Hillary Clinton: From the White House kitchen to presidential candidate

(Baonghean) - Amidst the increasingly intense race for the White House, Hillary Clinton, the only female presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, is receiving significant attention from the public, especially from her Republican opponents. This past week, she faced a series of new challenges, testing the mettle of the former US Secretary of State. From First Lady, Secretary of State, and now a leading candidate for the highest office in the United States, will her current performance be enough for her to ascend to the podium of glory?

Turning point

On January 17, 1993, Bill Clinton officially took office as President, while Hillary Clinton became the first First Lady of the United States with a postgraduate degree. This was also the moment when Clinton clearly understood her family's political path and began to transform herself.

Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, celebrate her victory in the 1992 US presidential election. Photo: Reuters

She shed her maiden name, began wearing makeup, removed her thick glasses, and invested in new relationships. She also spent time reading biographies of the 43 first ladies in history to feel more confident as she made her way from Little Rock to the White House. With her success in reforming education in Arkansas, Hillary was tasked by her husband, President Bill Clinton, with reforming the healthcare system nationwide.

However, things didn't go as smoothly as the Clintons had hoped. On the night of November 8, 1994, in the small kitchen on the second floor of the White House, Hillary stared at the television screen. The then 47-year-old First Lady sat with her husband and daughter, listening to the news reports announcing that the Republican Party had surged ahead, won overwhelmingly, and would take over Congress.

Confused, anxious, and filled with sadness and disappointment, Clinton understood that her efforts to reform the healthcare system had failed. Adding to this the troubles of the Whitewater estate scandal, the Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat.

1994 became a dark year for the Clintons and the Democratic Party. However, from a different perspective, Republican strategist Joe Brettell argues, "If anyone wants to see the rise of a modern Hillary, it was 1994!"

Later, in her memoir, Barbara Bush, wife of George Bush Sr., wrote, “Hillary Rodham Clinton certainly played a significant role in her husband’s decision-making process. She seemed to become increasingly powerful in both roles.” And it seems all of this actually happened when, on January 20, 1997, Hillary, along with her husband and daughter, attended his inauguration for his second term as President of the United States.

Embark on a challenge.

After years of being a strong support system for her husband, Clinton began to take an independent career and achieved her first success by becoming a Senator representing New York in 2000. In 2006, she was re-elected to represent New York in the Senate for another term.

With a larger goal in mind, on January 27, 2007, Hillary Clinton officially announced her campaign for the US presidency. Before becoming president, she served as US Secretary of State from 2009. However, in 2013, after testifying before Congress regarding the attack on the US Embassy in Libya, Hillary Clinton officially ended her term as Secretary of State.

On January 20, 2007, Hillary Clinton declared on the front page of her official campaign website: "Today, Hillary takes her first step on the road to the White House." (Photo: Reuters)

After leaving this important position, Clinton returned to her normal life and did not get involved in politics. However, this was actually a period of quiet reflection as she prepared for a more challenging race: the 2016 US presidential election. As predicted, on April 12, 2015, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton officially announced her candidacy for the US presidency once again.

However, numerous difficulties arose to test the mettle of the former Secretary of State and former First Lady Clinton. These included the scandal involving the use of a private email server and controversies surrounding her family's charitable foundation.

Recently, she also received a lawsuit from the families of two American diplomats killed in the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, four years ago. More recently, this week, there have been rumors about her health and the FBI's release of reports suggesting she may have been involved in the suicide of a White House advisor while she was Secretary of State.

Will the strength and resilience of American women be celebrated?

Always responding with strong statements and counterarguments, Clinton did not disappoint her supporters, demonstrating the unwavering resolve of a seasoned politician. Most recently, Hillary appeared full of energy on Jimmy Kimmel Live—a late-night talk show—to dispel speculation about her health.

Clinton called this a “bizarre tactic” and utterly nonsensical; she also accused candidate Donald Trump of deliberately presenting “another reality” to distract the public from issues that matter most to voters.

Utilizing the media and leveraging celebrities has been an effective strategy for Clinton throughout her campaign. So much so that her opponent, Donald Trump, even commented that the media was "biased" towards Clinton.

Armed with extensive political experience and the strong backing of former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton also knew how to exploit what she considered to be her opponent Donald Trump's "unbreakable weaknesses," such as his flamboyant, impulsive, and unrealistic nature. She consistently emphasized that this was a significant difference between her and the Republican candidate that voters needed to remember.

Hillary Clinton today, having become the sole Democratic nominee. Photo: Getty Image

Meanwhile, regarding candidate Donald Trump, observers believe that the recent complete reshuffling of his campaign leadership shows that he is seeking new "tactics" for the upcoming final stretch of the race. However, it is clear that these "tactics" are unlikely to translate into actual voter ballots.

The question now is whether Hillary Clinton's composure and determination will hold up until the very last minute on November 8th, when Republican candidate and billionaire Donald Trump is by no means a weak opponent. Although recent polls show Clinton's approval rating significantly ahead of Trump's, this doesn't necessarily mean anything.

There are still more than two months to go, and many voters are still undecided. During this time, Mrs. Clinton must assure the public that, if elected, she will not be a "third term" for President Barack Obama. Everything is still ahead. And the public is also awaiting a new historic moment for America this coming November.

Phuong Hoa