Beyond politics: learning from Hillary Rodham Clinton

Yes, I would feel better about the country and the world were Hillary Rodham Clinton about to be inaugurated our next President. Millions of primary voters shared my view. Meanwhile, I sincerely hope that President-elect Obama lives up to the highest hopes of his wisest supporters. Something larger even than the Presidency of the United States is at stake though, when one considers Hillary Rodham Clinton. What is at stake is the question of how to live a life.

I have learned from watching Senator Clinton pursue her career.  I have learned that she processes what might be a permanent setback for a different sort of person, and then looks at the options available to her, picks one, and puts her talent to work for her as she retrains her focus. Some of being able to do that is just having the temperament to keep on keeping on - but we can all work to be that kind of person. And we can look to Senator Clinton as an example of just what one person can accomplish when she does. Because I am a student of the Nixon years, I followed Senator Clinton's career before she moved to Washington D.C. I knew of her post-law school involvement in the effort to prosecute Richard Nixon. I know that whatever Senator Clinton expected of herself or foresaw when she addressed her classmates at Wellesley or when she graduated from Yale Law School, most of what has happened in her life and career could not have been within her scope of vision at those junctures. Moving to Arkansas? Improving the schools for millions of Arkansans children?  Moving into the White House? Putting the idea of universal health care at the heart of public, political discourse? Addressing personal difficulties in the glare of the harshest public spotlight? Becoming a U.S. Senator? Winning more votes in a primary season than any other Democratic Presidential contender, yet having to deal with a party power structure that refused to even permit an open and honest convention roll call vote? Campaigning in the general election harder for a rival than any other politician has ever done? Choosing to give up the relative safety of her Senate seat to accept, if confirmed, the position of Secretary of State in that rival's administration?

Most people's lives turn out to include twists and turns that they could not have foreseen in their early twenties. But most people's lives are not, for better or worse, lived out as publicly as Senator Clinton's has been. And because her life has been so public it is easy to focus on a particular triumph or a particular setback. Today, as I listened to the confirmation hearings regarding the Secretary of State appointment, I realized that Senator Clinton's life is one that supersedes politics. Whether you agree with her political positions or you do not, you can observe her powers of concentration, her tenacity, her buoyancy, her steadiness. These excellences see a person through the unforeseen circumstances, bad or good. Because Senator Clinton is public servant, we, her countrywomen and countrymen, will derive instrumental benefits from her competence. More importantly, though, because Senator Clinton is a public figure, we, her fellow members of humanity, can look to her life and the dignity and wisdom with which she conducts it. From Hillary Rodham Clinton, we can learn how to tackle the unforeseen in our own lives. That is a legacy that transcends politis. It is the legacy of true leader.

Comments

[petunia politik]

Heidi Li,

Like you, I have followed all of HRC's confirmation hearing today, though I was able to watch and listen. Also like you, for awhile I have been thinking about Hillary the woman rather than the politician. What is she made of to be able to rise above the disgraceful performance of the media and an election that was clearly skewed and altered to deny her the nomination that she actually won ( sans caucus and superde fraud). We know this is no ordinary person, but I have never before seen someone who could remain so seemingly stoic and rise above something that would forever torture someone else. Her commitment to country is so strong and so altruistic. I can not think of another politico for whom I can say that. Hillary has made us proud through the years, and for me, today she proved once again that she is the only person who should be sitting in the oval office.

[Mirlo]

Indeed, there is a lot to learn from Hillary as a human being, well beyond her work as a politician. Thank you, Heidi, for taking the time to outline it in this inspiring post.

[Masha]

Today I'm very glad I worked my heart out for Hillary. She somehow always manages to make us feel proud. I'm very fortunate to be part of the movement she brought together. Thank you Heidi for this post and also for being an inspiration for all of us in Hillaryland.

[Bridgeport]

Thank you Heidi for writing about so many us feel when we see Hillary.

[birdgal]

Heidi, Thank you for your wonderful, insightful, and informative posts about Senator Clinton. Yesterday's hearing was awesome, (the portion that I was able to see) and the depth and breath of this woman's knowledge is absolutely breathtaking. She should be taking the oath of office the 20th of January.

Thank you for your inspiration and hard work for Senator Clinton and all women. The 51 percent project has promise.

[TheRealKim]

Wonderful post Heidi. Just watching Hillary yesterday made me proud to be a woman.

[Normita]

Thank you, Heidi. For many months the hillaryvillagers were in sorrowful state. Now we enter the state of joyfulness. Watching a little of Senator Clinton's confirmation hearing reinforced my belief that this is her and our country's destiny. She is the ONE destined with the courage, intelligence and all the qualities you enumerated to bring peace and harmony between people around the globe. I will always pray that she be safe and wish her a fruitful journey. The glorious day will come when she ascends to be our POTUS.

[MWhite]

This woman has such strength and your words have really captured it. Thank you.