The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Hillary's Run

A Conversation with THEN Senator Hillary Clinton

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FIRST APPEARED AS A COVER STORY IN THE NOVEMBER 2006 INSIDE CHAPPAQUA MAGAZINE

Photo by Marianne Campolongo
Photo by Marianne Campolongo

By Grace Bennett

In the midst of planning this “back to school” issue, I sat down with Senator Clinton immediately before she set off as an honored participant and speaker in New Castle’s Memorial Day Parade–an event that has become an annual tradition for the Senator since the Clintons’ move here over three years ago.. Though I gave it the old college try, I failed to entice her to share her plans for the 2008 election. I think I did, however, manage to extract at least a few interesting nuggets, particularly about her experiences as a Chappaqua and Westchester resident (see if you agree), picked her brain on a couple more pressing issues, and ultimately enjoyed the interview at Lange’s despite my concern about any pre-parade hustle and bustle interference. Senator Clinton arrived on time, with support staff and Secret Service agents in tow, to a pre-designated table. She struck me immediately as relaxed and comfortable. Almost instantly and in full view of Girl Scouts, their leaders and assorted other deli customers munching on eggs and bagels, we got down to business…

How would you describe Chappaqua to someone who has never been here before?

Senator Clinton: It is a welcoming small town in the greater New York City metropolitan area with all the advantages of both.

GB: What are some of the advantages to you in living here?

Photo by Marianne Campolongo
Photo by Marianne Campolongo

By Grace Bennett

Senator Clinton: First of all, it’s physically so beautiful and I love the history of it…the fact that it’s been here so long. The people are the number one attraction. We’ve had such a great time since we’ve moved in, getting to know people, getting to spend time with people. We like the convenience of everything around here. We like the fact that we can take long walks just walking out of our house and basically go for miles in all directions. The parks, the arboretum and other places we love to go—the Rockefeller Preserve—all of that is just very convenient and very beautiful.  We eat in the restaurants, we shop in the stores…we’ve just had a great experience.

GB: What are your favorite haunts? Crabtree Kittle House and Le Jardin come to mind, but have there been any new surprises?

Senator Clinton: We like Grappolo’s in addition to the places you mentioned. We are regulars at Lange’s. It’s the first place we came when we moved here. We go to Starbuck’s a lot, Britches*–I adore Phyllis** –and Village Market.  GB: Do you feel your privacy is respected?  Senator Clinton: Very much so. People are friendly but everyone is busy with their own lives, and they’re always nice to us when we see them. We’ve gotten to know some people by just running into them at a restaurant or some other haunt.

GB: You mentioned at the (Chappaqua) School Foundation gala that this is a district generous with funding for extraordinary programs. But you were also careful to add—and I admired that you did—that we can’t forget ordinary programming for other districts. How do you feel living in a community in which there are obviously so many luxuries and people who are so well to do. How do we narrow the gap between a district like Chappaqua and other districts with fewer resources?

Senator Clinton: That’s a really good question. I’ve spent more than 25 years worrying about just that question. I wish every child had the chance to go to school in a place like Chappaqua. I first visited Bell*** in ’99. Whenever I walk into a school, no matter where I am in the country, I always say to the teachers, “Well, how do you like teaching here?” Well, you can get a real earful. Sometimes, it’s not so much by what they say, but by their body language (you know, by how they roll their eyes or shrug). But these teachers said it’s like Camelot, it’s the greatest teaching place. Everybody is so committed to giving the kids the best possible education and we don’t have that in many places in our state.

So, you can look at what Chappaqua offers and say to yourself, “What can we do to try and improve the quality of teaching and the general involvement and support as well as the facilities and curriculums for kids that are not lucky enough to live here. There’s a lot of hard work associated with that…and it does take money. People who say that education is not a question of money are talking about somebody else’s kids. Because people who live here not only pay very high property taxes but also contribute in other ways… that gives even more advantage to their children.

GB:  A lot of people also feel that in a community like Chappaqua, there can be a sense of entitlement around children, with everyone rolling out the red carpet for them. What about “adversity building character”?  How would you suggest parents teach values in an area like this where maybe it’s too much of an easy street?  Can that be a problem?

