities and the environment, rather than focusing on short-term profits to increase stock value and rewarding shareholders; increasing collective bargaining rights; and placing an "exit tax" on companies that move their headquarters out of America to pay a lower tax rate overseas.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/us/politics/hillary-clinton-offers-economic-plan-focused-on-jobs.html |title=Clinton Offers Economic Plan Focused on Jobs |last=Chozick |first=Amy |date=March 4, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 7, 2016}}</ref>

=== Domestic policy ===
Clinton accepts the [[scientific consensus on climate change]] and supports [[cap-and-trade]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/us/politics/hillary-clinton-on-the-issues.html |title=Hillary Clinton on the Issues|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 12, 2015 |access-date=March 31, 2016}}</ref> and opposed the [[Keystone XL pipeline]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama rejects Keystone XL pipeline |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/06/politics/keystone-xl-pipeline-decision-rejection-kerry/index.html |publisher=CNN|access-date = May 23, 2016}}</ref> She supported "equal pay for equal work", to address current shortfalls in how much women are paid to do the same jobs men do.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-equal-pay-problem-solving-would-be-top-priorities/ |title=Hillary Clinton: Equal pay, problem-solving would be top priorities |date=February 24, 2015 |publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> Clinton has explicitly focused on family issues and supports universal preschool.<ref name="AP outset">{{cite news |last=Lerder |first=Lisa |date=April 19, 2015 |title=Clinton patches relations with liberals at campaign's outset |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/130dda61f1e24e05ba2233b3e80fa638/clinton-patches-relations-liberals-campaigns-outset |url-status=live |access-date=April 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623162718/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/130dda61f1e24e05ba2233b3e80fa638/clinton-patches-relations-liberals-campaigns-outset |archive-date=June 23, 2015 |series=The Big Story}}</ref> These programs would be funded by proposing tax increases on the wealthy, including a "fair share surcharge".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/factsheets/2016/01/12/investing-in-america-by-restoring-basic-fairness-to-our-tax-code/ |title=Investing in America by Restoring Basic Fairness to Our Tax Code |website=hillaryclinton.com|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020201412/https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/factsheets/2016/01/12/investing-in-america-by-restoring-basic-fairness-to-our-tax-code/ |archive-date=October 20, 2016 }}</ref> Clinton supported the Affordable Care Act<ref>{{cite news |title=How Obamacare Could Backfire on Hillary Clinton |last=Pianin |first=Eric |url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2016/05/06/How-Obamacare-Could-Backfire-Hillary-Clinton |website=[[The Fiscal Times]]|access-date = August 6, 2016}}</ref> and would have added a "[[public option]]" that competed with private insurers and enabled people "50 or 55 and up" to buy into Medicare.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8c4cc46cf79a4aeb99781119274ee414/nod-sanders-clinton-offers-new-health-care-proposal |title=In nod to Sanders, Clinton offers new health care proposals |work=The Big Story |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=July 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Rappeport-2016">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/us/politics/hillary-clinton-health-care-public-option.html |title=Hillary Clinton Takes a Step to the Left on Health Care |last1=Rappeport |first1=Alan |date=May 10, 2016 |last2=Sanger-katz |first2=Margot |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 21, 2016}}</ref>

