By Nichola D. Gutgold
That Hillary Clinton’s name is being placed in nomination at the 2008 Democratic National Convention next week in Denver is the subject of much controversy. “Hillary Haters” are pointing to the ongoing Clinton drama. “Hillary Lovers” are rejoicing that Hillary Clinton is being recognized for her historic presidential bid. I propose a middle ground: While Hillary Clinton’s bid is historic in a multitude of ways—love her or hate her—there is actually precedence for her name to be placed in nomination.
At the Cow Palace in San Francisco on July 15, 1964, Margaret Chase Smith, the reserved Republican Maine Senator who made a bid for the presidency, was greeted with cheers from a reception of supporters who declared: “She is still in the race!” Vermont Senator George Aiken nominated her at the convention, and one admirer noted that “Every woman, Republican and Democrat, owes a debt of gratitude to Margaret Chase Smith because she has opened the door for a woman to serve in the Presidency.” By the end of the convention, Margaret Chase Smith came in second with twenty-seven delegates by the final vote. She offered advice to future candidates when she said, “If I were to run again, I would organize every state and go for the delegates at least two years in advance.”
Eight years later, New York Congresswoman, the “unbought and unbossed” Shirley Chisholm, received 151 of the delegates’ votes at the convention in Miami. She wanted to affect political change with the power of her delegates. At a speech she said: “I’m just so thankful that in spite of the differences of opinions, the differences of ideology, and even sometimes within the women’s movement the differences of approaches, that here we are today at a glorious gathering of women in Miami.”
Fast forward to 2008—and Hillary Clinton will have her name placed in nomination at the Democratic National Convention. This isn’t a sign of weakness on the part of Barack Obama, as some pundits have suggested. Instead, he is honoring her remarkable achievement, recognizing precedence for this, and paying proper tribute to it. In addition, the 18 million votes that Clinton received – more than any other woman vying for the White House – deserves recognition. Remember, she almost won. Almost winning is more than any other woman in American political history. Hillary Clinton is making history and she is supporting the presumptive nominee, Barack Obama. Larry Scanlon, political director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said: "She sought to be the first woman nominated for president. She came up a little short, but she made it easier for the next female candidate to get the brass ring. Many in the Democratic Party would like to celebrate that. I think that they should celebrate that.” Hillary Clinton is not stealing Barack Obama’s thunder, and she isn’t creating divisiveness within the Democratic party. A convention is a celebration and there is much to celebrate about Hillary Clinton’s historic and very successful bid for the presidency.
Indeed, as the first woman in American history to compete so closely for the nomination for president, Hillary Clinton has come closer to shattering the glass ceiling than any woman before her. After eight years in the White House as first lady and senator from New York, she was one of America’s top Democrats and one of the most famous women in the world. Whether you are a “Hillary Lover” or a “Hillary Hater” (we need new terms – how about “Hillary Hover” or “Hillary Later”?), it is undeniable that Hillary Clinton’s bid for the presidency has helped to move women and presidential politics forward. Marian Wright Edelman once remarked: “You cannot be what you cannot see.” Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton’s presidential bids brought to life the belief that in American you can be anything you want to be. A roll call for Senator Clinton at the convention is the final piece of the story that needs to be told at the convention for her achievement to be properly recognized.
Nichola D. Gutgold is author of Paving the Way for Madam President (Lexington Books, 2006,) and Seen and Heard: The Women of Television News (Lexington Books, 2008.) She is at work on a book about the presidential bid of Hillary Clinton.
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