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MEMORANDUM
TO:
Lissa Muscatine
FROM:
Kathy H. Kim
DATE:
November 4, 1994
RE:
Longterm Planning for the First Lady
Per your request, I have compiled a brief list of places for the First Lady to visit in the
future, places in D.C. as well as locations within reasonable travelling distance. The
following programs and projects represent many of the ideals, values and goals supported by
this administration and of particular interest to the First Lady. Among the visiting options I
have outlined below are places that exemplify volunteerism, individual and collective
responsibility, creating opportunities, community building, public-private cooperation, and
quality health care.
VISITING OPTIONS IN THE D.C. AREA
Friendship Terrace Retirement Community and Martha's Table
Description: Every Monday, 18 volunteer men and women of the Friendship Terrace
Retirement Community gather around their game room tables to make 350 bologna and
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Martha's Table, a downtown soup kitchen.
Recruited by Saint Columba's Episcopal Church, this senior citizen group was
instrumental to the birth of the church's sandwich ministry - Martha's Table in 1985.
And, nine years later, these volunteers remain a very important part of the efforts of
Martha's Table to distribute 6,000 sandwiches a day to children and homeless people.
Specifically, sandwiches from the Friendship Terrace group feed 130 children who come to
Martha's Table for an after-school program of homework and games and 30 children and
mothers in a Family Development Program.
There are about 50 groups throughout the area that also make sandwiches for
Martha's Table, including senior citizens at the Friends Meeting of Washington and students
from private schools such as Georgetown Day School.
Relevance: A visit to Friendship Terrace and to Martha's Table would allow the First
Lady to demonstrate several of her key interests and concerns - individual initiative
displayed in volunteerism, feeding children so that they will have the energy to study and
play, and community responsibility and humanity towards fellow members of society.
Making sandwiches, one day, could be a project the entire First Lady's Office staff
could participate in.
Step Up
Description: On August 31, 1994, the D.C. Department of Public and Assisted
1
Housing began accepting applications for Step Up, a project which provides 75 jobs for poor
tenants.
"Step Up, which has been established in eight other cities nationwide, uses federal
funds designated for housing rehabilitation to train tenants in bricklaying, carpentry, painting,
pipe fitting, hazardous waste abatement, heavy equipment operation and other construction
work while paying them wages." (The Washington Post, October 1994)
Working on major renovation projects at public housing sites, the training will last for
12 months and the tenants will be paid about $10 an hour.
Statistics: By the end of the filing deadline, over 1,000 residents had applied for the
federally funded training program providing only 75 jobs.
There are 24,000 residents living in D.C. public housing and 14,800, or 61.6%, are
female. According to The Washington Post, over 75% of the applicants to Step Up were
female.
Relevance: Step Up is symbolic of this administration's efforts to provide individuals
with the tools and training necessary to improve their own lives. This project not only gives
the unemployed a job and a wage, but it also teaches them a marketable skill for the future.
And the fact that over 1,000 people applied for 75 positions indicates a clear willingness on
the part of the unemployed to assume responsibility for themselves, a willingness unnoticed
by conservatives and Republicans who dismiss the entire poverty class as lazy and hopeless.
Step Up is also a good example of a working partnership between federal and local
government. The project is administered by the D.C. Department of Public and Assisted
Housing and funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Greater Southeast Healthcare System
Description: The Greater Southeast Healthcare System is an innovative health care
system that makes comprehensive, quality care accessible to people in a depressed inner-city
community. The Greater Southeast Healthcare System is two hospitals, three nursing homes,
a physician care network, and over 50 community programs including housing renovation,
children's daycare, stay-in-school programs, adult literacy programs, pharmacies and high
school clinics.
The Greater Southeast Community Hospital is the largest private employer and the
only medical facility in Anacostia, where nearly a quarter of the residents live below the
poverty line and almost half have not graduated from high school. Greater Southeast
Community Hospital is a non-profit hospital whose operating annual profits average $4.5
million. According to Tom Chapman, CEO of Greater Southwest Healthcare System, most of
those profits are put back into the community.