=== LGBT rights ===
Clinton supports the right to [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]], a position that has developed throughout her political career.<ref name="AP outset"/> In 2000, she was against such marriages altogether. In 2006, she said only that she would support a state's decision to permit same-sex marriages, but opposed federally amending the Constitution to permit same-sex marriage. While running for president in 2007, she again reiterated her opposition to same-sex marriage, although she expressed her support of civil unions.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 29, 2016|title=Hillary Clinton had the chance to make gay rights history. She refused.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/hillary-clinton-had-the-chance-to-make-gay-rights-history-she-refused/2016/08/28/843a5cfc-58cf-11e6-9767-f6c947fd0cb8_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303072544/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/hillary-clinton-had-the-chance-to-make-gay-rights-history-she-refused/2016/08/28/843a5cfc-58cf-11e6-9767-f6c947fd0cb8_story.html|archive-date=March 3, 2017|access-date=April 7, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SameSexEvolve">{{cite web|title=Hillary Clinton's changing position on same-sex marriage|last1=Sherman|first1=Amy|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2015/jun/17/hillary-clinton/hillary-clinton-change-position-same-sex-marriage/ |website=PolitiFact|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404042747/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2015/jun/17/hillary-clinton/hillary-clinton-change-position-same-sex-marriage/|archive-date=April 4, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> 2013 marked the first time that Clinton expressed support for a national right to same-sex marriage.<ref name="SameSexEvolve"/> In 2016, she was the first major-party presidential candidate ever to write an op-ed for an LGBT newspaper, the ''[[Philadelphia Gay News]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epgn.com/news/local/11120-pgn-exclusive-hillary-clinton-addresses-lgbt-equality |title=PGN Exclusive: Hillary Clinton addresses LGBT equality|publisher=Epgn.com|year=2016|access-date=October 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010034910/http://www.epgn.com/news/local/11120-pgn-exclusive-hillary-clinton-addresses-lgbt-equality |archive-date=October 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
Clinton held that allowing [[Illegal immigration to the United States|undocumented immigrants]] to have a path to citizenship "{{bracket|i}}s at its heart a family issue",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/05/05/a-path-to-citizenship-clinton-says-is-at-its-heart-a-family-issue/ |title=A Path to Citizenship, Clinton Says, 'Is at Its Heart a Family Issue' |date=May 5, 2015 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |last1=Chozick |first1=Amy |access-date=May 6, 2015}}</ref> and expressed support for Obama's [[Deferred Action for Parental Accountability]] (DAPA) program, which would allow up to five million undocumented immigrants to gain deferral of deportation and authorization to legally work in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/politics/tim-kaine-issues.html |title=How Tim Kaine and Hillary Clinton Compare on the Issues |last1=Shepherd |first1=Katie |last2=Rappeport |first2=Alan |date=July 22, 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217111410/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/politics/tim-kaine-issues.html |archive-date=December 17, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-immigration-reform_us_5787c871e4b03fc3ee4fcefc |title=Hillary Clinton Promises Deportation Relief, Despite Supreme Court Ruling |last=Foley |first=Elise |date=July 14, 2016 |website=HuffPost |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205202249/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-immigration-reform_us_5787c871e4b03fc3ee4fcefc |archive-date=December 5, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref> However, in 2014, Clinton stated that [[2014 American immigration crisis|unaccompanied children crossing the border]] "should be sent back".<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.newsweek.com/hillary-clinton-immigration-children-daca-661952 |title=Hillary Clinton Said Children of Illegal Immigrants Should Be Sent Back in 2014 CNN Interview |last=Price |first=Greg |date=September 8, 2017 |magazine=Newsweek |access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref> She opposed and criticized Trump's call to temporarily ban [[Muslim world|Muslims]] from entering the United States.<ref name="ban"/>

