Billary

Ashley Danow
English 101- Political Rhetorics
Lauren H. Matthews
20 November 2008
Billary
For the first time in American history a female candidate had a legitimate chance of winning the highest office in our nations government, the presidency. After her announcement Hillary Clinton attempted to make the transition from first lady to presidential candidate, as the public watched in disbelief at her bold attempts to change America. Hillary transformed herself into a national public figure, threatening the male dominated world of politics. Hillary’s leap into the politics game set to show America that she could do anything the boys could do. Many first ladies, including Laura Bush, Jackie Kennedy, and Nancy Reagan, played a vital role in our nations history, but none of them chose to follow in their husband’s footsteps and run for President. Unlike any presidential candidate before her, Hillary Clinton did not arrive alone; similarly to 1992, the Clinton’s came as a packaged deal, and America could not elect Hillary without former President Bill Clinton close behind. Many voters did not want Bill Clinton for a third unconstitutional term, which served to Hillary’s detriment. Bill played an overall negative affect on Hillary’s campaign because “his presence on the campaign trail cast[s] a shadow on her candidacy ” (Cass). As a female contestant it was difficult for Americans to see her without a male counterpart attached.
On January 20, 1993, Bill Clinton was sworn in as the 42nd president of the United States of America. For eight years Hillary acted like all First Ladies before her, shadowing Bill throughout both his campaign trail and presidency; she stood by his side and supported him as he traveled from state to state supporting all of his ideals and views. The Clinton’s journeyed nationwide as a pair, but in the end only one could hold the title of President of the United States. Americans wondered if the First Gentleman would be able to do the same in 2008.


At this point in American history, Americans were not ready for a female to run the country, but Hillary did everything within her position to learn from all that her husband’s role had to offer. She spoke when necessary and hid in the background when it was Bill’s time to shine in the American spotlight. Despite Hillary’s attempts to gain appeal with the American people she faced similar issues as she did in 1992. Many people found a problem with Hillary’s image, finding her once again to be abrasive and masculine. Weeks before the 1992 election, sources reported that, “now the campaign is keeping Mrs. Clinton on a low-key schedule while strategists try to figure out a way to mend her image problems” (Dowd).
Hillary came off as the powerhouse in their relationship, when Clinton’s team wanted her to appear as the mother and wife instead of the director of both their relationship and the campaign. People feared that, “If Hillary Clinton becomes First Lady, you can expect she will reinvent the role and America will get two in the White House for the price of one” (Dowd). Her dominant nature was a pitfall in the Clinton campaign; Americans feared of the new power she would unintentionally gain throughout her stay in Washington.
Additionally, Bill’s presidency was not only tampered by Hillary’s powerful image, but also by Bill Clinton’s actions during his second term. Between November 1995 and March 1997, Bill Clinton admitted to having sexual relations with intern Monica Lewinsky. Initially, Clinton denied the accusations and his denial became the basis for the impeachment charge of perjury. After this event took place, many Americans could not respect Bill Clinton in the same high standards that he had previously been viewed for all of his economic related accomplishments. The public could never forget the President who had almost been impeached or the woman who stood by his side, Hillary Clinton.

As First Lady, Hillary Clinton behaved differently than those before her; she was the first First Lady to hold a post-graduate degree and to have her own professional career up to the time of entering the White House. Hillary was the first to take up an office in the West Wing of the White House because typically, the First Lady remains in the East Wing. During Bill’s presidency, Hillary behaved more like the President than the first lady. She came into office with specific goals for the White House, while her education and professional career helped foster her success and drive. When voters chose Bill Clinton for the White House, many understood that they would be getting two for the price of one and that the Billary duo would inevitably be elected as co-presidents.
Despite the scandal that came attached with the Clinton name, the family continued on as Hillary Clinton became New York State Senator. The Clinton’s relocated to Chappaqua, NY and managed to overcome the tarnished name that had recently been tagged with “Clinton”. Clinton’s election marked the first time that a first lady ran for a public office and she is also the first female to be elected as a New York State Senator.
While Hillary Clinton held the role of both Senator and former First Lady she continued to go by her full married name: “even in a rush, she still includes her family name when she signs autographs, Hillary Rodham Clinton” (Dowd). Over time Americans have seen the transition from her full name to just Hillary. Clinton chose to eliminate the baggage that her last name carried as she progressed in politics. By removing her last name from campaigns, Hillary transformed herself into somewhat of a celebrity embracing the one name title like other powerful females including, “Madonna” and “Beyonce”.
She attempted to offer Americans a new perspective of an old politician. Without her last name attached, Hillary could be seen as a female politician rather than a First Lady running as a politician. No matter how Hillary attempted to alter her image, she will forever be attached to our 42nd President, Bill Clinton.
On January 20, 2007, exactly fourteen years after her husband was sworn into office, Hillary declared that she planned to run for President of the United States during the 2008 election. Very few Americans were shocked to hear the news that she intended to partake in the race to the Oval Office. Hillary ran against her greatest Democratic competitors, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John Edwards. Much like the 1992 campaign, the Clinton’s arrived in Washington as a package but much to their dismay, Americans weren’t ready for a third Clinton term.

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As soon as Clinton entered the race, the public once again witnessed the headstrong female that so few had forgotten. Hillary’s strong personality appeared even bolder with every step that she made closer to the White House. Americans looked at this female candidate as a woman without feelings instead of the loyal wife of former President Bill Clinton. Fortunately for her during her husbands campaign, Clinton’s team kept her unattractive characteristics out of the spotlight, but while she ran for President the media targeted every move she made. Hillary’s campaign was inevitably a lose- lose situation. Fans of Bill saw her inadequate in comparison and people in opposition to the Clintons did not want to recreate 1992 to 2000. While Clinton tried to keep her campaign focused on her views and goals for the future the media could not help but remind Americans of her past terms in the White House.

