Book Description
In 1998, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the most admired
woman in America while also becoming the most visibly wronged
wife in the world. Standing by her husband, President Bill
Clinton, as she and the nation learned the truth behind the
Monica Lewinsky scandal, the First Lady assumed two
roles--dutiful spouse and passionate defense attorney--which
she had played on numerous occasions during the course of
their tumultuous yet politically unified relationship.
Now esteemed biographer and journalist Joyce Milton
examines this formidable, fascinating woman, giving probing
insight into the First Lady's character, her values and her
career. In The First Partner, Milton goes behind the
scenes at the Clinton White House and explores the First
Lady's involvement in Travelgate, Filegate, the Health Care
Task Force fiasco and fund-raising for the 1996 presidential
campaign, showing how these controversies grew out of the
tensions in her political partnership with Bill Clinton.
Milton also describes how Mrs. Clinton's defensive reactions
to her husband's chronic infidelities have often misfired and
have sometimes enabled his bad behavior. She examines the
differing psychologies of the President and First Lady, yet
shows that when faced with political accusations, they take a
similar approach of telling only as much of the truth as is
necessary--a reaction that has increasingly gotten them into
trouble.
Meticulously reported and researched, The First Partner
offers keen new understanding of this complex woman who has
infuriated and confounded as many people as she has inspired.
