Just days before the first
Democratic debate, the Clintons will be celebrating their 40th wedding
anniversary.
Bill and Hillary met in 1970 at Yale
University after multiple encounters in the school’s library. A few days after
meeting, the couple went on their first date.
Hillary Clinton, in a 2003
interview, told ABC News' Barbara Walters their meeting was an "immediate
attraction."
Below are some of the highlights of
their journey from Arkansas to the White House (and possibly the White House
again?) and their relationship over the years -- the good, the bad, the happy
and sad.
The
Proposal
After graduating from law school in
1973, Bill took Hillary on her first trip overseas. The couple vacationed in
England, where Bill proposed on the shores of Ennerdale. Hillary declined the
proposal saying she loved him but needed time. Despite getting a “no” the first
time, Bill proposed again. Once they returned from Europe, Hillary moved to
Arkansas to find a job.
Not having much luck, Hillary
decided to visit her family, and on the way to the airport she fell in love
with a home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. A few weeks later Bill bought the modest
house and asked her to move in with him, hoping she would then agree to marry
him. Hillary finally said yes.
The
Wedding
The soon-to-be Clintons married in
the living room of their new home, on Oct. 11, 1975. The small, intimate
ceremony was attended by 15 guests. After tying the knot, several hundred
friends joined the newlyweds for a backyard reception.
The couple honeymooned in Acapulco,
Mexico courtesy of Hillary’s mother, Dorothy Rodham.
The
Good
In an interview with “BBC Newsnight”
in India, Bill Clinton admitted that the couple made a pact -- a 52-year pact.
“We were married a very long time
when she was always, in effect, deferring to my political career,” Bill Clinton
said in the interview. “I told her when she got elected to the Senate from New
York that she’d given me 26 years, and so I intended to give her 26 years.
Whatever she wanted to do was fine with me. If she wanted to know my opinion, I
would tell her, but she had carte blanche to make whatever decisions she
wanted, and tell me what I was supposed to do about it.”
“I know a lot of people don’t
believe me when I say this, but we’ve had a great life,” Clinton said.
During an emotional interview with
CNN’s Jake Tapper, the former president opened up about his leading lady.
"Whenever I had trouble, she
was a rock in our family," Clinton said. "I trust her with my life,
and have on more than one occasion," he said, describing his wife as
someone who helped him through some of the most trying times of his life.
The
Bad
Days after Bill Clinton admitted to
having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, he gave a speech that
resonated well with the nation.
“Indeed I did have a relationship
with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact it was wrong. I misled
people. Including, even my wife. I deeply regret that,” Clinton said.
Polls following the speech in 1998
indicated that the majority of Americans were willing to accept Clinton, as
reported by ABC News.
The
Happy
A big moment in the Clinton
relationship was when their only daughter, Chelsea gave birth to their only
grandchild, Charlotte on Sept. 27, 2014. The Clintons released a statement that
day, saying they are "blessed, grateful, and so happy to be the
grandparents of a beautiful girl."
Hillary and Bill both tweeted the
day Chelsea announced she was pregnant and Hillary tweeted out a picture with
Charlotte when she was born.
When the former president turned 69
years old in August, Hillary Clinton was out on the campaign trail and missed
her husband’s birthday bash. However, she Tweeted “Happy birthday!” to her
better half and attached an old photo of the two of them.
The
Sad
"The most difficult decisions I
have made in my life were to stay married to Bill and to run for the Senate
from New York,'' Clinton wrote about the Lewinsky affair in "Living
History," her first memoir.
In an interview with ABC News’
Barbara Walters back in 2003, Hillary admitted finding out about her husband's
affair.
"That was probably the worst
moment that I can even imagine anyone going through because what he told me
that morning was that he had not leveled with me or anyone else. He had not
told me the whole truth about what the relationship was," Clinton said.
"And I was furious. I was dumbfounded. I was, you know, just beside myself
with anger and disappointment."
"The jury was really out about
whether the marriage would survive, whether I wanted it to survive,"
Clinton recalled.
During Bill Clinton's first campaign
for president, rumors flew around that Bill Clinton had a mistress, Gennifer
Flowers. Flowers claimed they had a 12-year relationship, Clinton denied it.
In a famous "60 Minutes"
joint-appearance in 1992, Bill Clinton admitted his marriage had problems but
ultimately defended it, "You're looking at two people who love each other.
This is not an arrangement or an understanding. This is a marriage."
Hillary explained: "I'm not
sitting here some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette. I'm
sitting here because I love him and I respect him and I honor what he's been
through and what we've been through together. And you know, if that's not
enough for people, then heck, don't vote for him."
In celebration of 40 years of
marriage through it all -- this one's for you Hillary and Bill.
Source: ABC News
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