Since the unanimous vote by the electoral college of George Washington in 1789, there have been 42 other Americans sworn into the office of the president of the United States.

None of them have been female. Until this week, when Hillary Clinton became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, there was no opportunity to change that long record. But it is now possible that, five months from this week, America could elect its first female president. That makes this nomination a history-making event.

Secretary Clinton has already acknowledged that this achievement rests upon the accomplishments of so many women who came before her; first, to win the right to vote, and then to win local, and state elections; to win federal appointments; and to become CEO’s of large corporations.

But this accomplishment, this important achievement, now grants every mother the confidence to tell every daughter that there are no limits in America for women, no more glass ceilings, invisible but so very real.

Hillary Clinton has her own list of “firsts” on the way to this recognition, including:

First Wellesley graduating student asked to speak at graduation by her fellow students. Clinton was rewarded with a seven minute ovation.

First co-founder of the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

First female chairwoman of Legal Services Corporation.

First female partner of Rose law firm.

First Lady of Arkansas for 12 years.

First Lady of the United States for eight years.

First female senator for New York State.

Clinton is the author of five books and a founding partner in the Clinton Foundation, a direct providing charitable foundation.

Clinton served as Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, during President Obama’s first term.

But Hillary Clinton has rarely been free of criticism in her years in the public forum.

Her political enemies have authored 25 years of accusations, ranging from murdering Vince Foster to having brain damage. Her opponents have criticized her for being hostile to women who fooled around with her husband, to murdering four Americans in Benghazi.

Clinton critics have said she should be in jail for her email server usage, or for lying in general when all other charges fail. To note that Clinton has enemies who hate her, is to suggest that standing in a fire might sting a bit.

Yet one thing has remained true throughout the 25 years of accusations, and in spite of investigations and congressional hearings; Hillary Clinton has never been found to have committed any of the actions charged by her critics.

This last year has brought Republican charges that as Secretary of State, Clinton was responsible for the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi; seven congressional investigations have found that to be untrue, with Clinton holding no responsibility for the terrorist attack and ensuing deaths in Libya.

Additionally, this year has brought charges that Secretary Clinton used a private server as Secretary of State, as did her predecessor, Colin Powell.

Indeed Clinton did use a private server, one that shows no evidence of ever being hacked during her term as Secretary of State. However, the State Department servers have been hacked, as has the private email of the Director of the CIA. Clinton’s server? Never hacked.

And of course last year several Republicans suggested that Clinton, wearing sunglasses after a fall, might have brain damage. A laughable attack given Clinton’s endless public speaking engagements with voters this primary season.

The charges go on and on, but, as always, they fall away in the face of facts.

Hillary Clinton has been tested by an unimaginable list of false attacks and in each and every case she has confronted her accusers, responded with facts, and proved them wrong day by day, case by case.

Hillary Clinton has demonstrated she has the experience, the accomplishments, and the courage of her convictions to serve as President of the United States.

The voters will decide this November if her credentials, her character, and her compassion for helping those who are in need, will earn their vote.

It is a history-making election.

 

Jim Crawford is a retired educator and political enthusiast living here in the Tri-State.