=== Foreign policy ===
On foreign affairs, Clinton voted in favor of the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq]] in October 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237 |title=Roll Call Vote 107th Congress&nbsp;– 2nd Session On the Joint Resolution (H.J.Res. 114 ) |date=October 11, 2002 |website=senate.gov |access-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref> a vote she later said she regretted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hillary-clinton-regrets-her-iraq-vote-but-opting-for-intervention-was-a-pattern/2016/09/15/760c23d0-6645-11e6-96c0-37533479f3f5_story.html |title=Hillary Clinton regrets her Iraq vote. But opting for intervention was a pattern. |last=Kranish |first=Michael |date=September 15, 2016 |access-date=December 10, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> She favored arming [[Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War|Syria's rebel fighters]] in 2012 and has called for the removal of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/01/17/hillary-clinton-arm-syrian-rebels-obama-sotu.cnn |title=Was Clinton right about arming Syrian rebels? |date=January 17, 2016 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> She supported the [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]] in 1999 and the NATO-led military intervention in Libya to oust former Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/07/26/clinton-unlikely-to-change-course-on-intervention/ |title=Clinton unlikely to change course on intervention|last=Chapman |first=Steve |date=July 26, 2007 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/hillary-clinton-libya.html |title=Hillary Clinton, 'Smart Power' and a Dictator's Fall |last1=Becker |first1=Jo |date=February 27, 2016 |last2=Shane |first2=Scott |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Clinton is in favor of maintaining [[United States foreign policy in the Middle East|American influence in the Middle East]].<ref name="ban">{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/280629-trump-hits-back-at-clinton-sanders-was-right-about-you/ |title=Trump fires back at Clinton over Muslim ban: 'Ask Hillary who blew up the plane last night'|author= Yilek, Caitlin |date=May 19, 2016 |work=The Hill}}</ref> She has told the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]], "America can't ever be neutral when it comes to Israel's security and survival."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/aipac/article/hillary_clinton_to_aipac_donald_trumps_foreign_policy_dangerously_wrong |title=Hillary Clinton to AIPAC: Donald Trump's foreign policy 'dangerously wrong.' |date=March 21, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Jewish Journal (Boston North)|Jewish Journal]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324081400/http://www.jewishjournal.com/aipac/article/hillary_clinton_to_aipac_donald_trumps_foreign_policy_dangerously_wrong|archive-date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> Clinton expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself during the [[2006 Lebanon War]] and [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/nyregion/18hillary.html |title=Clinton Vows to Back Israel in Latest Mideast Conflict|author=Healy, Patrick |date=July 18, 2006 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/hillary-clinton-blasts-unfair-world-reaction-over-gaza-cites-anti-semitism-as-factor/ |title=Hillary Clinton blasts 'unfair' world reaction over Gaza, cites anti-Semitism as factor|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 10, 2016 |work=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref> In a 2017 interview, after a [[Douma chemical attack|poison gas attack in Syria]], Clinton said that she had favored more aggressive action against [[Bashar al-Assad]]: "I think we should have been more willing to confront Assad. I really believe we should have and still should take out his air fields and prevent him from being able to use them to bomb innocent people and drop sarin gas on them."<ref name="Goldberg">{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-hillary-clinton/hillary-clinton-calls-for-u-s-to-bomb-syrian-air-fields-idUSKBN179058|title=Hillary Clinton calls for U.S. to bomb Syrian air fields|author=Barbara Goldberg|date=April 7, 2017|work=Reuters}}</ref> Clinton opposed a ceasefire in the [[Gaza war]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Hillary Clinton rebuts calls for ceasefire, says Hamas rule in Gaza must end |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/14/hillary-clinton-israel-hamas-ceasefire-00127116 |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=November 14, 2023}}</ref> stating "Remember, there was a ceasefire on October 6, that Hamas broke by their barbaric assault on peaceful civilians."<ref>{{cite news |title=Hillary Clinton: 'There was a ceasefire on October 6. Hamas chose to break it' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hillary-clinton-there-was-a-ceasefire-on-october-6-hamas-chose-to-break-it/ |newspaper=[[Times of Israel]] |date=November 9, 2023 }}</ref>

==Religious views==
Clinton has been a lifelong [[Methodist]], and has been part of [[United Methodist Church]] congregations throughout her life. She has publicly discussed her Christian faith on several occasions, although seldom while campaigning.<ref name="Faith">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/30/us/politics/some-in-iowa-surprised-by-hillary-clintons-ease-with-faith.html |title=Some in Iowa Surprised by Hillary Clinton's Ease With Faith |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |last=Chozick |first=Amy |date=January 29, 2016 |access-date=July 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="PersonalChrist">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/25/hillary-clinton-gets-personal-on-christ-and-her-faith/ |title=Hillary Clinton Gets Personal on Christ and Her Faith |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |last=Chozick |first=Amy |date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=July 22, 2016}}</ref> Professor [[Paul Kengor]], author of ''God and Hillary Clinton: A Spiritual Life'', has suggested that Clinton's political positions are rooted in her faith. She often expresses a [[Maxim (philosophy)|maxim]] often attributed to [[John Wesley]]: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can."<ref name="Faith"/>

