The LEAP Ambassadors had the opportunity to see Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton at The University of Houston, this is one of the highest-profile speakers LEAP has had the opportunity to see in person. The event was hosted by Brazos Book Store and the University of Houston, highlighting the Clintons’ co-authored novel “Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience”.
The Clintons’ book highlights several important woman throughout history, some taught in classrooms and others not. The book discussion was moderated by Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a UH alum and Democratic politician.
Our conversation started with the significance of Harriet Tubman, someone Hillary Clinton remembers learning about as a young girl. When Clinton was a senator she was able to pass a bill in congress for the pension owed to Harriet Tubman for her husband’s efforts in the Civil War.
Hillary and Chelsea discussed the formation and importance of the book stating that “women deserve to see themselves in history”. When asked about how they were able to narrow down the amount of women in the book, and why Hillary Clinton, despite being the first woman to win the presidential nomination from a major party, wasn’t in it.
Hillary explained that there are so many “gutsy women” whose stories are still happening now like Michelle Obama and Greta Thunberg. When asked if she would consider another presidential as part of her story, she commented that she had been having some fun on Twitter lately.
Our conversation shifted to serious issues that our country is facing that primarily impacts young girls – like how there is no minimum age for girls to be married in 48 states. They also adamantly spoke against voter suppression and how next year will mark the 100th year anniversary of women being able to vote. The audience was able to see a shared bond between the two when they spoke about becoming mothers and a grandmother, both Hillary and Chelsea described the feeling as “soul-expanding”. The evening ended with a standing ovation for our two speakers, and a copy of the book.
Star Pizza
After dinner we headed to a Houston Favorite since 1976, Star Pizza. For most of us this was our first time here, but all pizza lovers we were excited to try it. For our appetizer we started with Garlic Bread with cheese and a marina dipping sauce, a classic.
For the pizzas we tried the cowbell (a true Texan pizza topped with BBQ), chicken Alfredo, and a classic margarita. The favorite among our group was the chicken alfredo, with the margarita a close second. After a night of great conversation and food we headed back to Huntsville.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 