Greater Southeast is different from other conventional health care providers because
they not only treat the physical and mental illnesses of their patients, but they also try to treat
the illnesses of the community, like poverty, illiteracy, drug abuse, and violence. Through
partnerships with churches, schools, community-based organizations, foundations and local
governments, Greater Southeast attempts to go beyond the traditional responsibilities of a
2
health care provider.
Statistics: Anacostia has the highest levels of infant mortality rates, cancer, and
coronary disease in the D.C. area. The Ward 8 neighborhoods, which surround Greater
Southeast, has the city's highest number of pregnant teenagers, the greatest proportion of
premature babies and the largest number of infants who die before their first birthdays.
This community has 25% of the city's children but only 6% of the pediatricians.
While the District has 15 city-run clinics, only one serves Ward 8, where the largest number
of the city's poor children reside. As such, almost 40% of the children treated in the
emergency room at Greater Southwest Community Hospital do not have emergencies.
Relevance: Greater Southwest's community programs focus on prevention and their
hospitals provide the most advanced treatments. Serving children is their top priority. They
don't turn down people who don't have insurance. They make a profit every year. This is a
hospital that should be modeled everywhere. Their motto is "caring enough to try - smart
enough to succeed". This is perfect for the First Lady.
VISITING OPTIONS ON THE EAST COAST
(The following descriptions and definitions are excerpts from a HUD report that has yet to be published.)
The Main Street Market
Description: The Main Street Market is an outdoor, multicultural urban marketplace
which was developed on a vacant commercial parcel of land on Main Street in the heart of
downtown Hartford. Opened in the summer of 1992, the market provides covered and
uncovered vendor stalls for over fifty local artisans, merchants, prepared food vendors, and
farmers.
The Main Street Market project addressed four primary needs in Hartford. 1) To
provide fresh produce and other products to local area residents. 2) To make the products
sold there affordable to low-income groups. 3) To support entrepreneurs engaged in starting
small businesses. 4) To bring together Hartford's diverse population in a central location.
A public-private cooperative effort, including local organizations and individuals,
assisted in leasing the property and constructing the Main Street Market. The City of
Hartford used CDBG¹ funds to lease the property. Local nonprofit and private corporations,
associations, and private businesses provided development and management assistance. Trade
unions donated labor, and local contractors and suppliers donated the materials. A grant from
the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving covered the remaining construction costs.
1
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) provide public support for revitalization of
downtowns and neighborhoods. The program is popular because it balances the need to provide communities
flexibility in spending priorities and, at the same time, to focus spending helping the poor: 70% of activities
must benefit low- and moderate income persons.
3
Relevance: Revitalizing our communities and re-establishing a sense of community are
important administration goals. The Main Street Market in Hartford achieves both goals
through a multiple public-private cooperative effort. The market has a performance stage
which would be a good place for the First Lady to address the ethnically and income diverse
sellers and consumers after she's toured the street.
Joseph House Village
Description: In August 1989, the City of Salisbury, Maryland received a $442,600
State Community Development Block Grant for Joseph House Village, Inc., a nonprofit
organization, to design and construct an emergency and transitional shelter for homeless
persons. This building was Phase I of a proposed six-phase project. After Joseph House
Village raised additional needed funds, construction of the shelter began in March 1991 and
was completed in October 1991. The building has 15 apartments that house 40-45 people,
many of whom are children.
In September 1991, Salisbury was awarded a $20,000 grant for design of Phase II, an
educational/community center that will house day care, health care, job training, and
counseling services. In November 1992, the Maryland State CDBG program awarded another
$494,000 toward construction of the center. Construction is now under way with completion
anticipated in April 1994.
Joseph House Village provides a drug- and alcohol-free environment, health care,
educational opportunities to learn a skill or trade, and day care so that they can work to
attain independence. The project also provides counseling to help people acquire skills in
managing a household, including budgeting, parenting, and drug resistance.
Relevance: Joseph House Village provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to the
homeless problem. Combining compassion with pragmatism, Joseph House Village gives
homeless people the opportunity to change their lives. Many programs target only one aspect
of homelessness, whether it be shelter, food, clothing, counseling, or job training. However,
Joseph House Village addresses the entire situation and attempts to create an environment
where individuals can successfully transition out of homelessness. By empowering
individuals, Joseph House Village is contributing to the administration's goal to help every
American live up to his or her God-given potential.
