Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton: on Families & Children

Hillary Clinton: 1970s: “I want to be a voice for America’s children”

Hillary’s experience at CDF inspired her to focus on children’s rights. This was a fledging area of the law, as the rights of children had traditionally been covered by family law. Beginning in the early 1960s, several courts began carving out case law that decreed that children possessed a number of limited legal rights.

Hillary learned that children needed their own advocates when they were victims. A lawyer filed a lawsuit on behalf of a woman who sued the Connecticut Department of Social Services, attempting to overturn its decision that foster parents were not eligible to adopt. Hillary lost the case, but it introduced Hillary to a new calling. “I realized that what I wanted to do with the law was to give voice to children who were not being heard.”

Hillary’s mom, Dorothy Rodham, had overcome deep emotional scars with the unselfish help of caring adults and now Hillary knew she wanted to give this gift too. “I want to be a voice for America’s children,” she declared.

Source: Her Way, by Jeff Gerth & Don Van Natta, p. 42-43 Jun 8, 2007

The above quotations are from Her Way The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton, by Jeff Gerth & Don Van Natta Jr. . Click here for definitions & background information on Families & Children. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Hillary Clinton on Families & Children. Click here for more quotes by Bill Clinton on Families & Children.
*Candidates and political leaders on Families & Children:*
*Incoming Obama Administration:* Pres.:Sen.Barack Obama V.P.:Sen.Joe Biden State:Hillary Clinton Staff:Rahm Emanuel Treas.:Tim Geithner DoD:Robert Gates A.G.:Eric Holder DHS:Janet Napolitano DoC:Bill Richardson	*Outgoing Bush Administration:* Pres.:George Bush V.P.:Dick Cheney A.G.:John Ashcroft(2005) DEA:Asa Hutchinson(2005) USDA:Mike Johanns(2007) EPA:Mike Leavitt HUD:Mel Martinez(2003) State:Colin Powell(2005) State:Condoleezza Rice HHS:Tommy Thompson(2005)	*2008 Presidential contenders:* AIP: Frank McEnulty Constitution: Chuck Baldwin GOP: Sen.John McCain GOP VP: Gov.Sarah Palin Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney Independent: Ralph Nader Liberation: Gloria La Riva Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr NAIP: Amb.Alan Keyes Socialist: Brian Moore
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