Bill Clinton in Hard Choices, by Hillary Clinton

On Principles & Values: America comes through every fire a little stronger

In 2012, my husband addressed the Democratic National Convention and formally nominated the President, while I was across the Pacific in tiny Timor-Leste. It had been sixteen years since Bill's last campaign, but he still loved the excitement of a great political moment. Like a country lawyer laying out the facts for a jury, he explained how deeply damaged our economy and global standing had been in 2009 and how the Obama Administration had begun turning things around. At the end of his speech he addressed the question of American decline and renewal: "For more than 200 years, through every crisis, we've always come back," he said. "People have predicted our demise ever since George Washington was criticized for being a mediocre surveyor with a bad set of wooden false teeth. And so far, every single person that's bet against America has lost money because we always come back. We come through every fire a little stronger and a little better." Source: Epilogue to Hard Choices, by Hillary Clinton Apr 10, 2015

On Principles & Values: Tears when grandchild born; carries her around home

Bill and I heard we were going to be grandparents. On September 26, 2014, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky made her grand entrance. Chelsea emerged, exhausted but glowing. Bill and I followed the proud parents back into their room. All our pent up nervous energy burst out in laughter and excited whoops, more like a couple of kids than newly-minted grandparents. After a while, Bill and I stepped out into the hallway to let them rest. We sat quietly, holding hands, trying to process the rush of emotions. I looked over and saw a tear in Bill's eye.

In many ways, taking care of a baby has gotten a lot more complicated since we did it more than three decades ago. But some things never change. As I watch Bill carry Charlotte around our house, stopping at nearly every book on the shelf to explain the plot and how much she will enjoy reading it one day, I can't help but remember how he used to walk Chelsea around the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, singing and rocking until she fell asleep.

Source: Epilogue to Hard Choices, by Hillary Clinton Apr 10, 2015

On Foreign Policy: 2009: Rescue mission to North Korea to free 2 US journalists

How to help the imprisoned journalists? We heard that Kim Jong Il would let the women go only if he received a personal visit and request from a high-ranking US delegation. The North Koreans already had a particular visitor in mind: my husband, Bill. It was a surprising request. Kim apparently had had a soft spot for my husband ever since Bill sent a condolence letter after the death of his father Kim Il-sung in 1994. And of course he also wanted the global attention that would come from a rescue mission led by a former President.

More than a few people in the White House argued against the trip. Most were simply reluctant to reward Kim's bad behavior with such a high-profile trip. I thought it was worth trying.

Although it was considered a "private mission," Bill and the small team he would take along were well briefed before departing. After 20 hours on the ground in North Korea and a face-to-face meeting with Kim, he succeeded in winning the journalists' immediate release.

Source: Hard Choices, by Hillary Clinton, p. 55-6 Jun 10, 2014

On Principles & Values: First US President to visit Northern Ireland

When Bill was first elected President, the Troubles in Northern Ireland had been raging for decades. Most Protestants wanted to remain part of the UK, while most Catholics wanted to join with the Republic of Ireland to the south, and long years of violence had left both sides embittered and dug in. Northern Ireland was an island within an island.

In 1995, Bill appointed former Senator George Mitchell as Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Bill became the 1st US President to visit Northern Ireland when he and I traveled to Belfast later that year, and turned on the lights of Belfast's Christmas tree in front of a vast crowd.

I returned to Northern Ireland nearly every year for the rest of the decade and stayed actively involved as a Senator in the years that followed.

Source: Hard Choices, by Hillary Clinton, p.224 Jun 10, 2014

On Principles & Values: Good Friday Agreement ended the Troubles in Northern Ireland

[By 1993], the Troubles in Northern Ireland had been raging for decades. Most Protestants wanted to remain part of the UK, while most Catholics wanted to join the Republic of Ireland to the south. Long years of violence had left both sides embittered and dug in. Northern Ireland was an island within an island.

In 1995, Bill appointed former Sen. George Mitchell as Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Bill became the 1st US President to visit Northern Ireland when he and I traveled to Belfast later that year.

The Good Friday Agreement, which was signed that year and put Northern Ireland on the path toward peace, was a triumph of diplomacy, especially for Bill and George Mitchell, who did so much to bring the parties together. Most of all, though, it was a testament to the courage of the people of Northern Ireland. Implementation would be bumpy, but peace began to bring benefits. Unemployment fell, home values rose, and the number of American companies investing in Northern Ireland increased.

Source: Hard Choices, by Hillary Clinton, p.224-5 Jun 10, 2014

On Principles & Values: Good Friday Agreement ended the Troubles in Northern Ireland

In 1998 I helped organize the Vital Voices Conference of women in Belfast who were pressing for a peace agreement. Their whispers of "Enough!" had become a rallying cry that could no longer be ignored.

The Good Friday Agreement, which was signed that year and put Northern Ireland on the path toward peace, was a triumph of diplomacy, especially for Bill and George Mitchell [appointed by Bill as Special Envoy for Northern Ireland], who did so much to bring the parties together. Most of all, though, it was a testament to the courage of the people of Northern Ireland. Implementation would be bumpy, but peace began to bring benefits. Unemployment fell, home values rose, and the number of American companies investing in Northern Ireland increased.

Source: Hard Choices, by Hillary Clinton, p.224-5 Jun 10, 2014

The above quotations are from Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Bill Clinton. Click here for Bill Clinton on all issues.
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Page last updated: Jun 17, 2015