Summary
In "What Happened," Hillary Rodham Clinton offers a candid and personal account of her experiences during the 2016 presidential election. From the highs of securing the Democratic nomination to the crushing lows of election night, Clinton takes readers behind the scenes, sharing her thoughts, feelings, and insights into one of the most contentious and consequential elections in American history. She discusses the challenges she faced as the first woman nominated for president by a major party, including the sexism and misogyny she encountered on the campaign trail. Clinton also analyzes the impact of Russian interference, FBI Director James Comey's actions, fake news, and voter suppression on the election's outcome, offering her perspective on how these factors contributed to her loss.
She reflects on the personal toll the campaign and its aftermath took on her, sharing strategies she used to cope with disappointment and find renewed purpose. Beyond the personal, Clinton examines the broader political landscape, including the rise of tribalism and the erosion of trust in institutions. She discusses the challenges Democrats face in competing in a polarized environment, offering recommendations for how the party can rebuild and win future elections. Throughout the book, Clinton emphasizes the importance of perseverance, resilience, love, and kindness, calling for a new politics of meaning and radical empathy to bridge divides and create a more inclusive and just society.
She describes her childhood, her time in law school and Yale Child Study Center, and early influences on her life of public service. Clinton discusses pivotal moments in her marriage to Bill Clinton, emphasizing his support for her career and their partnership. She reflects on the challenges and joys of motherhood, her deep gratitude for her mother, and the love and support of her friends and family. The book is full of small but meaningful moments like this: her meeting with Minister Donnie Hunt, who was reading First Corinthians 13, sparking a campaign mantra "Love Trumps Hate," and conversations with the Mothers of the Movement, who turned grief into activism. Throughout "What Happened," Clinton weaves together personal reflections, political analysis, and policy proposals, offering a candid and thoughtful account of her journey, her vision for America, and a call to action for all citizens to resist, insist, persist, and enlist in the ongoing fight for a better future.