4
Clinton brother-in-law happily making
and they said, "Good."
his Senate run a family affair
Rodham supports most of Clinton's agenda, notably his
By William E. Gibson
policies on immigration, Cuba, Haiti and health care. He
has differed only on trade policy, opposing the North
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
American Free Trade Agreement.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. While other Democrats run
(EDITORS: STORY CAN TRIM HERE)
away from President Clinton this election year, Hugh Rodham
None of this has brought much money or attention
nearly bowls over the commander-in-chief with a big brotherly
outside the family. Rodham has received no money from the
bear hug.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, headed by
Welcome to Florida, Rodham tells his brother-in-law. Come
Florida Sen. Bob Graham. His main support comes from labor
down any time.
groups who favor his trade policy.
Scorned by pundits, ignored by campaign professionals and
Rodham's embrace of the White House risks alienating
spurned by some fellow Democrats, Rodham has turned to
many voters.
family members to rescue his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
"I did not support Mr. Clinton. I feel like certain
Brother Tony, who married a California senator's daughter,
liberties have been taken by his family, which I strongly
came home to Miami to manage the Rodham campaign.
object to. I suppose this is unfair, but it rubs off on
Big sister Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first lady,
Hillary's brother," said William Fitzgerald, a retired
emerged from gloom at the White House to flash a radiant
Miami businessman leaning toward Mack. "Knowing that this
smile across the South Florida political landscape.
state has been going strongly Republican, this could
Their mother, Dorothy Rodham, has gamely put in
possibly hurt Rodham."
appearances at campaign rallies.
But discouraging words do not deter the underdog
And the president briefly spoke to a poorly attended
candidate.
Rodham rally in Miami.
In booming speeches leavened by self-inflicted fat
Never mind that only 200 people turned up when
jokes, the rotund Rodham defies what he calls ``defeatist
thousands were expected. For Rodham, the moment made his
mentality." He stands by his own goals and by his White
trudging along the campaign trail worthwhile.
House kin.
"It's kind of bound us together in this cause because
"It's not to scold Democrats across the country,"
we've always been very close as a family, and when I get
Rodham said, "but to let them know that there are some of
myself into a fix like this, they always try to come and
us who are not running away from the president, and never
bail me out," the candidate said with a chuckle.
were."
Rodham, 44, has never held public office until now, he
XXX
has never sought public office and be did not vote for
more than a decade. He is the ultimate long-shot outsider
candidate but with White House connections.
When more powerful Florida Democrats shrank from a race
against Republican incumbent Sen. Connie Mack, Rodham
filled the wide void. It's a campaign Rodham expects to
win, defying all conventional wisdom and contrary
evidence.
"I think the message my campaign brings is that if you
believe in ideas, you have the right to run for any
political office, no matter how many rotten things are
said about you," Rodham said.
His ideas include alternative ways to deal with crime
problems, based on his experience with the special Dade
County "Drug Court," which channels first-time
non-violent offenders into rehabilitation instead of
prison.
Rodham helped the needy of Colombia while serving in
the Peace Corps in the early 70s, then went to graduate
school and law school before becoming an assistant public
defender in Dade County.
After registering to vote in Arkansas in 1974, he did
not re-register in Florida until 1991, just before his
brother-in-law was elected president. Rodham said he had
been disgusted with politics during the Reagan era.
``If I had it to do over again, I would have fully
participated in the process," Rodham said.
Democratic leaders tried to dissuade Rodham from fully
participating in the Florida Senate race this year, which
they feared would be a losing cause. Operatives at the
Democratic National Committee showed Rodham poll numbers
indicating could not defeat Mack, who has gathered $2.5
million of campaign cash.
"It's no secret they discouraged him from running,"
said Ken Welf, a Rodham supporter and Democratic
committee
member in Broward County. ``They see the enormous risk of
making that race a litmus test for the administration."