Senator Clinton:  I can talk about my own experiences. Obviously, Chelsea grew up in circumstances very different from Bill’s or mine, first in the Governor’s Mansion in Arkansas and then in the White House. We worked really hard to avoid that sense of entitlement that can be very corrosive to a child’s understanding of the larger world. And so we would have chores for her to do. We had her involved in charitable programs from a very young age, starting when she was three or four with Secret Santa**** and so many other exposures so that she never took for granted the blessings that she had. She had other experiences during the summers with different kinds of people so we made sure that she just didn’t live in a bubble. I think that’s part of a parent’s challenge when you live in an affluent area…because the world is very different from the wonderful, safe surroundings that we provide for our children growing up in a place like Chappaqua. And I think you owe to to your children to make sure they are respectful to all people, their teachers, their coaches, other adults, but also to people who work inside their homes and who provide services to you.

GB: I understand that you and Bill Clinton gravitate as much as possible to coming home to Chappaqua. Has Chappaqua really in your heart become your home? Do you have a long term commitment to this town? Is Chappaqua going to be your home if you run and if  you win? Could Chappaqua be the hometown of the next president?

Senator Clinton: (Chuckling) I don’t know about that, but I can tell you that when I get home which is often very late, unfortunately, and I sometimes have to leave very early too, I always feel like I am coming home. We feel so fortunate to have found a place that we love—our house—plus a place we love to live that is everything we could have asked for. You know, we didn’t have a house of our own for 20 years because of Bill’s political career and of the fact that his being a governor and a president, obviously you live in very high quality public housing. I think the real challenge for anybody when you make such a big transition is to feel like you are at home and to have a sense of community. Know your neighbors. I just feel that…completely.

GB: Do you get together with your neighbors?

Senator Clinton: We have wonderful neighbors our our street and we have gotten to know all of them. When we first moved in, our first Christmas, we had a very small open house just for our street. We really enjoy the people who live right near us. I’ve been able to run next door with Chelsea for a cup of brown sugar when we were trying to make something.

GB: Does Chelsea have a chance to visit Chappaqua much?

Senator Clinton:  She does. She too have a very busy life with an apartment in the city but she comes as often as she can. She comes for holidays. I’ll be doing a birthday party for my mother who’s turning 87 next week and she’ll be there along with some of our other friends and relatives. We also have two nephews and we try to get each of them to come and spend a week. One of our nephews, Bill’s brother’s son, just loves to spend time in our yard with our dog, this great Labrador. The other loves to go to the zoon. So we do just have a wonderful time using all of the attractions and opportunities that we have because we live in Chappaqua.

GB: OK, now for a darker question. How do you address Indian Point and our safety and security in this area? That’s on everyone’s minds in this town and in other towns in Westchester, and indeed in New York City.

Senator Clinton: It should be. There has been the biggest series of missteps and misinformation for the last five years when obviously attention turned to Indian Point in an every more focused way after September 11. I have remained very involved with it and I have called for many things over the last several years including forcing them to put in new sirens so that they’d have an emergency system that would actually work. Recently, I’ve been calling for an independent safety assessment. There are just too many problems…there are leaks, exposure to workers, problems with evacuation and all the difficulties that have been covered in the press and so I’ve joined with colleagues in both sides of the House…it’s totally bipartisan… in both the House and the Senate to require an independent safety assessment. I’ve asked the chairman (, TK, TK DIAZ); he has agreed in part but not gone as far as I wanted him to go…I’m pushing as hard as possible to get them to live up to the highest possible standards. When I say “them,” I’m not just talking about the company (Entergy), but also NRC (the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) because the NRC is the public regulatory framework that is supposed to be safeguarding our interests.

GB:  I remember you once mentioned how Chappaqua people are ubiquitous. I wanted to see if I can get more of your sentiments about what you meant by that.

Senator Clinton:  They are just very involved. Before I looked at a house in Chappaqua, I had never heard of Chappaqua. It wasn’t 24 hours in the fall of ’99 when we announced that we were buying a house in Chappaqua that people started coming up to me and announcing that they were from Chappaqua, their parents still lived in Chappaqua, or that they had gone to school at Greeley. Suddenly I learned this new word and everyone around me was saying it. But also in way of involvement in the community—both the immediate community here in Chappaqua, in the larger city and then in the state, but even on national and international issues, there’s a lot of concern here. Our churches and synagogues…At our church, The First Methodist Church in Mount Kisco, they sent children and teenagers to help after Katrina…there’s just a whole lot of social consciousness around.

GB: I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask for the residents here…what are some of the factors you’re considering of whether or not you would run (for President)?

