Hillary Clinton ― Renaissance Woman

Although Hillary Clinton officially announced her candidacy in April 2015, the whispers that she would be running in 2016 began almost the moment that Barack Obama won the 2008 nomination. Any statements that Clinton or anyone close to her made suggesting that she wouldn't were – rightly, it now seems – assumed to be simply part of the long term plan: Be an excellent Secretary of State; be supportive of the President; but, crucially, maintain a distinct voice and profile within the confines of holding office in someone else's administration. There's little doubt that she succeeded in this mission, as she has tended to be successful in most (clearly not all) of her political career. Indeed, for the world at large, the assumption is that her candidacy will lead to the second great 'first' in a row for the office of the President of the United States of America.But alongside the symbolic nature of the prospect of a woman becoming the most powerful person in the world, she has substantial achievements and experiences: Eight years as the most active First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt, for one. Moreover, she has countless achievements that are hers alone: She has been a lawyer, campaigner, New York Senator, Secretary of State and was the runner-up in the 2008 race for presidential nominee from the Democrat Party. If she does become President, it won't be because she happened to marry and stick with old William: it will be her achievement alone.