Rodham said the Clintons did not restrain him. ``They
talked to me about it early on, as family members will
discuss problems over the dinner table. I made up my mind,
/73
Women candidates
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5
MOCK QUESTIONS FOR FIRST LADIES' PANEL
1) Why are you so insulated from the press?
2) Why should a First Lady, who is neither elected nor
appointed, be given so much responsibility for an issue as
complex as health care reform? Do you think your involvement and
has contributed to the President's lack of popularity?
3) You call yourself a transitional First Lady. What are you a
transition from and what are you a transition to?
4) Why do people think you're arrogant?
5) Why do you and your husband hang out with so many celebrities
-- in Washington, Hollywood, and even when you're on vacation?
Why don't you buy a house in Arkansas or go on vacation with
ordinary people?
6) How do you want to be remembered in the history books? How do
you think you will be remembered?
7) In light of your busy schedule, how many hours do you spend
each day with Chelsea? How do you balance the demands of
motherhood and your professional work and your job as First Lady?
MOCK QUESTIONS FOR HRC
You often talk about balancing your career and family life.
In light of your busy schedule, it seems that your career
takes precedence over your family, in particular, Chelsea.
How many hours per day do you spend with Chelsea? How often
do the Clinton's sit down to a meal together?
The President put you at the head of the Health Care Task
Force and it failed. How much of that was your
responsibility? How would it have been different if the
President had appointed someone else?
How do you want to be remembered in the history books? How
do you think you will be remembered?
Who really has the brains in the Clinton household, you or
Bill?
DRAFT LETTER FROM MELANNE VERVEER
Dear
In the past few days I've gotten a number of calls from
friends who wondered about a particular quote from the First
Lady's interview with Newsweek magazine. To end any confusion,
I'd like to make clear that Mrs. Clinton has always believed in a
woman's right to choose.
The Newsweek interview explored her personal religious
beliefs and her views on the role of faith in our secular lives.
Although Mrs. Clinton has said she would not choose abortion for
herself, she believes that abortion is a matter of conscience, a
highly personal and private decision that every woman must make
lows
on
for herself. She also believes that by law we must respect the
individual's choice -- whether that means choosing yes or
choosing no. And we must continue to protect the moral authority
of women to make choices for themselves in all facets of their
lives.
Mrs. Clinton hopes that all sides in the debate can work
together to ensure that abortion in our society is safe, rare
and legal.
I also want to stress that the Clinton Administration
remains committed to expanding choices and opportunities for
women on a broader soale. That's why President Clinton has lifted
the gag rule, signed the Family and Medical Leave law, worked
hard to expand women's health research, and encouraged testing of
mifepristone, formerly known as RU-486, which will begin in the
United States this week. I hope you agree that these policies are
what really defines a pro-choice, pro-conscience
Administration.
Cl. Adr.
Zei's not fugh he cor plan not will
Polien provide Cile this are cursis we
of
GALS MEETING 10/26/94
Pro conscience casue that each individe. decide by Themselves
Respect conocience t moral authority 6 women
who make re decision
People have a right to choose yes & choose no
[in Newsweek - word -uroy was The problem ]
By law we mest repeat he indiv consciere of cach
woman
ST/
[control over one's own body ]
Inplicit - oky 6 balter comen, regulate Their bodes,
&
tyranize Thear
Some decisions are so private a to personal That org
The individual can male it
[
Safe, legal, + rose
Its, toyl decision we would hope no One would have L
make -
holect choices of women
twe lifted he say rule]
goes into That decision
R-B - support for fan -p'd 50% in 12 yrs
Reduce abalions
unwanted prep - fam plg.
Milfa Milepristone Pristance [&?] testi aid begin - pon. b/c 6
understand
Clean Adar. - for years banned - homen elsewhere
Next wk study comy out;
statistical leale bth abortin t br. cancer
Women'c researce-
h. cancer
Excerpt of Interview: First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton with WJAR
Radio, 10/24/94
Q. One of the biggest buzz words in America today is "abortion."
And in the article, [Woodward] suggests that you feel that
abortion is wrong, but should not be criminalized, is that
accurate?