Senator Clinton: I just want to do the job I have to the best of my ability and let the future take care if itself when it gets there!

GB: What do you say to the chorus of even liberal voices that say a woman can’t be elected president?

Senator Clinton: I hope that they’re wrong. Whether it’s me or someone else. Because that would be a huge psychological barrier to put up in the lives of half our population and we’ve come too far and women have proven themselves in every walk of life; it would be a shame if suddenly people were reverting to old stereotypes.  Every election is between real people. It’s not between cardboard cut-outs. It’s not between myths—it’s between real people, so it depends upon who those people are and what kind of case they make about what they want to do for our country. I think it would be real unfortunate if people discouraged women from pursuing their ambitions, whatever they are. I mean we’re fighting wars right now in part because freedom is denied to people–and particularly to women and girls.

The Clintons

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By Audrey Mann Cronin

While vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard this summer – our favorite family escape, and often that of the Clintons’ – I read a New York Times editorial by Frank Bruni that asked, “Without Bill and Hill, where would we be?” The piece, “The Thrill of Bill and Hill” explored the enduring appeal of the Clintons, found similarities in the characters in the upcoming political mini-series, “Political Animals,” and posited why the Clintons are always the best story.

It is with this in mind that I offer you the latest news from our always interesting and dedicated public servants, and ever-exuberant neighbors.

Former President Bill Clinton: Bill Clinton Visits Africa

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Africa in July to make on-site visits to projects funded by the William J. Clinton Foundation. Clinton’s multi-billion-dollar foundation funds programs, most of which focus on health, education, sustainable urban growth and the environment, across the continent. In South Africa, which has the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the world, the foundation has negotiated cheaper AIDS drugs, a deal that has resulted in the largest anti-retroviral drug program on the continent. While in South Africa, Clinton and his daughter Chelsea visited Nelson Mandela in his home village of Qunu, on the eve of the anti-apartheid icon’s 94th birthday.

Bill Clinton to Address World’s Young Leaders in Pittsburgh

Former President Bill Clinton will speak in Pittsburgh this fall to deliver the keynote address to the One Young World summit. Clinton will address 1,500 youth leaders in their 20s from more than 190 countries who will gather in the city Oct. 18 to 22. “The inspiration and motivation he can deliver is going to be hugely important for these young leaders,” organization founders David Jones and Kate Robertson said in a prepared statement. “We’re excited about the impact that his presence will have on candidates and delegates everywhere.”

Bill Clinton: Cutting Use of Natural Resources would Help US Economy

Bill Clinton has warned that the US needs to cut its consumption of natural resources if it is to stave off the threats of climate change and rising prices. The former president said the economy of the world’s biggest consumer would recover faster from the recession and financial crises if more effort was made to use resources sustainably.

“We can grow even faster if we use less energy,” said Clinton in a conversation with the Guardian at the Resource 2012 conference in Oxford on Friday evening. “We have studies that show this. All that we need to do is find ways to finance this.”

U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton:
Peace Talks Must Resume, Clinton Says in Israel Visit

Visiting Israel for the first time in nearly two years, with the Palestinian peace process seemingly on perpetual hold, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that “the status quo is unsustainable” and urged leaders from both sides back to negotiations. “We remain focused on the resumption of direct negotiations, since we believe that is the only route to a lasting stable peace,” she said at a late-night news conference after a 14-hour marathon of meetings. “To those who say the timing isn’t right, or the trust just isn’t there, I say peace won’t wait, and the responsibility is on all of us.”

Hillary Clinton Pays Historic Visit to Communist Laos

Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Laos in more than five decades, gauging whether a place the United States pummeled with bombs during the Vietnam War could evolve into a new foothold of American influence in Asia. Clinton met with the communist government’s prime minister and foreign minister in the capital of Vientiane Wednesday, part of a weeklong diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia. The goal is to bolster America’s standing in some of the fastest growing markets of the world, and counter China’s expanding economic, diplomatic and military dominance of the region.

Globe-Hopping Hillary Clinton Breaks Travel Record

If diplomatic achievements were measured by the number of countries visited, Hillary Rodham Clinton would be the most accomplished secretary of state in history. Since becoming secretary of state in 2009, Clinton has logged 351 days on the road, traveled to 102 countries and flown a whopping 843,839 miles, according to the State Department. While some previous secretaries may have flown more miles – mainly due to shuttling back and forth to the Mideast on peace missions – none has visited more nations. Clinton broke that record last month, eclipsing Madeleine Albright’s total of 98, when she traveled to Finland for number 99 and then hit the 100 mark in Latvia.