==Cultural and political image==
{{main|Public image of Hillary Clinton}}
[[File:RoseLawFirmRear2008.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A three-story, red brick building in Arkansas. The Rose Law Firm is located inside this building. Clinton worked at Rose Law Firm for fifteen years.|Clinton worked at [[Rose Law Firm]] for fifteen years. Her professional career and political involvement set the stage for public reaction to her as the first lady.]]

[[Bibliography of Hillary Clinton|Over one hundred books and scholarly works have been written about Clinton]]. A 2006 survey by the ''[[New York Observer]]'' found "a virtual cottage industry" of "anti-Clinton literature" put out by [[Regnery Publishing]] and other conservative imprints. Some titles include ''[[Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House]]'', ''Hillary's Scheme: Inside the Next Clinton's Ruthless Agenda to Take the White House'' and ''Can She Be Stopped?: Hillary Clinton Will Be the Next President of the United States Unless&nbsp;...'' Books praising Clinton did not sell nearly as well<ref name="obs031206">{{cite web |url=http://observer.com/2006/03/da-hillary-code/ |title=Da Hillary Code |last=Smith |first=Ben |newspaper=[[The New York Observer]] |date=March 12, 2006}}</ref> (other than her memoirs and those of her husband). When she ran for Senate in 2000, several fundraising groups such as Save Our Senate and the Emergency Committee to Stop Hillary Rodham Clinton sprang up to oppose her.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/27/nyregion/clinton-rivals-raise-little-besides-rage.html |author=Levy, Clifford J. |title=Clinton Rivals Raise Little Besides Rage |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 27, 2000}}</ref> Don Van Natta found that Republican and conservative groups viewed her as a reliable "[[bogeyman]]" to mention in fundraising letters, on a par with Ted Kennedy, and the equivalent of Democratic and liberal appeals mentioning [[Newt Gingrich]].<ref name="nyt071099">{{Cite news |last=Van Natta |first=Don Jr. |title=Hillary Clinton's Campaign Spurs A Wave of G.O.P. Fund-Raising |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 10, 1999 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/10/us/hillary-clinton-s-campaign-spurs-a-wave-of-gop-fund-raising.html |author-link=Don Van Natta Jr.}}</ref>

Clinton has also been featured in the media and popular culture in a wide spectrum of perspectives. In 1995, writer [[Todd S. Purdum]] of ''The New York Times'' characterized Clinton as a [[Rorschach test]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Purdum |first=Todd S. |title=The First Lady's Newest Role: Newspaper Columnist |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 24, 1995 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/24/us/the-first-lady-s-newest-role-newspaper-columnist.html |author-link=Todd S. Purdum}}</ref> an assessment echoed at the time by feminist writer and activist [[Betty Friedan]], who said, "Coverage of Hillary Clinton is a massive Rorschach test of the evolution of women in our society."<ref name="khj1">{{Cite book |author=Jamieson, Kathleen Hall |title=Beyond the Double Bind: Women and Leadership |year=1995 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-508940-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/beyonddoublebind00jami/page/22 22–25] |chapter=Hillary Clinton as Rorschach Test |author-link=Kathleen Hall Jamieson |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/beyonddoublebind00jami/page/22 }}</ref> She has been the subject of many [[Saturday Night Live parodies of Hillary Clinton|satirical impressions on ''Saturday Night Live'']], beginning with her time as the first lady. She has made guest appearances on the show herself, in 2008 and in 2015, to face-off with her [[doppelgänger]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/snl-hillary-clinton-saturday-night-live-kate-mckinnon-amy-poehler/ |last=Raftery |first=Liz |title=Who Did the Best Hillary Clinton Impression on SNL? (Video) |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |date=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Murray |title=Hillary Clinton tends bar on 'Saturday Night Live' in political season premiere (Video) |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/hillary-clinton-tends-bar-saturday-night-live-political-season-premiere-t48086 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012155655/http://www.today.com:80/popculture/hillary-clinton-tends-bar-saturday-night-live-political-season-premiere-t48086 |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |date=October 4, 2015 |access-date=January 24, 2024}}{{void|Fabrickator|comment|as of the date of this edit, both the original and the archive links have working videos of her appearance on SNL, but there are differences in the presentation}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Hillary Clinton April 2015 (1).jpg|thumb|alt=Hillary Clinton dressed in a black suit and a green shirt, sitting in a café. She is smiling, and a red teacup is situated in front of her. The foreground is distorted due to the presence of various small objects.|Clinton in 2015]]