That is. Obviously, in some cases, it is a very difficult
decision, and I respect the right of conscience. You know I've
come in my own mind to think about this issue as really pro-
conscience in the sense of trying to change people's attitudes
and feelings so that if a decision is made to choose abortion it
is done only after the most careful soul searching. I think the
issue has become so polarizing and neither side on the divide is
really reflecting what most of us in the great muddled middle
feel, which is that we do not approve, we are not happy about the
number of abortions but cannot imagine what criminalization would
do to women and doctors and just the fabric of our life together
I would like it if we could perhaps call a verbal truce and
for people on all sides to work together to figure out how we
make abortion, in my husband's words, safe and rare, but legal.
- This Adar. committed to expand; choicer for wome
8a1 ml. Fra W.
in all facet
Their his
This wh-
you M give That rese polices
really define whol adas
a truly prochose Ad.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
file:HRC
Soulful Matters
ily, she can trace her roots back via her
Hillary Clinton: In the middle of a crucial and
grandparents' stories to early-19th-century
England and Wales-close to the begin-
bitterly fought political season, the First Lady
nings of the original Methodist movement.
speaks exclusively with NEWSWEEK'S Religion
Her mother taught Sunday school. Though
her father was seldom seen at First United
Editor about her spiritual life
Methodist Church in Park Ridge, Ill.,
where young Hillary grew up. she vividly
BY KENNETH L. WOODWARD
recalls that "he said his prayers kneeling by
ILLARY RODHAM CLINTON HAS
ular press ridicule her spirituality as flaky
his bed every night of his life, until he had
H
been called many things since
New Age blather. All this has taught her a
[his] stroke."
she became the nation's First
"great deal of sympathy" for Christian fun-
The First Lady is a Methodist by choice
Lady. To her fiercest critics she
damentalists. Like them. she believes she
as well as by chance. Of the three Rodham
is a rádical feminist; to her most
has to prove that she isn't a figment of other
children, only Hillary continued to attend
ardent admirers she is a disci-
people' sprejudices.
Sunday services as an adolescent. "She's
plined political operative, an eloquent advo-
Indeed, at one point in the conversation,
really a self-churched woman," says the
cate who needs no notes when speaking. In
the First Lady even submitted to a brief
Rev. Donald Jones, her former youth minis-
softer profile. Mrs. Clinton
examination of her faith:
ter, who developed his privileged suburban
comes across as a well-organ-
"Do you believe in the Fa-
students' social consciences by taking them
ized working mother and her
For her,
ther, Son and Holy Spirit?
to visit migrant workers' children. More
husband's closest confidant. But
"Yes."
than other Protestants, Methodists are still
long before she was a Democrat,
the social
"The atoning death of Jesus?"
imbued with the turn-of-the-century social
a lawyer. or a Clinton, Hillary
"Yes."
gospel, which holds that Christians have
Rodham was a Methodist. And
gospel
"The resurrection of Christ?'
been commissioned to build the Kingdom
that, say those who know her
"Yes."
of God on earth.
now as well as those who knew
is more
The interview was conduct-
As a bright, well-educated woman grow-
her when, is the way the First
ed in the Map Room around a
ing up in the turbulent '60s, Hillary Rod-
Lady is best understood. She
than pious
makeshift folding table that
ham defied that generation's rebellious ste-
thinks like a Methodist, talks
looked like it had just been
reotype. At Wellesley. she continued to
like a Methodist and wants
words
cleared of dishes. The First
attend church. joined the interdenomina-
to reform society just like a
Lady, dressed in black, glanced
tional chapel society and took a year of
well-Sunday-schooled Method-
down often at her hands. For
required Bible study-an experience, she
ist churchwoman should. "I
three months NEWSWEEK had
says, "I'm very grateful for." She also read
am." she told NEWSWEEK in an exclusive
sought an interview about her
interview at the White House last week, "an
religious faith and her aides
old-fashioned Methodist."
were fearful that no matter
In any other place, from almost any other
what she said, Mrs. Clinton
woman, such an admission would be insig-
would be accused of trying to
nificant. Americans want their First Family
manipulate her public image.
to be religious, but not strongly so. As Ron-
She-even hesitated to name her
ald Reagan understood and Jimmy Carter
favorite Bible passages, con-
painfully learned-vague belief firmly held
vinced she'd be misunderstood:
is the most appropriate White House reli-
"If I quote a Bible Scripture,
gion. Politicians may not care and the me-
people are always looking for
dia may scoff, but the Clintons are perhaps
the hidden meaning in it" (page
the most openly religious First Couple this
25). Or, worse, that her words
century has seen. The president is a hymn-
might be turned against her in
humming; sermon-loving, liberal Southern
the latest Rush to judgment.
