She devoted her entire life to American politics.
Before running for office, she was always labeled as "the wife of former President Clinton." After Clinton's scandal broke in 1998, many people were waiting to see Hillary become a laughingstock. When she lost the 2016 election and then the "Emailgate" scandal erupted, many probably thought this woman was finished.
To her fervent followers, Hillary was a brave wife, a sexy woman, and a wise, powerful woman. In the eyes of her political opponents, however, she was a hypocritical, cunning, worldly, and politically manipulative figure.
But Hillary is undoubtedly a legendary woman.
Hillary was born in 1947 in Illinois, USA. At age 15, she developed a strong interest in politics, and in 1964 she volunteered to help Republican candidate Barry Goldwater campaign. In 1965 she entered Wellesley College in Massachusetts, majoring in political science.
During her college years, Hillary already had her own political views, becoming a liberal anti-Vietnam War activist. She showed contempt for the Republican youth wing, labeling them "incompetent" and dismissing their events as "farces." By the summer of 1967, when referring to the Republican Party, she stopped using "we" and switched to "they."
She was also the first student to deliver a speech at Wellesley College commencement, and her controversial address attracted national attention.
In 1973, Hillary earned her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she met Bill Clinton, who would later become President of the United States.
That same year, after graduating from Yale Law, she began her career as a lawyer. She later moved to Arkansas and joined the congressional impeachment inquiry team for the Watergate scandal.
At Yale Law, she was one of the 27 standout female students in her class. After graduation, she joined the renowned Rose Law Firm and was twice named one of the 100 most outstanding lawyers in America.
A woman who could rely on her looks, but insisted on relying on her talent.
Many people might think Hillary was a strong-willed woman, but when Clinton ran for president, she changed into long skirts, cut her bangs, and even went on a diet. She shed her previous image as a superwoman to present herself as a proper First Lady, a good wife, and a good mother, willingly adapting for politics.
In 1993, Hillary moved into the White House with Clinton, becoming the most highly educated First Lady in American history. In her eight years at the White House, unlike traditional First Ladies, Hillary actively participated in political affairs and visited over 50 countries. Though she maintained a graceful exterior, her inner independence, strength, and resilience were evident. Thus, Hillary began her political career.
When Clinton left office, he said with remorse: "If Hillary weren't First Lady, she would have built a great career 25 years ago. It was I who deprived her of that."
In February 2000, Hillary moved to New York and was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first First Lady to hold public office and the first female senator from New York. On November 7, 2000, she was elected to the U.S. Senate. On January 20, 2007, at age 60, Hillary declared her intention to become the first female president with the words, "I'm in, and I'm in to win."
Even after losing to Trump in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary's support in the U.S. never wavered. You could call her a power-hungry, almost fanatical political animal, but beneath the glamorous facade, she remains that 18-year-old girl with unique political views, fearless and bold, and the wife who stood by her husband with a poised smile during the campaign.
In 2017, Hillary returned to her alma mater Wellesley to give a commencement address, where she openly discussed her election loss. She said that after the election, she spent more time with family, especially her grandchildren, and organized closets, but what helped her most was:
Remembering who I am, where I come from and what I believe.
Remember who you are, where you come from, and what you believe.
This year, Hillary returned to Yale, the cradle of her political career, to deliver the 2018 commencement address. In her speech, she did not mention Trump's name, but every word was aimed at him.
She spoke about the importance of resilience as graduates step into the real world.
“Everyone gets knocked down,” she said. “What matters is whether you get back up and keep going. All of us make mistakes in life, and even fail, no matter how qualified or capable we are.”
She also addressed political polarization in the U.S., reminding students that empathy and politics can go hand in hand, and saying she believes that "radical empathy" is what is needed to overcome the divisiveness plaguing the country.
"The radicalization of American politics is not symmetrical," Hillary said. "There are leaders who openly incite the rhetoric of hate."
She reminded Yale students that change begins with them, congratulating them for showing character, courage, and resilience even in these divisive times.
She reminded Yale graduates that change starts with them, and congratulated them on demonstrating character, courage, and resilience even in a time of national division.
Noting Yale's tradition of wearing hats on Class Day, Hillary pulled out a Russian-style hat of her own.
