Cathleen Small - Chelsea Clinton: Democratic Campaigner and Advocate

Published in 2018 by Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC
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Copyright 2018 by Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC First Edition

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Small, Cathleen, author.

Title: Chelsea Clinton : democratic campaigner and advocate / Cathleen Small. Description: New York : Cavendish Square Publishing, 2018. | Series: Leading women | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017015902 (print) | LCCN 2017020458 (ebook) | ISBN 9781502631732 (E-book) | ISBN 9781502631725 (library bound) | ISBN 9781502634115 (pbk.) Subjects: LCSH: Clinton, Chelsea--Juvenile literature. | Children of presidents--United States--Juvenile literature.

Classification: LCC E887.C5 (ebook) | LCC E887.C5 S63 2018 (print) | DDC 973.929092 [B] --dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017015902

Editorial Director: David McNamara
Editor: Jodyanne Benson
Copy Editor: Nathan Heidelberger
Associate Art Director: Amy Greenan
Designer: Renni Johnson
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Photo Research: J8 Media

The photographs in this book are used by permission and through the courtesy of: LW-Chelsea Clinton credits. Photo credits: Cover J. Countess/Getty Images; p. 1, 54 Sonia Recchia/WireImage/ Getty Images; p. 4 Cynthia Johnson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images; p. 7 Wellesley College/Sygma/Getty Images; p. 11 Danny Johnston/Getty Images; p. 12 Smith Collection/Gado/ Getty Images; p. 18 Lou DeMatteis/Reuters/Alamy Stock Photo; p. 21 Cynthia Johnson/Getty Images; p. 27 Roberto Borea/AP Images; p. 30 Dave Benett/Getty Images; p. 32 Mike Coppola/ Getty Images; p. 34 Alex Wong/Getty Images; p. 37, 44 Zuma Press/Alamy Stock Photo; p. 40 Michael Loccisano/Getty Images; p. 48 Johnny Louis/FilmMagic/Getty Images; p. 50 Paul Morigi/ WireImage/Getty Images; p. 57 FilmMagic/Getty Images; p. 64 Kevin Winter/Getty Images; p. 68 Polaris Images/Newscom; p. 73 Silvia Izquierdo/AP Images; p. 79 Doug Mills/AP Images; p. 80 Star Max/IPx/AP Images; p. 87 Brooks Kraft/Getty Images.

Chelsea Clinton at 12 years old

CHAPTER ONE

From Little Rock to the White House

C helsea Clinton entered the public eye at the age of twelve, when her father, Bill, took office as the forty-second president of the United States. Previously, Bill Clinton had been governor of Arkansas, so Chelsea was in the public eye to some extent pretty much since birthin fact, she appeared on the front page of an Arkansas newspaper shortly after she was born. But it was at age twelve, on the cusp of entering her teen years, that Chelsea became a household name.

Growing Up Clinton

Chelsea might never have been known as anything other than a bright, inquisitive child of the 1980s if it werent for her pedigree . Before he became president of the United States, Bill Clinton was the governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981, and then again from 1983 to 1992.

Before becoming governor, Bill Clinton earned a law degree from Yale Law School. After graduating, he taught law at the University of Arkansas. He became active in politics not long after graduating from Yale, leading George McGoverns presidential campaign in Texas in 1972 and working with Texas politicians Ron Kirk (later mayor of Dallas) and Ann Richards (later governor of Texas). After returning to Arkansas, Clinton ran for the House of Representatives as a Democrat, but he lost to Republican John Paul Hammerschmidt. Not letting the defeat dissuade him, he ran for Arkansas attorney general in 1976 and won the election. When he was elected governor in 1978, he became the United States youngest governor.

In 1975, Bill Clinton married Hillary Rodham, whom he had met while a student at Yale Law School, where she was also studying law. The two were a power couple from the start. Hillary was actually a year ahead of Bill at Yale. She graduated in 1973 and went on to serve as a congressional legal counsel.

Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham in 1979

A Chicago native, Hillary moved with Bill to Arkansas not long before their marriage. There, like Bill, she taught law at the University of Arkansas. In 1977, she cofounded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to benefit children and families. The next year, she became the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation. In 1979, she became the first female partner at Rose Law Firm.

The vast majority of Hillarys legal work during those early years in Arkansas focused on childrens law and family policy. She authored numerous scholarly articles about topics surrounding childrens legal rights, which earned her a reputation as an important scholar and activist.

Needless to say, when Chelsea Victoria Clinton entered the world on February 27, 1980, she was born to two very busy, very successful, but also very doting parents.

An Arkansas Childhood

Chelsea was born during her fathers first term as governor of Arkansas. She was an only child, and her parents were strict but also loving. Chelsea was not allowed to eat sugary cereals for breakfast, and pizza was a treat saved for weekends. She was allowed only thirty minutes of television per day.

Although both of her parents worked in high-powered jobs, family mealtime was a priority. Bill Clinton ate breakfast with Chelsea every morning, and over dinner the family of three would come together to discuss everything from news and the media to movies, television shows, and computer games. In 2012, reflecting on her childhood, Chelsea said, Those conversations helped me develop a broad and healthy skepticism about the media as well as a respect for its ability ... to empower or disempower people.

The conversations also helped Chelsea develop the thick skin needed to survive in the public eye. She remembers, at age six, her family having mock debates at the dinner table, as preparation for Bills 1986 gubernatorial race. Bill and Hillary knew that Chelsea would undoubtedly hear negative things about her father during the race, and they wanted to prepare her for that.

In her book It Takes a Village, Hillary describes how Chelsea gradually gained mastery over her emotions thanks in part to these mock debates.