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How's Hillary?
Religion, politics and Jews: An interview with first lady
Hillary Rodham Clinton.
JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER
fter almost an hour of talk- Clintons' lives, she said. Tony and
ing and shaking hands Nicole were married in the White
with hundreds of women House Rose Garden in May 1994
from the National Council and have since had a child, whose
of Jewish Women, first lady brit was attended by the Clinton.
Mrs. Clinton said her brother's
Hillary Rodham Clinton needed
to take a quick break from her marriage has been an opportu-
nity for her family to gain an in-
busy schedule.
Joined by Secret Service creased understanding and
agents and aides, Mrs. Clinton appreciation for Jewish tradi-
was both led and followed by al- tions. "It's been a very happy ex-
most a dozen of them in her
search to find the ladies room.
Such is life when one is
married to the president of the
United States.
Mrs. Clinton was in town
on March 9 as a speaker for
the National Council of Jew-
ish Women's annual conven-
tion held at the Westin Hotel
in Detroit.
In an exclusive interview
with The Jewish News, she
discussed her views on the
Jewish community's tradition
of supporting those in need;
what happens when she
doesn't agree with her hus-
band's policy views; Judaism
in the White House; and what
went through her mind on the
day Yitzhak Rabin was as-
sassinated.
Mrs. Clinton remembers
feeling "horror and immense
sadness" when Israel's prime
minister was murdered last
November.
"We had gotten to know the
prime minister and Leah, and
I had such a personally warm
feeling about both of them,"
she said. "I just was overcome
by how senseless and stupid
an act it was and what a great
loss it would be."
Did the assassination hit Hillary Clinton
closer to home because her doesn't like to perience for us," she
said.
husband is the president?
think about
"I love the chup-
Rabin's
Mrs. Clinton said, "Well,
you know, it's something you assassination. pah. I love the smash-
ing of the glass. I love
can't think about a lot." She
then quickly changed the subject the sense of tradition that reach-
to Mrs. Rabin's recent stay at the es back so many thousands of
White House. Mrs. Rabin was ac- years and has been of such sig-
companied by her son and daugh- nificance not only to the Jewish
ter. "I've been very impressed at people but to Christians and oth-
her courage and dignity," added ers who care about so much of
what we value," she said.
Mrs. Clinton.
Religion plays an important
She also spoke of the marriage
of her brother Tony to Nicole, part in the Clintons' lives. Their
daughter of California Sen. Bar- daughter Chelsea was confirmed
bara Boxer. It's brought an ele- in the Methodist church and con-
ment of Judaism into the tinues to attend Sunday school.
A
She belongs to the church youth
group as well.
"Our spiritual beliefs are very
important to us as a family," Mrs.
Clinton said. "We also read Bible
stories to Chelsea from both the
Old and the New Testament.
"I feel very strongly that reli-
gion does have a place in what is
the public life of our country,
whether it's schools or any oth-
er public activity," said Mrs. Clin-
ton. But there are guidelines
about religious activity in schools,
she said.
"The lines that are drawn in
the guidelines are the right guide-
lines and should not be breach-
ed," she said. "You cannot permit
sectarian prayer to be put into
place. You have to be vigilant al-
ways in protecting the rights of
every child in school."
During the interview, Mrs.
Clinton was poised, relaxed and
friendly. Unlike many public fig-
ures who seem to make a prac-
HILLARY page 26
Candidates Talk,
But Not On Israel
JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER
S
teve Mitchell said it's
typical for a primary.
And he does not fore-
see any changes for
the general election, either.
Mr. Mitchell, chairman
of Mitchell Research and
Communication, is talking
about the absence of dis-
cussion on foreign policy
and particularly the Middle
East at a time when the fu-
ture of the peace process is
so volatile.
"I don't think there will
be a discussion of foreign af-
fairs," Mr. Mitchell said.
"Generally, elections are
centered around issues that
affect people most: taxes,
the economy and jobs."
Zach Levey, visiting as-
sistant professor of political
science at the University of
Michigan, thinks this could
change after the August
Steve Mitchell: Absence of Middle East talk
convention.
"Just because they are is good for Jews.
saying very little doesn't
of Israel. "Israel is typically a
mean it will not be discussed -bipartisan consensus, so why
between President Clinton and should candidates talk about
the Republican nominee," Mr.
it?"
Levey said. "I think that after
When Israel is attacked, he
the dust settles in the Israeli said, it's not an issue of politics
election, Clinton and the Re - because America will stand by
publican nominee will give at- Israel.
tention to the Middle East."
Mr. Mitchell believes the ab-
Mr. Levey maintains the sence of discussion on foreign
tone of the debate between Mr. policy and specifically Israel is
Clinton and presumably Sen. good for Jewish causes.
Bob Dole will depend upon who
"Thel2st thing we want is to
wins the upcoming election in have a major debate on foreign
Israel "because past adminis- aid because most people oppose
trations in the United States foreign aid. Any debate could
have viewed Labor-led govern- force politicians to start taking
ment in Israel as easier to deal stands they don't want to take.
with than those of the Likud."
"Both Clinton and Dole have
Raymond Tanter, a profes- a strong record on supporting
sor of political science and a re- Israel.
search associate at the Middle
That makes us far better off
East Center at the University because we know where both
of Michigan, is not surprised Clinton and Dole stand."
foreign policy, specifically Is-
In written statements, the
rael, has not been a topic of pri- candidates have made some
mary discussion.
of their views known. Steve
While there may be a lack of Forbes condemned the actions
exchange on Middle East poli- of Hamas. He called for Yassir
cy, Dr. Tanter said it could be Arafat to actively work toward
discussed in the general elec- dismantling the extremist or-
tion.
ganization. He also called for
"It really will not be a polit- the withholding of U.S. loan
ical issue unless Israel starts guarantees and other support
taking controversial actions," for the PLO.
said Dr. Tanter, who is a for-
Sen. Dole said Arafat needs
mer member of the senior staff to do more to crack down on
of the National Security Coun- Palestinian terrorism. He said
cil in the Reagan-Bush White
House and a strong supporter
CANDIDATES page 26