Chelsea Clinton has always been a special kid.
I met her first at a White House event around St.Patrick's Day in the mid 1990s.
She was a gawky, teenager then, growing pains very evident, but what impressed was her nice easy manner and her ability to make you feel at ease.
The Dad's political magic had rubbed off somewhere.
I remember her mother Hillary saying that Jackie Kennedy had been a great inspiration and source of advice to her on how to bring up Chelsea.
Indeed, when you compare those two poised and successful ladies, Caroline Kennedy and Chelsea Clinton, you can see the similarities.
Chelsea and I next met during one of her father's triumphant trips to Ireland.
I knew she had done her thesis at Stanford on the Irish peace process and was delighted to discuss it with her.
She impressed me with her grasp of the topic.
We agreed it had been one of her father's greatest moments in power when the IRA ceasefire happened after he had taken a huge risk on the Gerry Adams visa.
The next time we met was when her mother was running for senate in New York and was attending our inaugural Irish Voice Top 50 Women.
Before going on we chatted backstage.
It was clear Chelsea was suffering from a haymaker of a cold.
She was in bad shape and her mother was quite worried about her, wanting to cancel the rest of her schedule.
Chelsea insisted she go on however, a steely determination evident that her mother not lose a single opportunity to get her message across on why she was running for senate.
The dynamic between mother and daughter was evident to me that night.
They are quite simply, best friends, who have shared trauma, heartache and thrilling triumph together.
Close staffers told me that Hillary was simply much better on the stump, in much better form, when Chelsea was around. A daughter can share no greater love than that.
The most recent time I met them was during the New Hampshire primary when Hillary was down and out but fighting back like a tigress.
Chelsea, who had seemed nervous and tentative speaking at public events in Iowa suddenly hit her stride too on college campuses and they pulled off a famous victory.
My sense of Chelsea is never to rule out a run at public office for her.
She has a combination of the parent's dynamic populism which could wow crowds in an instant if she ever decided to run.
That is for long in the future.
This week she marries.
If she is half the wife that she is the daughter to Hillary and Bill to her new husband he will be a lucky man indeed
32 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Mairin67 | Aug 07, 2010, 01:41 PM EDT
COngratulations Chelsea. It's so nice to show the world that someone can rise up from poor beginnings (President Clinton), go on to become the most powerful man in the world, then raise a daughter with all the priviledges in the world and she turns out to be an ordinary, lovely, respectful person. Well done!
mayoman | Jul 28, 2010, 01:28 PM EDT
Beautifully put duluthirish. We're all working for the corporations in this country, even if we don't see a paycheck.
irishwxman | Jul 28, 2010, 08:56 AM EDT
It's good to see the left side of the fringe up and about kissing on the collective asses of the Clintons like the rest of the Irishcentral crew. Sure would be nice if Patrick actually did a story on something related to the Irish for once.
maireadinmelb | Jul 28, 2010, 07:26 AM EDT
Compare Chelsea Clinton to other young American Ladies of her generation, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton - Its a pleasure to read something positive for once!
imanirishbuckeye | Jul 28, 2010, 03:25 AM EDT
GOOOO CHELSEA!!! Enjoy your new life as a married woman. You have always been there for your parents. KEEP IRELAND IN YOUR HEART!!!!! GOD willing, one day there will be PEACE in all of IRELAND
DennisQ | Jul 28, 2010, 01:26 AM EDT
It takes some doing to make sympathetic figures out of the Clintons, who are 100% out for themselves. But the frothing-at-the-mouth right wing attack makes victims of both Bill and Hillary. And incidentally, the column is about Chelsea - who has never offended anyone.
nannyannk | Jul 28, 2010, 01:26 AM EDT
nice to hear a positive story about a young woman nowdays. I like her and wish her well!
mcginleynj | Jul 27, 2010, 01:57 PM EDT
Very well said. So true! God bless Chelsea & Her handsome Husband!!!!!!!!!!!!
shania17 | Jul 27, 2010, 09:22 AM EDT
GREAT
NGrandquis | Jul 26, 2010, 08:01 PM EDT
wish I could be there..ho proud they must e
Monsoonman | Jul 26, 2010, 05:52 PM EDT
er, Irishmetereologicalman...the cigars weren't lit.
irishwxman | Jul 26, 2010, 05:44 PM EDT
It was merely reference to one of Bill hobbies as to insert "smoking material" in Monica Lewinsky's "private area".
