Chelsea Clinton, 36, who spent her formative years growing up in the White House while her father served as president, is now a Manhattan philanthropist and mother of two young children.
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She appeared nervous onstage but spoke for roughly 12 minutes, in part about how her mother always made time to read to her and to attend her soccer and softball games and piano and dance recitals despite her busy schedule as first lady.
There was no one better suited for the job.
Remembering her mother’s fight for health care in the ’90s, Chelsea Clinton said that it was tough watching her struggle, but even now, “she never ever forgets who she’s fighting for”. Chelsea wrote in a recent article she contributed to on PopSugar.com.
She also said that her parents raised her knowing how lucky she was to have food on the table and a good education. “Countless Saturdays finding shapes in the clouds”. “That feeling – being valued and loved – that’s something my mom wants for every child”.
Unlike Ivanka Trump, Chelsea has shied from the spotlight despite the celebrity of her parents.
She described her mother as “wonderful” and “hilarious”, and recounted stories about her mother reading “Goodnight Moon” to her. She also described her mother as a devoted grandmother. She has never uttered word about it – except to say “it’s none of your business” – but it is hard to imagine that it hasn’t profoundly shaped the woman she has become. “Every single memory I have of my mom is that, regardless of what was happening in her life, she was always there for me”. But it was also presented through Chelsea’s behind-the-scenes perspective. I hope someday my children will be as proud of me as I am of my mom. It was bruising and exhausting. “Any parent knows your every dream for the future beats in the heart of your child”. But my mom – she was awesome.
Clinton calmly ripped into the Republican National Convention, saying she found most offensive the party’s “open embrace of conversion therapy” – a controversial treatment program meant to change a person’s sexuality. My mom can be about to give a speech or walk on stage for a debate.
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But now, after trying to straddle a delicate balance of her own path and yet still upholding her familial obligations, she has returned to the starring role of political daughter. In earlier decades, these women were mostly the wives of former politicians who had died, taking over their husbands’ roles in what’s called “widow’s succession”.
