Hillary Clinton: As I know her – I

I first met, albeit briefly, Hillary Clinton at Islamabad College for Girls (ICG) in Islamabad. She was visiting Pakistan as the First Lady of the United States. She delivered a really thought-provoking lecture before an audience comprising students and faculty of ICG. Accompanied by Lady-Minister-in-Waiting Begum Shehnaz Wazir Ali she was attired in blue jacket and skirt with matching stockings. She was also wearing a scarf. Hillary spoke with all the confidence at her command and deep knowledge of South Asian socio-economic issues. The focal point of her speech remained higher education for girls and emancipation of women in the Pakistani society.

I recorded for PTV a few comments of her about her first visit to Pakistan. Her comments showed that her conduct is guided by deep ethics. She was polite and serious. She never made a single un-meaningful and out-of-context comment on any subject. Concluding my recording, I told her: “I am impressed and influenced by First Lady’s highly sophisticated conduct. The First Lady I offer my gratitude to you for your precious comments.” A beaming Hillary Rodham Clinton replied “thank you”.

To understand the mind of Hillary Clinton one has to read some of her books including ‘It Takes a Village’, ‘Unique Voice’, ‘An Invitation to the White House’, ‘Living History’, ‘Celebrating Change’, and ‘Women on the Frontlines of Peace’.

It Takes a Village is one of the most interested books Hillary has authored while she was the First Lady. The theme of the book, at least as perceived from its title, invited opposition from within the United States. A well-known instance of this occurred during the 1996 Presidential election when, during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Republican Party’s Bob Dole said: “… with all due respect, I am here to tell you, it does not take a village to raise a child. It takes a family to raise a child.” She describes herself in her book as a moderate, which is evidenced by a combination of her strong advocacy for government-driven social reforms and her strong commitment to conservative values.

She notes in the book many institutions responsible in some way for raising children, including: direct family, grandparents, neighbours, teachers, ministers, doctors, employers, politicians, nonprofits, faith communities, businesses, and international governmental groups. She focuses on the impact individuals and groups outside the family have, for better or worse, on a child’s well-being, and advocates a society which meets all of a child’s needs.

I travelled to New York while Hillary was contesting for New York’s Senatorship. I called her office for a formal meeting. Her scheduling officer Nina Blackwell told me that the Senator was very busy; she advised me to send her an email. I told Nina Blackwell: “To my knowledge about 363,699 Pakistanis reside in the State of New York alone; if the former First Lady so desires I can help garner support of some of these Pakistanis in her favour”.

“Wait,” Nina said, lifting her landline telephone. She spoke to someone and asked me where I live in New York. I informed her about my address. Then she posed a question to me: “Would you like to join our team?” I did not refuse and left my contact number, address and email ID with Nina’s office.

Hillary demonstrated courage and intelligence during Bill Clinton’s worries on account of his involvement in a sex scandal. A hostile media was repeatedly airing Monica hugging Bill Clinton, statements of Linda Tripp, Monica’s friend who had leaked Bill-Clinton’s conduct with Monica. It was Tripp who had leaked the affair to the Newsweek and some members of the US Congress.

Initially, President Clinton denied all the allegations but later before the deposition, Clinton was asked “Have you ever had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, as that term is defined in Deposition Exhibit 1?” The judge ordered that Clinton be given an opportunity to review the agreed definition. Afterwards, based on the definition created by the Independent Counsel’s Office, Clinton answered, “I have never had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky.”

In December 1998, Clinton’s political party, the Democratic Party, was in the minority in both chambers of Congress. Few Democratic members of Congress, and most in the opposition Republican Party, believed that giving false testimony and allegedly influencing Lewinsky’s testimony were crimes of obstruction of justice and perjury and thus impeachable offences. The House of Representatives voted to issue Articles of Impeachment against him which was followed by a 21-day trial in the Senate.

It remained Hillary’s smart mind that her husband I mean , President Clinton was thereby acquitted of all charges and remained in office. There were attempts to censure the President by the House of Representatives, but those attempts failed. After surmounting crisis of such magnitude Hillary decided to contest New York’s Senatorship.

Thereafter I joined Hillary’s team. On one occasion I met a Pakistani from Lahore, Shahid Khan, a Democrat, but very close to John Kerry. He became a regular friend. Meanwhile, I started attending all the public meetings of Hillary Clinton in different localities of New York. During the same period President General Musharraf paid a visit to the United States. His tour programme surprised everyone there.

One of the staff officers of President Musharraf informally asked me (he had seen my emails and mails from newly elected Senator of New York). “President Musharraf will address a Convention of New York’s Jews. Can you invite Senator Hillary Clinton?” I was very pleased and happy but to my disappointment Hillary Clinton declined the invitation with a plausible excuse. The run-up to the November 2016 election is not that far off.