Freelance writer Audrey Mann Cronin is president of Mann Cronin PR, a marketing, communications and social media consultancy. However, she considers her highest office as the noble leader of the Cronin family. A Chappaqua resident, she has been the enthusiastic recipient of multiple Clinton family handshakes and fuzzy iPhone photos.

At Press Time, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also planning a tour through many countries in the continent of Africa.
See Just Between Us

The Clintons

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By Audrey Mann Cronin

Editor’s Note: We are announcing “Me and the Clintons”–a photo jam of your favorite snapshot with our famous family! Inside Chappaqua invites all residents to submit one photo to editor@insidechappaqua.com and we will include as many as we can in our back to school September/October 2012 edition and on our site, www.insidechappaqua.com. Please include all relevant information about the picture and identify persons from left to right. Thank you in advance.

As we inch closer to the Presidential election, what seems to be on everyone’s mind is, “Will Hillary run for president in 2016?” This month’s “Leader’s Digest” centers around Hillary’s international impact and her many honors, Bill’s return to the campaign trail and Chelsea’s influence on the youth vote. Here is what our esteemed neighbors have been up to…

Former President Bill Clinton: Obama, Bill Clinton Join Forces as Romney-Obama Race Heats Up If case you had any doubts, don’t–Bill Clinton’s fully on board President Barack Obama’s re-election effort. “Barack Obama deserves to be re-elected president of the United States,” the former president said, as he joined the current officeholder at a fundraiser for the Obama re-election campaign. Once a tense rivalry, the relationship between Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton has evolved into a genuine political and policy partnership.

Clinton Endorsement Carries
Candidates to Victory Bill Clinton has had a major impact this primary season with his endorsement carrying candidates to victory. According to Democratic strategist Jef Pollock, “President Clinton can be very effective and remains popular with a broad range of voters who will be key swing groups come November.” Indeed, Clinton is also one of the few politicians who gives his wife a run for her money in the popularity department. A Pew poll from about a year ago (the most recent we could find) showed 67 percent of people viewing the former president favorably, including 27 percent who viewed him very favorably.

Bill Clinton “Happy” if Hillary Runs in 2016 It has been reported that Bill Clinton weighed in on the prospects of his wife Hillary running for president in 2016. In an interview with Good Morning America he said, “It’s entirely up to her. I believe that she’s being absolutely honest with you when she says she doesn’t think she’ll go back into politics. If she comes home and we do this foundation stuff for the rest of our lives, I’ll be happy; if she changes her mind and decides to run, I’ll be happy.”


Dreaming of Hillary in 2016 Hillary Clinton holds the record for being named Gallup’s most admired woman, 16 years to be exact. Her favorability ratings among the general population are in the mid-sixties and among Democrats she has an 86 percent favorability score.

The question now is what is she going to do with this stockpile of good feeling?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has denied that she will seek elected office after stepping down from her current position. More specifically, 
she has denied interest in running for the 2016 Democratic Presidential nomination.

Secretary Hillary Clinton Urges U.N. Pressure on Syria U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called for the U.N. Security Council to adopt an arms embargo and other tough measures against Syria to try to halt 13 months of bloodshed, but she acknowledged such diplomatic actions would likely be vetoed.

Clinton’s comments to Western and Arab diplomats from the so-called “Friends of Syria” group came as the head of the United Nations accused Syrian President Bashar Assad of failing to honor a peace plan that recently went into effect.

Hillary Clinton Honored by TIME On April 24th at Lincoln Center, TIME magazine held a gala honoring its picks for the 100 most Influential People in the World–including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In the TIME issue, each honoree was recognized. In tribute to Hillary, Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, “In a world that is ever more complex, turbulent and dangerous, Secretary Clinton, 64, has made a singular contribution to strengthening this country’s relationships with allies, partners and friends; rallying other countries to join us in dealing with challenges to the global order, from Libya and Iran to the South China Sea; and reaching out to people in scores of countries to demonstrate that America cares about them.”

Chelsea Clinton: Board Member, Clinton Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative. Chelsea Clinton on ‘Change Makers,’ the Youth Vote, and More “Young people should look to politics to be the ‘change makers’ they want to see–by both voting and running,” Chelsea Clinton said in a joint interview with her father after the recent Clinton Global Initiative University meeting.