Baptist who studied under the Jesuits at
Can this Hillary Clinton
Georgetown and feels at home in any kind
be real? Though conservatives
of pew. But Mrs. Clinton is cut from old,
may doubt her religious convic-
less expressive Methodist stock, and these
tions, and liberals wish them
days she feels like a battered woman.Her
away, Hillary Rodham Clinton
public role has diminished; and she being
isras pious as she is political.
blamed for the failure of health-care reform
Methodism, for her, is not just a
in a bitter political season. Meanwhile,
church but an extended family
evangels of the religious right scorn her às a
of faith that defines her hori-
MIKE STEWART SYGMA
Mary Magdalene, while pundits in the sec-
zons. Through her father's fam-
On the same page: Singing hymns in Little Rock in 1978
JOHN FICARA NEWSWEEK
OCTOBER 31. 1994 NEWSWEEK 23
'Hillary
views the
Perhaps, but after two years in the White
House, Mrs. Clinton is showing another
world
side of her Methodist self. The religious
books she reads are mostly by popular
through a
evangelical and spiritual-guidance authors,
like Tony Campolo, Father Henri Nouwen
Methodist
May
130 Traft
and the Rev. Gordon MacDonald, and the
and me
lens.' And, he
light
only religious magazine she sees these busy
days is Christianity Today, an evangelical
weekly. She says she also keeps a copy of
jokes, We
"The Book of Resolutions of the United
Methodist Church" in her private quarters,
know what's
along with the Bible. The two volumes re-
flect her search for religious balance. "I
good for you.'
think that the Methodist Church, for a peri-
od of time, became too socially concerned."
she says, "too involved in the social gospel,
Rev. Donald Jones,
and did not pay enough attention to ques-
former youth
tions of personal salvation and individual
minister
faith. It is, for me, both a question of grace
and of personal commitment."
E. LEE WHITE
N THE WHITE HOUSE FAMILY QUAR-
ters, the ethos is more Methodist than
Baptist. A telltale example: liquor is
With the
d-something a staunch South-
ern Baptist would hesitate to do. But
Clintons in
you have to ask for it, which is the moderate
Methodist way. On Sundays, it's a Method-
the pews, he
ist, not a Baptist, church the First Family
most often attends. And like her mother, 14-
tries to be
year-old Chelsea Clinton is being raised a
Methodist.
'prophetic'
The Methodist ethos extends to politics
as well. The First Lady's speech in April
without
1993 calling for "remodeling society by re-
defining what it means to be a human in the
striking at
20th century" may have startled some lis-
teners, but its ambitious optimism was fully
the
consonant with the Methodists' liberal so-
cial creed. Indeed, Mrs. Clinton's many
president.
speeches defending the universal health-
care coverage resonated with the moral
rhetoric of resolutions adopted by the
Reverend Wogaman,
church's governing General Conference.
Foundry United
Her favorite adjective is a Methodist by-
Methodist Church
word: inclusive. "Hillary views the world
through a Methodist lens," says the Rever-
end Jones, who is still a welcome guest at
JOHN FICARA-NEWSWEEK
the White House. "And we Methodists," he
Motive, a now defunct magazine for col-
was having "as much fun as any good Meth-
adds wryly, "know what's good for you."
lege-age Methodists. "I still have every is-
odist can." Even today, says Jones, "when
If the Kennedy era was Camelot and the
sue they sent me," Mrs. Clinton says. But
Hillary talks it sounds like it comes out of a
Reagan White House a ranchero on the
the issue she remembers best contained an
Methodist Sunday-school lesson."