She has often been described in the popular media as a [[Polarization (politics)|polarizing]] figure, though some argue otherwise.<ref>For sources describing her as a polarizing figure, see Purdum, "The First Lady's Newest Role", ''op. cit.'';
{{Cite news |author=Dowd, Maureen |title=Hillary Clinton as Aspiring First Lady: Role Model, or a 'Hall Monitor' Type? |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 18, 1992 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/18/us/1992-campaign-candidate-s-wife-hillary-clinton-aspiring-first-lady-role-model.html |author-link=Maureen Dowd }}; {{Cite magazine |author=Sullivan, Amy |title=Hillary in 2008? |magazine=[[Washington Monthly]] |date=July–August 2005 |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0507.sullivan1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050714033553/http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0507.sullivan1.html |archive-date=July 14, 2005 }}; {{Cite web |title=Hillary Clinton's Polarizing Force as a Candidate |date=July 16, 2006 |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5560786 }}; {{Cite magazine |title=How Americans View Hillary: Popular but Polarizing |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1229053,00.html |last=Cox |first=Ana Marie |date=August 19, 2006 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |author-link=Ana Marie Cox |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215012213/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1229053,00.html |url-status=dead }}; and those referenced in {{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/29820-hillary-clinton-not-polarizing-and-highly-electable/ |title=Hillary Clinton: Not Polarizing and Highly Electable |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=October 10, 2007 |author=Davis, Lanny |author-link=Lanny Davis }}. For sources arguing against the notion, see the same Davis piece; and {{Cite book |author=Estrich, Susan |title=The Case for Hillary Clinton |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-06-083988-8 |author-link=Susan Estrich |pages=[https://archive.org/details/caseforhillarycl00susa_0/page/66 66–68] |url=https://archive.org/details/caseforhillarycl00susa_0/page/66 }}</ref> In the early stages of her 2008 presidential campaign, a ''Time'' magazine cover showed a large picture of her with two [[checkbox]]es labeled "Love Her", "Hate Her".<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20060828,00.html |title=The Presidential Ambitions of Hillary Clinton |date=August 26, 2006 |magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> ''[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]'' titled its profile of her "Harpy, Hero, Heretic: Hillary".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/01/harpy-hero-heretic-hillary |title=Harpy, Hero, Heretic: Hillary |author=Hitt, Jack |magazine=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |date=January–February 2007 |access-date=October 7, 2007 |author-link=Jack Hitt}}</ref> Following Clinton's "choked up moment" and related incidents in the run-up to the January 2008 New Hampshire primary, both ''The New York Times'' and ''[[Newsweek]]'' found that discussion of gender's role in the campaign had moved into the national political discourse.<ref name="nyt011008">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/us/politics/10women.html |title=Women's Support for Clinton Rises in Wake of Perceived Sexism |last=Kantor |first=Jodi |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 10, 2008 |author-link=Jodi Kantor}}</ref><ref name="nw012108">{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.newsweek.com/letting-hillary-be-hillary-86471 |title=Letting Hillary Be Hillary |last=Meacham |first=Jon |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |date=January 21, 2008 |author-link=Jon Meacham}}</ref> ''Newsweek'' editor [[Jon Meacham]] summed up the relationship between Clinton and the American public by saying the New Hampshire events, "brought an odd truth to light: though Hillary Rodham Clinton has been on the periphery or in the middle of national life for decades&nbsp;... she is one of the most recognizable but least understood figures in American politics".<ref name="nw012108"/>