Now that Chelsea is somewhat of an elder stateswoman at age 32, she said, she sees today’s students looking not only for a way to contribute but to become “change makers” themselves, “I hope that young people will also look to politics as a vehicle to not only have their voices heard, but actually to be the change makers that they want to see. They are disaffected, understandably, but I hope that young people will not only turn out to vote but also run for office.”

Freelance writer Audrey Mann Cronin is president of Mann Cronin PR, a marketing, communications and social media consultancy. However, she considers her highest office as the noble leader of the Cronin family. A Chappaqua resident, she has been the enthusiastic recipient of multiple Clinton family handshakes and fuzzy iPhone photos.

LEADER’S DIGEST: The Clintons

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By Audrey Mann Cronin

With much fanfare, the Clintons moved into Chappaqua near the end of Bill Clinton’s second term as president in 1999. While we have grown somewhat accustomed to our illustrious residents–ready for a hearty handshake at Lange’s Deli or enthusiastic chitchat over lattes at Starbucks –there is still a quiet thrill knowing that the 42nd President of the United States, the Secretary of State and their NBC-correspondent daughter are our neighbors.

From the White House to Old House Lane, life for all three Clintons continues to be newsy and non-stop–full of meaningful contributions and history–making honors and events. Here is what they have been up to in March and April…

The Nobel Peace Prize jury has received 231 nominations for this year’s award. Among the nominees are Microsoft founder Bill Gates, ‘WikiLeaks whistleblower’ Bradley Manning and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Clinton, who has worked on human rights initiatives since leaving the White House, will deliver the keynote speech at the opening-night dinner for the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates being held in Chicago, the first North American city to host the international conference.

Little Rock Airport Renamed to Honor Bill and Hillary Clinton
Travelers flying into Little Rock will now be reminded of Arkansas’ most famous political couple after officials voted to rename the city’s airport after Bill and Hillary Clinton. “We are grateful for this honor and for all that the people of Arkansas have done for us. And we look forward to many happy landings at the airport in the years ahead,” he said in a statement.

Secretary Hillary Clinton Delivers Remarks at the 2012 Women of the World Summit: Conference Highlights the Continued Urgency of Female Solidarity

At the 2012 Women of the World Summit, Hillary Clinton took the opportunity to energize women to stand up for their rights and their voice. She extolled all women to “respect each other, empower all of our citizens and find common ground.” Clinton addressed extremists both abroad and here in the US who attempt to control and marginalize females. The gathering included women of all generations talking about issues that rarely make it into the headlines. Watch her speech: www.youtube.com/watch?v=24TQWybpU9g

Hillary Clinton Launches New Search For Amelia Earhart Plane Wreckage
The disappearance of pilot Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan has remained a puzzling mystery since 1937 when she attempted to fly around the world. Now a re-vamped investigation has the support of none-other than Hillary Clinton.
When Clinton spoke at a recent celebration of Amelia Earhart, she revealed something few people know –that she dreamed of becoming the first female astronaut, “…when I was about 13, I wrote to NASA and asked what I needed to do to try to be an astronaut. And of course, there weren’t any women astronauts, and NASA wrote me back and said there would not be any women astronauts. And I was just crestfallen. But then I realized I couldn’t see very well, and I wasn’t all that athletic, so probably I wouldn’t be the first woman astronaut anyway.”

Chelsea Clinton Participates in an Evening of Muslim-Jewish Understanding

Chelsea Clinton moderated a public dialogue on March 15th at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan featuring two outspoken advocates of building a Muslim-Jewish alliance, Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali. After speaking before an overflowing audience, Clinton told Haaretz, an Israeli news site, “I am honored to have been invited to take part in this event, and to support the work of the rabbi and the imam. I believe deeply in the importance of talking to each other and also in moving beyond conversation to working together.”

NBC Reportedly Will Renew Chelsea Clinton Deal
Chelsea Clinton is set to renew her contract with NBC News, according to multiple reports. The network will extend the 90-day contract for Clinton who provides “Making a Difference” reports on the weekly newsmagazine hosted by Brian Williams.

Freelance writer Audrey Mann Cronin is president of Mann Cronin PR, a marketing, communications and social media consultancy. However, she considers her highest office as the noble leader of the Cronin family. A Chappaqua resident, she has been the enthusiastic recipient of multiple Clinton family handshakes and fuzzy iPhone photos.