That Someone Like Obama Could Be Elected

I Was Supposed To Be Authoritative, But At The Same Time Had To Be Likeable, A Quality That Is A Bonus, Not A Requirement, For Men In The Same Position.

When I First Started Working In Politics, As A Junior Aide On Walter Mondale's 1984 Presidential Campaign, It Never Occurred To Me That I Would One Day Work In The White House. There Were Plenty Of Women Among The Volunteers Who Stuffed Envelopes And Walked Precincts. But There Were Fewer And Fewer On Each Successive Level Of Influence And Access.

I Am Endlessly Fascinated That Playing Football Is Considered A Training Ground For Leadership, But Raising Children Isn't. Hey, It Made Me A Better Leader: You Have To Take A Lot Of People's Needs Into Account; You Have To Look Down The Road. Trying To Negotiate Getting A Couple Of Kids To Watch The Same Tv Show Requires Serious Diplomacy.

When I Joined Bill Clinton's Start-up Presidential Campaign In 1991, I Was Confident That Women Would Play An Ever More Important Role, But I Never Gave A Minute's Thought To What Would Happen If We Won. When We Did - And I Became The First Woman To Serve As White House Press Secretary - It Changed My Life. But It Didn't Change The World.

There Are People In The Public Sector With A Range Of Experiences That Have No Equivalent In Business, But Are Essential To Governing, Like Keeping A Kid In School Or Helping Someone Get And Hold A Job. The Value Of Those Skills Can't Easily Be Measured Against A Bottom Line.