Once she became secretary of state, Clinton's image seemed to improve dramatically among the American public and became one of a respected world figure.<ref name="elle-2012"/><ref name="pd-pop">{{cite web |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/12/hillary-clinton-leads-the-pack-in-bloomberg-popularity-poll/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014124653/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/12/hillary-clinton-leads-the-pack-in-bloomberg-popularity-poll/ |archive-date=October 14, 2010 |title=Hillary Clinton Leads the Pack in Bloomberg Popularity Poll |author=Torregrossa, Luisita Lopez |website=[[Politics Daily]] |date=October 12, 2010}}</ref> Her favorability ratings dropped, however, after she left office and began to be viewed in the context of partisan politics once more.<ref name=Gallup1214>{{cite press release |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/180365/barack-obama-hillary-clinton-extend-run-admired.aspx |title=Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Extend Run as Most Admired |publisher=[[Gallup Organization]] |date=December 29, 2014}}</ref> By September 2015, with her 2016 presidential campaign underway and beset by continued reports regarding her private email usage at the State Department, her ratings had slumped to some of her lowest levels ever.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/185324/hillary-clinton-favorable-rating-one-worst.aspx |title=Hillary Clinton's Favorable Rating One of Her Worst |author=Dugan, Andrew |author2=McCarthy, Justin |publisher=[[Gallup Organization]] |date=September 4, 2015}}</ref> In March 2016, she acknowledged that: "I'm not a natural politician, in case you haven't noticed."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/611770/hillary-clinton-not-natural-politician |title=Hillary Clinton: 'I am not a natural politician' |work=[[The Week]] |date=March 9, 2016}}</ref>

==Honors and recognition==
[[File:Bust of Hillary Clinton in Saranda (cropped).jpg|alt=Brown bust of Hillary Clinton in public|thumb|Bust of Clinton in [[Sarandë]], Albania]]
A bust of Clinton by {{Ill|Idriz Balani|es|4=sq}} was erected in [[Sarandë]], Albania in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Semini |first=Llazar |date=June 30, 2016 |title=Albanian southern town erects bust of Hillary Clinton |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2016/06/30/albanian-southern-town-erects-bust-of-hillary-clinton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616155140/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2016/06/30/albanian-southern-town-erects-bust-of-hillary-clinton/ |archive-date=June 16, 2025 |access-date=June 16, 2025 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |agency=AP}}</ref> In January 2025, United States President Joe Biden awarded Hillary Clinton the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]].<ref name="MedalFreedom">{{cite web | last=Montague | first=Zach | title=Who Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom? | website=The New York Times | date=4 January 2025 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/us/politics/presidential-medal-of-freedom-honorees.html | access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>

== Books ==
{{See also|Bibliography of Hillary Clinton}}

* ''[[It Takes a Village]]: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 1996) {{ISBN|1-4165-4064-4}}
* ''[[Dear Socks, Dear Buddy]]: Kids' Letters to the First Pets'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 1998) {{ISBN|0-684-85778-2}}
* ''[[An Invitation to the White House]]: At Home with History'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 2000) {{ISBN|0-684-85799-5}}
* ''[[Living History (book)|Living History]]'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 2003) {{ISBN|978-0-7432-2224-2}}
* ''[[Hard Choices]]'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 2014) {{ISBN|978-1-4767-5144-3}}
* ''[[Stronger Together (book)|Stronger Together]]: A Blueprint for America's Future'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Tim Kaine (Simon & Schuster, 2016) {{ISBN|978-1-5011-6173-5}}
* ''[[What Happened (Clinton book)|What Happened]]'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 2017) {{ISBN|978-1-5011-7556-5}}
* ''[[The Book of Gutsy Women]]: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 2019) {{ISBN|1-5011-7841-5}}
* ''Grandma's Gardens'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea Clinton (Philomel Books, 2020) {{ISBN|978-0-5931-1535-0}}
* ''[[State of Terror]]'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Louise Penny (Simon & Schuster, St. Martin's Press, 2021) {{ISBN|978-1-9821-7367-8}}
* ''Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty'' by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 2024) {{ISBN|978-1-6680-1723-4}}

