Tuesday, November 12, 1996
POLITICS:
The role of the first lady in politics changes to reflect
American society, as Hillary Clinton takes on four more yearsBy
Lena Hicks
Daily Bruin Contributor
A week ago today, the country re-elected Bill Clinton as
president of the United States. Wife Hillary Rodham Clinton will
reign for a second term as first lady, and may face the same
criticism targeted at her during the first four years in the White
House.
The critical eye of a nation scrutinized the first lady,
primarily because of her direct involvement in the political game,
something not customarily practiced by the president’s wife.
"I think first ladies are changing as society is changing. It’s
very hard for first ladies to be in the vanguard … to be in the
front on social change. They open themselves up to incredible
attacks," said Barbara Sinclair, UCLA political science
professor.
The position of the first lady is questionable, as some
contemplate over how influential she ought to be in today’s
politics and what she exemplifies of the American woman.
The public knows very little of the interaction between
presidents and their wives, making it difficult to determine how
much influence first ladies possess.
"We don’t know how influential first ladies have been …
because presidents and first ladies won’t discuss what they’ve
talked about in private," Sinclair said.
Although first ladies’ influence is unclear to the average
citizen, others believe that they inevitably provide guidance for
their husbands.
"The wife has always been seen as a counselor for the husband,"
said Mike Mason, an undeclared first-year student. Others agree
that the way in which America looks at their first lady originates
from this traditional standpoint.
"There’s no better indicator than Nancy Reagan. When he (Ronald)
would take the podium, she would look up at him as if he were a god
… she had this adoring look," Sinclair said.
Maryam Baqi, a second-year women’s studies student agreed,
saying that when Americans turns to their first lady, they expect
to see a traditional woman who will stand by her husband, holding
back her opinions.
Hillary Clinton has repeatedly made public her own agenda,
including a revitalized health care plan, an ambition some rate
significantly higher than the goals of past first ladies.
"Look at Jackie Kennedy. She redecorated the White House. What
does that have to do with social issues?" Baqi said.
Sinclair gives recognition to first ladies of the past,
including Edith Bolling Galt Wilson and Eleanor Roosevelt.
"There was Mrs. Wilson who ran the White House when President
Wilson was incapacitated. The best known example for influential
first ladies was Eleanor Roosevelt, who played a much more public
role than first ladies had played before that," said Sinclair, who
feels that Hillary Clinton has the qualifications to play an
influential first lady, even in the face of criticism.
"You have someone here who has the background and expertise in
public policy, so you’d expect her to be influential," she said. "I
think the fact that so many people were uncomfortable about her
being visibly influential shows that we haven’t come to terms with
the changing role of women in society."
Although Hillary Clinton goes against the conventional roles of
the first lady, many feel that she exemplifies what defines today’s
woman. Individuality is a key factor in this representation of the
woman.
"I think the vast majority view her (Hillary) as a separate
individual from her husband. I think that’s what she’s done most
for women," Mason said.
Hillary Rodham Clinton chooses to keep her maiden name,
something easily attributed to her independent female personage.
But some say this choice isn’t so revolutionary.
"I think its very common for women of Hillary’s generation …
it’s quite common to hyphenate the last name," said UCLA sociology
professor Ruth Milkman.
Clinton faced a dilemma over solely keeping her maiden name.
After Bill Clinton’s loss in his first re-election race for
Arkansas governor, the couple decided that Hillary take on the
Clinton name.
"After that loss, certainly the Clintons and their advisers
agreed that she take his name … that Arkansas wasn’t ready for
that," Sinclair said.
But others feel that Clinton’s qualities of assertiveness and
independence exist in many females, therefore reducing Clinton from
playing the role model of American women.
"She’s a strong, intelligent woman. However, I can find many of
the same characteristics in her that I can find in other women
around me, specifically black women," said second-year English
student Mia Watson, who feels that being a black woman makes her
less likely to consider Hillary Clinton a role model.
"Hillary might be a role model for white women … traditionally
taught to be more passive. Whereas black women are forced to be
stronger, based on where society places them," she said.
First ladies may not exemplify all women, but for some, they
have the capability to influence the vote. Presidential candidates
attract voters based on their positions on certain issues and the
solutions they have to offer. However, some feel that voters base
their choices somewhat on their impressions of a candidate’s
wife.
"I feel that Bill Clinton’s stances were very important in why I
chose him. I think the other percentage was Hillary’s role," Baqi
said.
Sinclair says a candidate’s wife has little or no significance
in voter’s decision making.
"Vice-presidential candidates don’t even matter that much. It’s
very unlikely that the first lady would be a tie breaker," Sinclair
said.
In the 1996 presidential campaign, many noticed the discrepancy
between the behavior of Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Dole.
"A major difference between Hillary and Elizabeth is that
Hillary takes chances. Elizabeth plays it safe," Baqi said. "Bob
Dole considers her to be a ‘sensible feminist,’ someone who doesn’t
threaten everyone. But she threatens a woman’s autonomy and not the
Republican party," she said.
Others do not see a drastic differences between Hillary Clinton
and Elizabeth Dole, although they believe that the two women have
opposite styles of presentation  and that Dole may have just
concealed her real identity for the sake of the campaign.
"The difference is more image than reality. They both have
distinguished careers. Elizabeth projects this ‘stand by your man’
image that is much different than Hillary’s," Milkman said.
Today, Hillary Rodham Clinton uses both her maiden and married
names. But regardless of the names she chooses to use, many agree
that Hillary Clinton has contradicted traditional views, setting a
new tone in regards to the roles and images of the first lady.
"She is a professional woman in her own right. She comes to the
White House with accomplishments of her own," Sinclair said. "She’s
not simply a supporting actor."
The Associated Press
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses a crowd at Oregon
State University during a campaign rally in Corvallis.