ABSTRACT
Hillary Rodham Clinton's life has been full of success, but the success has not been without difficulties. As a lawyer, she displayed her legal prowess by maintaining an aggressive and authoritative stand on upholding justice in society. This approach was effective for a lawyer; however, it was deemed disturbing, from the view of the public, in her role as first lady. As first lady, Clinton dealt with conflicting ideals regarding her manner and power in politics. After her husband's two terms as president, Clinton earned a position as a senator and eventually announced, as well as conceded, her candidacy for the 2008 democratic presidential nomination. As she learned to walk the fine line of gender norms, she became the only first lady to serve in the US Cabinet. Clinton breaks cultural barriers, challenges traditional perceptions, and advocates for women. Using rhetorical analysis and Aristotle's notions of ethos and pathos, I examine Clinton's speech announcing her candidacy for president and her address to the Democratic National Convention. I argue that, using a conversational style, she constructs herself as a symbol of progress within society for women and writes her role in history, while she makes America's story her own story.