duluthirish | Jul 26, 2010, 04:45 PM EDT
A few comments. I agree with irishwxman in principle although..yes...his reference to placing smoking material inside one's rear end would be considered uncivil in many circles. It does become very boring to constantly be subjected to the groveling and fawning of mainstream media at the shoes of the latest political cronies(dynasties...oligarchies...you pick it). As far as the utterly useless labeling of politicians as 'liberal" and "progressive"...please wake up. We live under a rapidly maturing state of corporate fascism....the participatory politics ruse is but window dressing for the numb in the United States of Amnesia. Got war anyone?
glorybe1929 | Jul 26, 2010, 02:54 PM EDT
God Bless Chelsea and the whole family and may they have a smooth running wedding etc.,
VAirish | Jul 26, 2010, 02:12 PM EDT
I agree totally with irishwxman. I come on this site to read about Irish/Ireland matters. I get sick of reading about Progressive liberal democrats who happen to have 'some Irish genes' in them, therefore it "belongs in this publication". Nice try. Will remove this link from my computer.
VAirish | Jul 26, 2010, 02:10 PM EDT
Have never seen such drooling in a newspaper/media article. My screen is dripping from the authors kool aid.
irishwxman | Jul 26, 2010, 12:49 PM EDT
Not only is Bill a pervert, he made history as being only the second president in US history to be impeached.
jdi2269 | Jul 26, 2010, 12:21 PM EDT
WHAT REAL CHANCE DOES SHE HAVE? SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF A PERVERT AND SHE IS MARRYING THE SON OF A CONVICTED FELON!!!!!!!!!
irishwxman | Jul 26, 2010, 11:55 AM EDT
Civil? How was I not civil? I really want to know how this relates to anything Irish Niall? What does your and Patrick's obsession have to do with Ireland, or Irish news in America? Nothing! I get so sick of coming on this website in the hopes or reading some interesting Irish news, or Irissh American news, and what do I get? Puff pieces on Obama and the Clintons. If you want to have pro-Obama and Pro Clinton pieces, then start and Pro-Obama and Pro Clinton website. Until then, keep the liberal lunacy opinions to yourselves and keep the Irish news coming. And FYI, my avatar name is not Irish woman, it Irish WXman...code for WEATHERman.
1IrishMedic | Jul 26, 2010, 11:15 AM EDT
Chelsea Clinton had been in the background (which is normal for any child) but she showed her mettle when she worked her mother's Presidential Campaign. I agree with Patrick, that if she is even half the wife to her husband that she is the daughter of the Ciintons, the man has a hell of a catch. I would very much like to see her run for office in the future, because her daddy Big Bill would lead her on the correct political path.
Niall O'Dowd | Jul 26, 2010, 11:14 AM EDT
irish wx woman, please keep comments civil
Fran Connor | Jul 26, 2010, 10:53 AM EDT
"The steely determination" to go onstage with a COLD! Wow! Put her up for office! Maybe Chris Dodd's job, since she has experience working for a hedge fund. Nice, warm & fuzzy article, Partick.
MavisPike | Jul 26, 2010, 10:45 AM EDT
Pass the sick bucket, please.
Cherishfan | Jul 26, 2010, 10:09 AM EDT
I wish her the best. She's come through some tough times with class.
irishwxman | Jul 26, 2010, 10:06 AM EDT
Patrick, what is your OBSESSION with the Clintons?? Did Bill shove a cigar up your ass? Do you have a man crush on him? What's your deal? never in my history on this planet have I seen anyone as obsessed with a family as I have seen you and Niall O'Dowd slobber over the Clintons. This is an IRISH NEWS WEBSITE! The Clintons are NOT Irish! WTF!!
cthogan | Jul 26, 2010, 09:53 AM EDT
Love this article!
URWORSTNIGHTMAR | Jul 26, 2010, 09:26 AM EDT
What happened to my comment???
beachline | Jul 26, 2010, 09:15 AM EDT
You got it wrong again Patrick, Chelsea has always made her parents proud. I wish her every happiness in the future.
John G. Hogan | Jul 26, 2010, 09:12 AM EDT
Why not let her be his wife first, and possibly future mother of their children......... now please dump the rest of your klintoon-aid
URWORSTNIGHTMAR | Jul 26, 2010, 09:10 AM EDT
I have no doubt the "apple does not fall from the tree". I hope she will one day run for public office. AMERICA NEEDS NEW BLOOD TO REPLACE THE POLITICS OF OLD! President Barack Obama has been a good start so far. VIVA CHELSEA!
danielleryan | Jul 26, 2010, 08:52 AM EDT
Love this article. This is exactly my impression of Chelsea and I hope she runs for office some day.
msymsed | Jul 26, 2010, 08:30 AM EDT
Oh God, please, no...dont' let her fun for office. I don't think my heart could stand another Clinton.