Hillary Rodham Clinton

Written and narrated by Bettina Gregory, this episode from A&E's Biography series charts the rise and rise of Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, a small-town Illinois girl who would eventually become the President of the United States (along with a guy named Bill). While not a total whitewash job (there is mention of a certain commodities trading investment that appreciated very handsomely in one year, and a certain real-estate deal that continues to nag at the tailcoats of the first couple, and a certain propensity on the part of Hillary's lesser half to dally with members of the fairer sex to whom he is not betrothed), Hillary Rodham Clinton is not a hard-hitting critical appraisal. Yet, even if the program neglects to delve into relations between the First Lady and White House staff, or, for that matter, doesn't give her enough credit for her exceptional political prowess, viewers will still get a good encapsulated summary of her days at Wellesley, her role in Clinton's gubernatorial and Presidential campaigns, her noted work for the Children's Defense Fund, and her present efforts on the issue of health care reform. Interviewees include her brother Hugh Rodham, her friend actress Mary Steenburgen, and former campaign advisor Betsey Wright (whose remarks in the May 30, 1994 New Yorker article "Hillary the Pol"--which, unlike this video, does get beneath the surface--caused a bit of a stir). Regardless of the political depth of this profile, the fact remains that Hillary Rodham Clinton is a strong female role model in an era where role models of either sex are in short supply. Young girls will find inspiration--and rightfully so--in her story. Recommended. (R. Pitman)