Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton is the secretary of state for the Obama administration. She was previously the junior senator from New York and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. From 1993 until 2001, Clinton was the First Lady of the United States during her husband Bill Clinton's two terms as president.

Clinton fractured her elbow on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, after she fell near the White House. She was treated at the George Washington University Hospital. Clinton is expected to undergo surgery in the coming week.

In mid-February 2009, preceding her first foreign tour in Asia as secretary of state, Clinton demanded a "more rigorous and persistent engagement" from Asian leaders than had been seen in the past. Clinton spoke of a broad Asian agenda, ranging from issues in Tibet and China to Myanmar.The New York Times: Clinton Lays Out Broad Asian Agenda

Clinton embarked on her Asia trip on February 16, 2009. She planned to travel to Japan, China, South Korea and Indonesia during the week-long trip to meet with leaders about everything from human rights to the global economic crisis. Of her trip, Clinton said "going to Asia is, for me, a very big part of how we're going to demonstrate the Obama administration's approach to dealing with the multitude of problems that we see, but also the opportunities as well."CNN: Clinton visits Asia to send key message (February 16, 2009)

Speaking in Seoul, Hillary Clinton has warned North Korea that relations with the U.S. will not improve until the country puts aside its plans for nuclear arms and engages in discourse with South Korea.BBC: Clinton urges N Korean dialogue

On January 20, 2007, Hillary Clinton announced her intention to run for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election.

After a long, hotly contested race, she officially ended her campaign on June 7, 2008, in a speech conceding victory to Barack Obama. On August 27, 2008, Clinton ended the roll call vote at the 2008 Democratic Convention and called for public acclamation for the nomination of Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for president of the United States.

Clinton was confirmed as secretary of state by a 94-2 vote in the Senate on January 21, 2009. (Senators Jim DeMint and David Vitter voted against). The confirmation vote had been delayed one day after an objection by Senator John Cornyn, who raised issues concerning foreign donations to Bill Clinton's charitable organization, the Clinton Foundation.State.gov: Hillary Clinton Nomination Hearings To Be Secretary of State

Clinton voted to authorize President George W. Bush to pursue military options in Iraq in 2002. Known as her "war vote," Clinton has faced scrutiny from liberal groups for authorizing the use of force in Iraq.CNN: Hillary Clinton: No regret on Iraq vote (April 21, 2004)

In retrospect, she has said she regrets that her vote allowed Bush to go to war in Iraq, but she maintains that with the information available at the time, her vote was the right one.CNN: Hillary Clinton: No regret on Iraq vote {April 21, 2004)

Hillary Clinton ran for New York's open Senate seat in 2000, setting up residence in Chappaqua, New York. Originally expected to face Rudy Giuliani, Clinton eventually ran against Republican Rick Lazio after Giuliani was forced to drop out of the race while dealing with prostate cancer.The New York Times: Lazio Is Seen Ready To Yield to Giuliani In U.S. Senate Race (August 11, 1999) The Atlantic: Election 2000 Time Capsule (June 7, 2000)

Clinton won the election and was sworn in on January 3, 2001. During her Senate career, Clinton served on five Senate committees, including the Budget and Armed Services committees. After September 11, 2001, Clinton supported the U.S. war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.Senate.gov: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Bill Clinton's sexual indiscretions were the subject of intense media scrutiny and congressional investigation.Times Online: Oral history: The Monica Lewinsky scandal ten years on (January 15, 2008) Hillary Clinton stood by her husband while he was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives for perjury in connection with the investigation into his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton said she was personally hurt by the revelations of her husband's sexual misconduct, but ultimately decided to stand by him.Times Online: Hillary Clinton speaks of her pain and shame at the Monica Lewinsky scandal (January 19, 2008)

The Whitewater Scandal erupted in 1993 when allegations of shady land dealings rocked the Clinton administration. It was alleged that Bill Clinton, while governor of Arkansas, gave an illegal $300,000 loan to Susan McDougal, one of the Clintons' partners on the Whitewater development land deal.CNN: Whitewater started as 'sweetheart' deal (May 6, 1996)

McDougal and her husband were convicted of wrongdoing, but the Clintons were never charged despite a lengthy congressional investigation.CNN: Insufficient evidence to prosecute Clintons in Whitewater probe (September 20, 2000)

Clinton's first major policy push during her time as first lady was chairing the Task Force on National Health Care Reform. Her recommendations became known as the "Clinton Health Care Plan."NFLL: First Lady Biography: Hillary Clinton

Clinton's plan would have required every U.S. citizen and resident to enroll in a qualified health care plan, with people of low income being enrolled in a government program. With strong opposition in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the Clinton health care plan failed to gain enough votes for passage.NFLL: First Lady Biography: Hillary Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton first served as the first lady of Arkansas when husband Bill Clinton became governor, and was first lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001.The White House: Hillary Rodham Clinton

Clinton was the first first lady to hold a post-graduate degree. Looking to play a prominent role in the administration, Clinton took an office in the West Wing of the White House and helped draft plans for health care reform.The White House: Hillary Rodham Clinton

• 1947: Born in Chicago, Illinois on October 26

• 1969: Graduated Wellesley College, BA

• 1973: Graduated Yale Law School, JD

• 1979-1981, 1983-1993: First Lady of Arkansas

• 1993-2001: First Lady of the United States

• 2001: January 3, Elected Senator of New York