Hillary Rodham Clinton, First Lady and United States Senator, 1947-

In 1969, Hillary entered Yale Law School, where she served on the Board of Editors of Yale Law Review and Social Action, interned with children's advocate Marian Wright Edelman, and met William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton. After graduation, Hillary advised the Children's Defense Fund in Cambridge and joined the impeachment inquiry staff advising the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives. Bill and Hillary married in 1975. She also joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas Law School in 1975. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the board of the Legal Services Corporation, and Bill Clinton became governor of Arkansas. Chelsea, their daughter, was born in 1980. Hillary served as Arkansas's First Lady for 12 years, balancing family, law, and public service. She chaired the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee, co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and served on the boards of the Arkansas Children's Hospital, Legal Services, and the Children's Defense Fund. In 1993, her husband (then U.S. President) asked her to chair the Task Force on National Health Care Reform. She continued to be a leading advocate for expanding health insurance coverage, ensuring children are properly immunized, and raising public awareness of health issues. Despite her proposals being voted down, she wrote a weekly newspaper column entitled "Talking It Over," which focused on her experiences as First Lady and her observations of women, children, and families she had met worldwide. Her 1996 book It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us was a best seller, and she received a Grammy Award for her recording of it. As First Lady, her public involvement with many activities sometimes led to controversy. Undeterred by critics, Hillary won many admirers for her strong support for women around the world and her commitment to children's issues. She was elected United States Senator from New York in 2000. Hillary is the first First Lady elected to the United States Senate and the first woman elected statewide in New York. �In many parts of the world, women and girls are especially vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because they lack control over most aspects of their life. Cultural expectations and gender roles expose women and girls to violence, sexual exploitation and far greater risk for infection.� �Research shows the presence of women raises the standards of ethical behavior and lowers corruption.� �In the Bible it says they asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, and he said 70 times 7. Well, I want you all to know that I'm keeping a chart.� - Hillary Clinton

Article by Alexander S

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt and the last known Pharaoh, 69-30 B.C.

Cleopatra was only 17 when she became Queen of Egypt. She reigned as Queen and Pharaoh between 51 and 30 BC, and died at the age of 39. Cleopatra was known as a cunning politician and educated woman for her time, who spoke nine languages. She possessed an impressive intellect dealing in international relations and a grasp of philosophy. During her reign, Egypt became closely aligned with the Roman Empire. In her struggles to win the crown and to protect the freedom of her country, she sought the support of Julius Caesar, who married her and she bore him a son. Thereafter, she gained the protection of Rome through an affair with Mark Anthony, and had three children with him. Cleopatra financed Mark Anthony�s failed military campaigns, and both she and Anthony were defeated in a battle against Octavian in 31 B.C. Cleopatra committed suicide shortly thereafter.

Article By Alexander S

Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, 1519-1589

Catherine de Medici was a born in Florence, Italy into the influential Medici family. In 1533 she married Henri, Duke of Orleans, who later became the French King in 1547. As queen, she brought many forms of Italian culture to France. Catherine gained political power as regent for her sons (she bore 10 children) after her husband�s death. She was an ambitious woman who was actively involved in the political happenings of the court. In the beginning, Catherine attempted to unite France's opposing Catholics and Protestants because their violent disputes threatened national unity. However, with the Protestant massacre of St. Bartholomew in 1570, peace was destroyed, and Catherine was blamed for allowing it to happen.

Article by Alexander S

Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, 1729-1796

Ambitious and intelligent, betrothed Catherine arrived in Russia from Germany in 1744 to marry 16 year-old Grand Duke Peter, heir to the Russian throne. Peter was a weak and unstable ruler and his unpopularity allowed her to depose him and proclaim herself sole ruler of Russia. She took power as Tsarina or Queen, calling herself Catherine II. Soon after, she may have been behind Peter's death. During her reign, Catherine the Great expanded Russia's borders to the Black Sea and into central Europe. She promoted westernization and modernization though within the context of her autocratic control over Russia and increasing the control of landed gentry over serfs. Catherine the Great promoted education and the Enlightenment among the elite. She kept up a correspondence with many figures of the Enlightenment in Europe. Catherine�s goal was to rationalize and reform the administration of the Russian Empire. She undertook a wide range of internal political reforms and led two successful wars against the Ottoman Empire. She supported progressive ideas, such as reforms in education, law and provincial and municipal administration. Catherine was also notorious for her numerous love affairs, which included Gregory Orlov and Gregor Potemkin. Catherine died in 1796 and was succeeded by her son Paul I. �I praise loudly. I blame softly.� - Catherine the Great

Article By Alexsander S

Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan, 1953 -

Benazir Bhutto was born in 1953 the daughter of former Pakistani premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She was educated at Radcliffe College. She temporarily left Radcliffe for New York City in 1971, when India sent troops into East Pakistan (Bangladesh). Her father, as Pakistan's foreign minister, travelled to the United Nations to resolve the issue and Benazir assisted her father. On December 2, 1988 Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman elected to govern a Muslim nation, only to be deposed 20 months later by the President of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan using the 8th Amendment to dissolve the parliament and allowing for re-elections within 90 days. She was re-elected in 1993 but was let go three years later amid corruption rumors by the President of Pakistan, Farooq Leghari.

Article by Alexander S

Susan B. Anthony, United States activist, 1820-1906

In 1872 Susan Anthony did the then unheard of. She demanded that women be given the same civil and political rights that had been extended to black males under the 14th and 15th amendments. She proceeded to lead a group of women to the Rochester polls to test the rights of women voters. She was arrested two weeks later and while waiting for her trial, she went on highly publicized lecture tours. In 1873, she tried to vote again in city elections. After being tried and convicted of violating the voting laws, Susan refused to pay the fine and succeeded in obtaining the right to vote. For the remainder of her life, she campaigned endlessly for a federal woman suffrage amendment through the National Woman Suffrage Association (1869-90) and the National American Woman Suffrage Association (1890-1906). She also lectured extensively throughout the USA. In 1888, she organized the International Council of Women and in 1904 the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. Although Susan did not live to see the results of her efforts to "win the right to vote for women," the establishment of the 19th amendment is largely a result of her relentless efforts. �I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.� - Susan B. Anthony

Article by: Alexander S

Amina, Nigerian Queen, 1533-1610

Queen Bakwa, Amina�s mother, died around 1566 and the reign of Zazzua in Nigeria was passed to her younger brother Karama. Although her mother's reign was known for peace, Amina chose to learn military skills from the warriors. Amina became the leading warrior of teh Zazzua cavalry and her military achievements brought her great wealth and power. When Karama died after a 10-year rule, Amina became queen of Zazzua. Queen Amina headed the northern Nigerian Hausa city-state of Zaria. It is thought that perhaps the Hausa were matrilineal people at that time since having a woman as queen was not all that rare. She began her first military expedition three months after coming to power and continued fighting until her death. During her 34-year reign, she expanded Zazzua to its largest size ever. She is credited with popularizing protective city walls made of mud and ordering the building of a defensive wall around each military camp she established. As time passed, towns grew within these protective walls, many of which are still in existence.

Article by: Alexander S