On Friday's The Lead, CNN's Tom Foreman hyped how Hillary Clinton had a "bumpy ride" and a "rough start," as she "opened the door for a lot of first ladies to do a lot of different things." Foreman only vaguely referenced the Whitewater scandal and Vince Foster's suicide as he noted that her role in Bill Clinton's win in 1992 "spurred scrutiny uncommon for a president's spouse — over her ties to the legal profession, a real estate deal — even the suicide of a family friend." An on-screen graphic reenforced this superlative: "Uncommon Scrutiny For An Uncommon First Lady." [video below]
Anchor Jake Tapper used Bill Clinton's facing off with Black Lives Matter protesters on Thursday as a jumping off point to preview the upcoming episode of CNN's series, Race For The White House, which is on "Bill Clinton's wild ride to the White House." He added that the incident "reminds us of Hillary Clinton's first step on the national stage. It's been 16 years since she last occupied the White House as first lady."
Tapper introduced Foreman by touting how the Illinois native "really changed the rule book for first ladies." The CNN journalist underlined that Mrs. Clinton "absolutely opened the door for a lot of first ladies to do a lot of different things; but it was a bumpy ride." He first recounted that "Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign had barely begun, when white-hot rumors of an affair erupted," and contended that "aside from the candidate, no one felt the heat more than his wife. "
Foreman continued by highlighting the former first lady's controversial "stand by your man" and "baked cookies and held teas" remarks while on the campaign trail in 1992. He featured three soundbites from former Hillary Clinton aide Patti Solis Doyle, who did her best to portray her former boss in the best light:
TOM FOREMAN: Even Clinton staffers from back then, like Patti Solis Doyle, say it was a rough start.
PATTI SOLIS DOYLE, FORMER HILLARY CLINTON STAFFER: I think it's really important for people to understand that this was the first time that she was under the glare of the media, ever — you know? And that's hard for anybody.
Later in the segment, the correspondent zeroed in on Mrs. Clinton's role in trying to reform health care during her husband's first term: "When she took the lead on health care reform, a firestorm followed....The initiative failed, but the lightning rod stayed; and first impressions forged in the long-ago race are still making friends and enemies for Hilary Clinton." He reenforced this last point in the closing statement from his report: "And to this very day...there are plenty of people who knew her then, who knew (sic) her now — some of which remain great, great fans; and others who do not care for her campaign at all."
The full transcript of Tom Foreman's report from CNN's The Lead With Jake Tapper on April 8, 2016:
JAKE TAPPER: Interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters, former President Bill Clinton went on something of a tear yesterday in Philadelphia — defending the world as he saw it in 1994 when he signed a crime bill into law — one that many now fault for the over-incarceration of African-Americans.
As it would happen, the next episode of CNN's Race For The White House Sunday night winds through Bill Clinton's wild ride to the White House; and reminds us of Hillary Clinton's first step on the national stage. It's been 16 years since she last occupied the White House as first lady.
Tom Foreman is in Washington. Tom, Clinton really changed the rule book for first ladies.
[CNN Graphic: "Race For The White House: A First Lady Unaccustomed To Playing Second"]
TOM FOREMAN: She absolutely opened the door for a lot of first ladies to do a lot of different things; but it was a bumpy ride, Jake.
FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON (from presidential campaign announcement in 1992): And that is why today I proudly announce my candidacy for president of the United States— (audience cheers and applauds)
FOREMAN (voice-over): Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign had barely begun, when white-hot rumors of an affair erupted. And aside from the candidate, no one felt the heat more than his wife.
B. CLINTON (from interview on CBS's 60 Minutes): You're looking at two people who love each other.
FOREMAN: For many Americans, this was Hillary Clinton's first big moment — just 44 years old on '60 Minutes.'
HILLARY CLINTON (from interview on CBS's 60 Minutes): You know, I'm not sitting here — some little woman standing by my man, like Tammy Wynette. (clip of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man")
FOREMAN: An avalanche of complaints came from Wynette and legions of voters, who felt she was insulting traditional marriage. Then, it happened again just months later.
H. CLINTON: I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but I — what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession, which I entered before my husband was in public life.
PATTI SOLIS DOYLE, FORMER HILLARY CLINTON STAFFER: As soon as it came out of her mouth, we knew — uh, oh! Yeah, she's just offended half of the — half of the women in the country.
[CNN Graphic: "Uncommon Scrutiny For An Uncommon First Lady"]
FOREMAN: Even Clinton staffers from back then, like Patti Solis Doyle, say it was a rough start.
SOLIS DOYLE: I think it's really important for people to understand that this was the first time that she was under the glare of the media, ever — you know? And that's hard for anybody.
FOREMAN: Perhaps, it should have been no surprise. Hilary Clinton played an active role in her husband's bid to unseat the first President Bush; and she wanted a say in White House policy. But after the win, that spurred scrutiny uncommon for a president's spouse — over her ties to the legal profession, a real estate deal — even the suicide of a family friend.
H. CLINTON (from congressional hearing): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
FOREMAN: And when she took the lead on health care reform, a firestorm followed.
H. CLINTON: I have seen firsthand the strengths of our health care system, as well as its frailties.
SOLIS DOYLE: Yes, no other first lady had done this before, but the amount of vitriol towards her did surprise me. I mean, it was — it was visceral. The reaction was visceral.
FOREMAN: The initiative failed, but the lightning rod stayed; and first impressions forged in the long-ago race are still making friends and enemies for Hilary Clinton.
FOREMAN (live): And to this very day, Jake, as you know, there are plenty of people who knew her then, who knew (sic) her now — some of which remain great, great fans; and others who do not care for her campaign at all. Jake?
TAPPER: Tom Foreman, thanks