Potomac, the Clinton presidency-in the
article by a Methodist theologian, Carl Og-
That should be no surprise. In Arkansas,
figure of its formidable First Lady-is
lesby, called "Change or Containment." "It
Mrs. Clinton taught Methodist Sunday
Washington's Methodist Moment. And
was the first thing I had ever read that
school. She also attended church regularly
Methodists have waited a long time for that
challenged the Vietnam War," Mrs. Clin-
and, in the Methodist tradition of favoring lay
moment to arrive. With more members (8.8
gon recalls. Partly because of that war, she
preachers, she spoke often attchurch gather-
million) than the Episcopalians, Presbyteri-
switched from being a Goldwater Republi-
ings on "Why ama United Methodist." Even
ans, Congregationalists and American Bap-
can to a McGovern Democrat. But she re-
her campaign to reform Arkansas's public
tists combined, the United Methodists
mained a devout Methodist. Although the
schools, says the Rev. Clint Burleson, her
dominate mainline American Protestant-
United Methodist Church had by then
former pastor in Little Rock, was "grounded
ism and its chief ecumenical agency, the
dropped most of its traditional taboos
in Methodist social concerns. That's who Hil-
National Council of Churches. But the last
against alcohol and dancing, Hillary was
lary is. She's not a woman who would be in
time the Methodists or the mainline had a
conservative in her social habits. In a letter
harmony with [Methodism's conservative]
political friend in the White House was
to Jones from college, she wrote that she
evangelical movement."
during the Great Society phase of the John-
24 NEWSWEEK OCTOBER 31, 1994
son administration. Jimmy Carter confided
don't think it should be criminalized." She
Generally the First Family slips into the
mostly in fellow Southern Baptists. The
does not follow feminist theology and seems
same pew, three rows down from the front.
Reagan-Bush administrations assiduously
unaware of the upheaval its most radical
off the right center aisle. It's a mixed con-
courted the emergent religious right-and
exponents have created among Methodists
gregation in a mixed urban neighborhood.
ignored what they regarded as the religious
in the name of greater inclusiveness.
As Wogaman proudly points out, young
left, as represented by the mainline
As long as they are in the White House,
singles and married couples usually sit up
churches' liberal Washington lobby. Signif-
the First Family has elected to worship at
front on the far left, gays prefer the far right,
icantly, that lobby is housed on Capitol Hill
Foundry United Methodist Church, less
African-Americans congregate in the cen-
in the Methodist Building.
than a mile away. There they find spiritual
ter and older white congregants-including
Despite what some critics believe, the
support from pastor J. Philip Wogaman, a
Senate Republican leader Robert Dole and
nation's First Lady is not markedly feminist
liberal social-ethics professor who tries, he
his wife, Elizabeth-favor the sections near
in her religion. She thinks abortion is
says, to be "prophetic" in his sermons
the door. Very inclusive. Very Methodist.
"wrong," but, like her husband, she says, "I
"without embarrassing the president."
Very Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Interview: 'I Believe in Prayer'
questions posed by modern
times. I have a great deal of
sympathy for that, and I think
N AN HOURLONG INTER-
and it's very hard to read and
God more in a Father sense.
it is unfair to the great number
view at the White House
for me to fully understand. Or
But that's not exclusive to me.
of people who identify them-
with NEWSWEEK'S Kenneth
the whole Book of James-be-
I don't discount characteris-
selves in such ways-either
L. Woodward, Hillary Rod-
cause I, being a Methodist, am
tics and virtues of the feminine
evangelicals or fundamental-
ham Clinton spoke frankly
big on deeds as well as words.
by saying and thinking that.
ists- to stereotype them. I
about her religious beliefs and
But that is the tradition I grew
think some of their leaders
habits. She was wary, yet ea-
The United Methodist Church is
up in and it is accessible to me,
are, as pharisees have always
ger to clarify her spiritual and
very strong on Inclusive lan-
so I'm more likely to rely on it.
been, willing to manipulate
moral convictions. Excerpts:
people for their own particu-
lar purposes.