==Ancestry==
{{Ahnentafel
|title=Ancestry of Hillary Clinton|collapsed=yes|width=60%|align=center|ref=<ref name="nehgs"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Reitwiesner |first1=William Addams |author-link1=William Addams Reitwiesner |title=Ancestry of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton |url=http://wargs.com/political/rodham.html |publisher=William Addams Reitwiesner Genealogical Services |access-date=October 12, 2018 }}</ref>
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
| 1= 1. '''Hillary Diane Rodham''' (born 1947)<br /><small>Chicago, Illinois</small>
| 2= 2. [[Hugh Rodham (born 1911)|Hugh Ellsworth Rodham]] (1911–1993)<br /><small>[[Scranton, Pennsylvania]]</small>
| 3= 3. [[Dorothy Howell Rodham|Dorothy Emma Howell]] (1919–2011)<br /><small>Chicago, Illinois</small>
| 4= 4. Hugh Rodham (1879–1965)<br /><small>[[West Kyo]], [[County Durham|Co. Durham]], [[England]]</small>
| 5= 5. Hannah Jones (1882–1952)<br /><small>Scranton, Pennsylvania</small>
| 6= 6. Edwin John Howell Jr. (1897–1946)<br /><small>[[Elgin, Illinois]]</small>
| 7= 7. Della Murray (1902–1960)<br /><small>[[Aurora, Illinois]]</small>
| 8= 8. Jonathan Rodham (1843–1917)<br /><small>[[Holmside]], Co. Durham, England</small>
| 9= 9. Isabella Simpson Bell (1849–1917)<br /><small>[[Annfield Plain]], Co. Durham, England</small>
|10=10. John Jones (1836–?)<br /><small>[[Wales]]</small>
|11=11. Mary (1839–?)<br /><small>Wales</small>
|12=12. Edwin John Howell (1867–1941)<br /><small>[[Bristol]], England</small>
|13=13. Emma Josephine Monk (1874–1940)<br /><small>[[Canada]]</small>
|14=14. Daniel Murray (1859–?)<br /><small>[[Ontario]], Canada</small>
|15=15. Delia Martin (1861–?)<br /><small>[[Lake Superior]], [[Michigan]]</small>
}}

==See also==
* [[2016 United States presidential election timeline]]
* [[Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates]]
* [[Electoral history of Hillary Clinton]]
* [[List of female United States Cabinet members]]
* [[Women in the United States Senate]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|25em}}

