Everything You Should Know About Hillary Clinton's Family, Beyond Just Bill

Impact

At last week's Republican National Convention, nominee Donald Trump's family made a splash — for better, or for worse. While wife Melania sparked controversy with her speech, sections of which were taken from a 2008 speech from Michelle Obama, daughter Ivanka's remarks represented a high point for the convention which began as a veritable disaster for the Trump campaign. 

While a misstep from a family member won't ruin a candidate's run, the idea, the picture of the all-American family has historically been an important one for the presidency. Here's everything you should know about presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's family — and how they've stood by her side over the course of her robust political career.

Husband Bill Clinton, who served as president from 1993 to 2001, spoke out on Clinton's second presidential run for the first time in April 2015, saying simply, "I'm proud of her."

Bill has since made about 250 appearances for Clinton's campaign, according to the Wall Street Journal, usually appealing to voters by touting not just his wife's lengthy resume but his own accomplishments in the White House.

But while Bill, generally well-liked, may give Clinton a boost in favorability, he's also brought along some heavy baggage with him. Trump has returned Clinton's critiques of his comments on women with reminders of her husband's affair with then-intern Monica Lewinsky, calling Clinton hypocritical for remaining married to him. Clinton has given little weight to these blows, laughing them off at times and making it clear she'd rather discuss campaign platforms than her marriage.

However, other accusations are harder to shrug off. In 1999, Juanita Broaddrick claimed she was sexually assaulted by Bill in '78, during his run for Arkansas governor. At the time, Bill's attorney staunchly denied the accusations and Bill said he had "nothing to add" to his statement. 

However, in January, word of the sexual assault resurfaced when Broaddrick tweeted, "I was 35 years old when Bill Clinton, Ark. Attorney General raped me and Hillary tried to silence me. I am now 73 ... it never goes away." But again, the allegations seemed to be swept under the rug or simply forgotten. 

Still, Bill's record with women may be something Clinton will have to contend with, especially after making his debut as prospective first man? gentleman? on the convention stage. 

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The couple's only child, 36-year-old Chelsea Clinton, has taken over part of the family business. Though she has never dabbled in politics herself, Chelsea is currently the vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, her parents' charity organization, giving speeches and working on the organization's global initiatives.

Chelsea graduated from Stanford University in 2001 with a B.A. in History before going on to the University of Oxford for a master's in international relations and then to Columbia University, where she now teaches, according to her Clinton Foundation bio, for a master's in public health. 

After accumulating three degrees, Chelsea did a stint at NBC as a special correspondent starting in 2011, where she allegedly earned a staggering annual salary of $600,000. At the time, the media criticized Chelsea and NBC for the special treatment, with a Washington Post column calling it an "affront to hard-working broadcast journalists." When Chelsea left the position in 2014, New York Magazine reported that she was leaving her "unbelievably cushy fake job at NBC."

So far, the NBC backlash is the only major controversy Chelsea has been embroiled in, largely maintaining a reputation for being poised and articulate as she's accompanied now both her mother and father on a slew of different campaign trails.

Now married with a husband, investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, and two children —  1-year-old Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky and 1-month old Aidan Clinton Mezvinsky — and based in New York City, rather than Washington D.C., Chelsea's role in her mother's campaign and potential presidency will take a different shape.

She told the Atlantic, "My schedule could follow the geography of primaries," adding, "[But now] my most important geography is being home with my daughter."

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Still, Chelsea stumped for her mother throughout the primaries speaking to Clinton's qualifications and condemning Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. And, at the Democratic National Convention, the Clintons will present themselves as a cohesive family unit, politically seasoned, and satisfying the image of a presidential family with ease.

"My mom has been my hero for my whole life," Chelsea wrote in an article for PopSugar including old photos of she and Clinton. "I remember watching how hard she worked when I was growing up and thinking she could do anything. She's still working hard and she's not done yet."

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