You used to attend a Bible-
One of the differences I
study group in Arkansas. Do you
have with some of the denom-
In Washington?
inations is the idea that one's
On rare occasions. But I have
Christianity is sealed at the
continuing contact and conver-
moment that you accept
sations with women both here
Christ as your Savior and be-
and in Arkansas who are part
come in whatever ways are
of an extended prayer or Bible-
open to you a practicing
study group for me. I talk with
Christian. I think that is a nev-
them, or they come here and
er-ending challenge. And I
visit with me. I have a group of
believe that every day I fall
friends who are very faithful in
short of what I should be
their intercessory prayer for
achieving.
the president and me.
At a National Prayer Breakfast,
You really believe In Interces-
Mother Teresa strongly criti-
sory prayer?
JAMES COLBURN-PHOTOREPORTERS
cized countries that accept
I do. I do. And not only do I
The family that prays together
Church bound
abortion. Did you take her criti-
believe in it, I think there is
clsm personally?
increasing evidence of it.
guage for God as both He and
Have you been unfairly Identi-
Well, I talked with her after
There is an interesting hospi-
She. Are you?
fied as New Age?
the speech. And we are going
tal study in which patients of
I'm sort of agnostic when it
Oh, yes.
to help her establish a cen-
comparable medical condition
comes to inclusive language.
ter here.
were prayed for and prayers
I've always thought that lan-
You seem to be an old-fash-
were, apparently, the only dif-
guage was so inadequate to ex-
loned Methodist.
Are you comfortable with
ference that could be discov-
press the mystery and power
That's exactly right
The
schools' distributing condoms?
ered between how the pa-
of God. I mean, use He, use
secular press doesn't know
No, I'm not comfortable with
tients were treated.
She-none of us are capable of
how to talk about religion ex-
that. I would much prefer that
really describing who God is.
cept in stereotypes. I think
every child be given appro-
Do you have a favorite Bible
they've done a great disserv-
priate guidance and discipline
passage?
What about God as Mother as
ice to many people who are in
so that that was never an is-
At this point I am spending a
well as Father?
what is loosely called the reli-
sue. But I also think that it
lot of time thinking about the
I think God is both
I think
gious right I think the people
is a problem that has to be
Sermon on the Mount, and
God is omnipotent and omnis-
who are searching for mean-
addressed in certain parts of
particularly the Beatitudes,
cient. I think that because of
ing and order in their lives are
the country where, for what-
but really Matthew 5, B and 7.
the fact that I am a child of my
naturally going to be trying to
ever reasons, family and
Those three chapters I think
tradition and have developed
have a theology that gives
religion have failed to do
are just filled with challenge
as I have over time, I think of
them answers to difficult
their jobs.
OCTOBER 31, 1994 NEWSWEEK 25
mankgiving Xmas for HRC / Mtg 10/26/94
1
thanks health mtg at White House
4
Violence ?
3
other possible venues ?
4
Care Anthony questions >
3
Nov - Dec. sked.
6
Dec. summit
Letta
- aware 6 Jr. concers
- what nvs-C. said - like to claims what she said
$1-2 not defensive, mild
Melanne; give it Nicole
Chir 1/25/
MAMMOGRAMS
Mother of year Award - April /NYC
1
kick off mama - gram
2
D.C. rates / Mric - trerica - -
GRLS MTO 5/31/95
JULY - AUGUST
Op Eds
Column
Majazine
Radio
PSAs
Process
keep virible
Hersey High School
2 friends - cuolved atomy diff. palas
honoring individual choices
meani 6 friendship
whatever choice you make you can always make
a difference
(kids raiting $$ for Nina Hyde Ch. - also
craining awareness)
Deal JHS
Conflict Resolution
Stats on whener kids mnemiolved in service
Kids not being fairly depicted / Distorted new
Neet to start celebrati kids t Their potential
help them achieve what They can be
"Expectin he best from our kids"
"Honoring our kids"
Honor people you are in relations hips win
GRLS (2)
It's not only a hee froms i Brookge
It's minds , character the
WOMEN/FAMILY ISSUES
A National conversation abt what fame lies need
/
economic
2 values
A counter movement
"
badges/symbols
"It takes a Village"
Common - sease conversations
People den it look at what reg have contal
Gule in their our lives
stave to do it is partnership of family me or been,
community
Loss of energy; too many obstacles
How powerless rese pple feel
Partneship