===Works cited===
{{refbegin|35em|indent=yes}}
* {{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Jonathan |last2=Parnes |first2=Amie |title = HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton |publisher=[[Crown Publishers]] |location=New York |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-8041-3675-4 |title-link = HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton }}
*{{Cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Jonathan |title=Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign |last2=Parnes |first2=Amie |date=April 18, 2017 |publisher=Crown |isbn=978-0-553-44709-5}}
* {{cite book |first1=Dan |last1=Balz |author1-link = Dan Balz |first2=Haynes |last2=Johnson |author2-link = Haynes Johnson |title = The Battle for America, 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election |url=https://archive.org/details/battleforamerica00balz_0 |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Viking Penguin]] |location=New York |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-670-02111-6 }}
* {{cite book |last=Bernstein |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Bernstein |title = A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton |title-link=A Woman in Charge |year=2007 |publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-375-40766-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Brock |first=David |author-link=David Brock |title=The Seduction of Hillary Rodham |publisher=[[Free Press (publisher)|The Free Press]] |location=New York |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-684-83451-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Brower |first=Kate Andersen |title = The Residence: Inside the Private World of The White House |year=2015 |publisher=[[HarperCollins|Harper]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-06-230519-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Burns |first=Lisa M. |title=First Ladies and the Fourth Estate: Press Framing of Presidential Wives |publisher=[[Northern Illinois University Press]] |location=DeKalb, Illinois |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-87580-391-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Clinton |first=Hillary Rodham |title=Living History |location=New York |year=2003 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn=978-0-7432-2224-2|title-link=Living History (book) }}
* {{cite news |last1=Dobbs |first1=Michael |title=Hillary and Martin Luther King Jr. |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/12/hillary_and_martin_luther_king.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 31, 2007 |access-date=February 25, 2016 |archive-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226081412/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/12/hillary_and_martin_luther_king.html |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book |last1=Gerth |first1=Jeff |author1-link = Jeff Gerth |last2=Van Natta |first2=Don Jr. |author2-link = Don Van Natta Jr. |title = Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton |year=2007 |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-316-01742-8 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/herwayhopesambit00gert }}
* {{cite book |last=Ghattas |first=Kim |author-link=Kim Ghattas |title=The Secretary: A Journey with Hillary Clinton from Beirut to the Heart of American Power |url=https://archive.org/details/secretaryjourney0000ghat |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Times Books]] |location=New York |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-8050-9511-1 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Heilemann |first1=John |author1-link = John Heilemann |last2=Halperin |first2=Mark |author2-link = Mark Halperin |title=Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |location=New York |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-06-173363-5 |title-link=Game Change }}
* {{cite book |author1-link = Valerie M. Hudson |last1=Hudson |first1=Valerie M. |last2=Leidl |first2=Patricia |title = The Hillary Doctrine: Sex & American Foreign Policy |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |location=New York |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-231-16492-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Kornblut |first=Anne |author-link=Anne Kornblut |title=Notes from the Cracked Ceiling: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and What It Will Take for a Woman to Win |publisher=[[Crown Books]] |location=New York |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-307-46425-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/notesfromcracked00korn }}
* {{cite book |last=Maraniss |first=David |author-link = David Maraniss |title=First in His Class: A Biography of Bill Clinton |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |location=New York |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-671-87109-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Morris |first=Roger |author-link = Roger Morris (American writer) |title = Partners in Power: The Clintons and Their America |year=1996 |location=New York |publisher=[[Henry Holt and Company|Henry Holt]] |isbn=978-0-8050-2804-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Olson |first=Barbara |author-link=Barbara Olson |title=Hell to Pay: The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton |location=Washington |publisher=[[Regnery Publishing]] |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-89526-197-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/helltopay00barb }}
* {{cite book |last=Troy |first=Gil |author-link = Gil Troy |title = Hillary Rodham Clinton: Polarizing First Lady |location=Lawrence, Kansas |publisher=[[University Press of Kansas]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7006-1488-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/hillaryrodhamcli00gilt }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Library resources box|by=yes|onlinebooksby=yes|lcheading=Clinton, Hillary Rodham}}
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===Official===
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.clintonfoundation.org/ Clinton Foundation]
* [https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/clinton-hillary-rodham State Department Biography]
* {{Biographical Directory of Congress|C001041}}
* {{official website|https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/first-families/hillary-rodham-clinton/|White House biography of former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton}}
* {{official website|https://clintonwhitehouse4.archives.gov/WH/EOP/First_Lady/html/HILLARY_Bio.html|Archived White House website}}
* {{official website|https://www.qub.ac.uk/about/Vice-Chancellors-Office/Chancellor/|Office of University Chancellor}}

===Media coverage===
* {{Guardian topic}}
* {{New York Times topic|people/c/hillary_rodham_clinton|Hillary Rodham Clinton}}

===Other===
* {{C-SPAN|19027}}
* [https://www.politifact.com/personalities/hillary-clinton/ Hillary Clinton's file] at [[PolitiFact]]

{{Hillary Clinton}}
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