Hero's: Hillary

Michael Easterling      

9/27/20

Happy Birthday Jeri!

Hillary Rodham always sat at the front of her class.

Always prepared, listening to everything,

raising her hand, volunteering when needed,

gratifying her teachers, loved by her family,

admired and respected,

envied even feared by some.

It was this way when she went onto High School

where she was an honor student,

a leader in student organizations and activities,

writing for the school newspaper,

etc,etc,etc,etc,etc,etc.

It was this way when she went to Wellesley

where she was an honor student,

a protege of Professor William Schechter,

President of the Young Republicans for Rockefeller,

an Intern for Miriam Wright Edelman

and the Student Speaker at Graduation. 

In her spare time  working at Mt McKinley

and at salmon fisheries in Alaska.

It was this way at Yale Law School where

she was an honor student

worked at the Yale Child Study Center,

worked on political campaigns,

dated another brilliant student and 

future Rhodes Scholar William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton,

arguably a ‘match made in heaven.’

They moved on to Arkansas and married,

Hillary working in a top law firm law firm,

Bill moving up the political ladder, first as a congressman

then as Governor twice elected.

Hillary was Arkansas Woman of the Year in1983 and 

Mother of the Year in1984,

The rest is a remarkable history.

Bill became President in 1998, re-elected in 2004.

Hillary’s influence and power 

have been likened to that of Eleanor Roosevelt’s.

She was heavily responsible

for the creation of the Clinton Healthcare Plan

the foundation of the Affordable Care Act.

She lobbied heavily for the selection of

RGB as the Supreme Court nominee.

RBG was confirmed by Congress

becoming one of the greatest Justices in history 

After the White House moving on into private life,

Hillary served as US Senator from New York from 2001-2009. 

She sought the Democratic nomination for President in 2008

but was defeated by Barach Obama.

After the election Obama asked her to be his Secretary of State.

Accepting the job, she served effectively from 2009-2013.

Then came the most dramatic time of her career.

She accepted the Democratic nomination for President

to run against the Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Everything qualified her for the Presidency.

She had been an outstanding student and a top lawyer, 

a scholar and a prestigious author,

had battled for children, families and women’s rights,

immigrants and healthcare.

Having served as Senator 

she had first-hand knowledge of

the ins and outs of Capitol Hill.

Having served as Secretary of State,

she had first-hand experience with

International relationships and diplomacy.

And even though she won the Popular Vote  by over 3 million, 

she lost the Electoral Vote.

Amazingly she LOST!

And she was beaten by a man 

who had inherited his wealth,

who would not turn over his tax returns,

with a history of bankruptcies

and of stiffing employees and venders. 

One with no political or governmental experience,

a history of womanizing and sexual misconduct,

one strongly supported by the far right and white supremacists,

a star of a shallow Reality TV show. 

Several factors contributed to her defeat

but still her loss was stunning. Unbelievable. 

A nightmare for millions and millions.

Afterward Donald Trump became arguably 

the worst president in US history.

Hillary? 

After her defeat she picked herself up becoming  

as articulate  and alive as ever.

She continued to speak out forcefully 

on domestic and international political and governmental issues.

She formed the political action team Onward Together,

wrote her third memoir What Happened.

Along with daughter Chelsea she wrote  The Book of Gutsy Women,

worked actively with the Clinton Foundation

on domestic and international causes and crises.

Won a Grammy Award 

for the audio version of It Takes A Village,

She became Chancellor of Queens University in Belfast Ireland.

She endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential campaign

So, what’s the bottom line?

Hillary Rodham Clinton will always be envied.

Always be feared by white men especially old ones.

Hated by racists, misogynists, 

homophobes and xenophobes.

But she will always be in the front of the class.

Always prepared

Always listening.

Always raising her hand.

Always challenging.

Always volunteering wherever there is need.

Loved by her family and friends.

Always admired, revered and respected by 

thinking progressive people.