On Hillary’s first presidential outing to New Hampshire, she decided it best to travel without her husband. Even though Bill was not standing by her side, she managed to mention his name “at least eight times on Saturday” (Healy). Hillary related his heart surgeries to health care plans and continued to talk about their battle against Republicans stating, “Bill and I have beaten them before, and we will again”(Healy). Americans must wonder, why is Hillary constantly referring back to her husband’s accomplishments when she is also trying to create an independent name for herself? The answer is simple; she knew that her husband had a very strong fan base as a “celebrity” and wanted to try to attract those same voters to her campaign. Clinton understood that people remembered the positive times of her husband’s presidency and tried to use that as a reflection of her hopeful democratic nomination. Unfortunately Hillary’s plan didn’t go as well as she had hoped.
Like Hillary initially believed, many Americans were happy to see the Clinton family back in action.
With a looming economic crisis ahead, Americans felt relieved to see that the man who created so many jobs and economic success stories could possibly have the chance to move back into the White House. This time around, Americans would not have the chance to have Bill behind the Oval office desk; instead it would be Hillary’s turn to take command. Bill Clinton constantly overshadowed Hillary throughout the entire primary season because of the wide array of his accomplishments in our nation. Additionally, his skills as a public speaker have proved to trump Hillary’s nagging voice each time she addresses the nation. When males hear Hillary, they immediately think of their wives asking them to take out the trash while Bill is just a friend they could share a beer with.
Bill Clinton’s presence continues to remind Americans of a stable time in our nations past and many find trust in that comfortable memory. Unfortunately, her campaign appeared to be more of a VH1 special of “I Love the 90’s” instead of an outlook towards the 21st century. People were inclined to reminisce about their first experience in the White House and compare those memories to their hopes and doubts of the future. It would be impossible for Americans to see past the Golden Age of the Clintons, because the present that we live in is a post September 11th world tampered by the President Bush administration.
Although Bill’s popularity was apparent, many were also afraid to see Bill Clinton back in office. Clinton’s campaign team blames Bill for his aggressive campaigning that scared many voters. Due to his presence she was seen as a “symbol of the past rather than an agent of change”’ (Novak). While running against Barack Obama, who symbolized CHANGE, Clinton’s husband appeared as an anchor holding her down. Hillary could not move forward when many American voters were stuck in the past. At times Obama questioned which Clinton he was running against and once again Hillary’s name was forgotten as Bill Clinton overshadowed her presence: “Sometimes I don’t know who I’m running against”(Obama).
Hillary waited so long for the opportunity to take office and her husband ruined any chance that she potentially could have had.
During Hillary’s campaign trail, there were many incidents when Bill Clinton would have been more helpful if he remained on the sidelines. When interviewed by Barbara Walters, Bill made the mistake of stating that his wife would be a perfectly suitable second choice for President. He initially reflected on a third term for himself and stated that Hillary would be the “next best thing” for America. Many of Bill’s actions only gratify his need for attention from audiences and the press; neither of these things is favorable for Hillary Clinton. It was Hillary’s turn to stay in the White House and she ultimately chose to keep Bill at a distance.
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As a result, Hillary did not win the Democratic nomination and Obama continued on to claim the nomination for both the Democratic Party and the President of the United States. But, when it came to Obama choosing a vice president, things were not so simple. Obama wanted to choose a candidate that did not come with baggage and Hillary could not fulfill this simple requirement. Obama did not want to risk the packaged deal that the Clintons came in. If he chose Hillary as his Vice President, Obama knew that Bill would not be a quiet spouse when the term began. Bill would be the roommate in the White House that was both unexpected and uninvited. Bill’s current negative image also played a factor in Obama’s decision making; Bill Clinton’s negative image with the media has made him an unfavorable choice for first gentleman or any position within the White House. He made racial slurs and remarks that refrained Obama from choosing Hillary as his second in command.
After the election was through, Obama reconsidered Hillary’s role in his cabinet. Bill did compromise some of the values of Obama’s platform but Hillary’s current role in America would help to attract Americans and conveniently foster a positive future for the country. Obama chose Hillary to be his Secretary of State, but it was not a simple decision. Obama looked past Bill Clinton’s foreign relations and remembered that he was choosing Hillary not Billary. Luckily, her husband did not cast a shadow over Obama’s choice but if she plans to hold a strong role in the cabinet, she will need to keep Bill at home while she heads off to work each morning. Hillary is hard working, smart on policy, willing to learn and an international celebrity beloved around the world. On her own, Hillary has the potential to do a great job, but she never is on her own. With Hillary, you always get Bill.
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After all the Clintons went through in 2008, Hillary finally has something to show for all of her hard work. She did not receive the title that she initially planned to achieve but in the end, she will have a hand in our nation for the next four years. Working under Obama may be difficult for such a strong willed woman but hopefully her position will help her to achieve future successes. Her husband Bill Clinton played a very negative role in her campaign, but she overcame all of the damage that he created and after a long journey, she will have a seat in the 2009 White House.
Bill Clinton was in many ways a great president, although his scandals and dishonesty marred much good work. Post presidency, Clinton changed himself as a global do-gooder - only to tarnish his own name during his wife's campaign. Perhaps Obama is the one person who can control this former president with a negative outlook towards the future. But that's some serious change to believe in.