Hillary Clinton biography

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Hillary Clinton has had a long history of public service. Probably best known as the first lady of the United States, she served her country also as a senator from New York and secretary of state.

Clinton was born Oct. 26, 1947.

According to her official biography:

  • She grew up in a middle-class home in suburban Chicago.
  • Daughter of World War II Navy veteran and small-business owner father Hugh and mother Dorothy.
  • After high school graduation in 1965, Hillary attended Wellesley College.
  • She was the first student speaker at the college's commencement ceremony in 1969.
  • Enrolled in Yale Law School, only one of 27 women in her graduating class.
  • Started dating future president Bill Clinton while attending Yale.
  • Worked for Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge, Massachusetts after graduating law school in 1973, according to her official biography at firstladies.org.
  • In 1974, served as a lawyer for congressional committee investigating President Richard Nixon.
  • August 1974, she moved to Arkansas and taught law.
  • Ran legal clinics representing disenfranchised people.
  • Co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
  • Oct. 11, 1975 - Bill and Hillary marry
  • Served as first lady of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1992.
  • Daughter Chelsea was born in 1980.
  • Bill was elected president in 1992, re-elected in 1996.
  • As first lady, she helped create Children's Health Insurance Program, providing health coverage for millions of children.
  • 1995, she led the U.S. delegation to Beijing for the U.S. Fourth World Conference on Women.
  • 2000 - elected senator from New York.
  • Secured $20 billion to help rebuild New York after the 9/11 and got health care for first responders at Ground Zero.
  • 2003 - published memoir "Living History"
  • 2008, launched unsuccessful bid for the White House, losing to President Barack Obama.
  • Nominated by Obama as the 67th Secretary of State. She was the third woman and only first lady to serve in the capacity, according to firstladies.org.
  • 2014 - Granddaughter Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky was born.

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