Details emerge on Clinton's days as a director at Wal-Mart

Posted May 20th 2007 11:10AM by Zac Bissonnette
Filed under: Management, Wal-Mart (WMT), Politics

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is a hot-button political issue, and is symbolic of many of the economic issues that could be prominent in the 2008 election: unions, health care, cheap imports from overseas, and immigration. The Sunday New York Times takes an interesting look at presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's record as a director at the company for six years in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This chapter in her career has been largely ignored by the media, so it's interesting to finally get a look at it.

According to the Times, "Fellow board members and company executives, who have not spoken publicly about her role at Wal-Mart, say Mrs. Clinton used her position to champion personal causes, like the need for more women in management and a comprehensive environmental program, despite being Wal-Mart's only female director, the youngest and arguably the least experienced in business. On other topics, like Wal-Mart's vehement anti-unionism, for example, she was largely silent, they said."

Since then, the senator has distanced herself from the company, even returning a $5,000 contribution to her campaign. I'm surprised that Clinton hasn't spoken publicly more often about her time at Wal-Mart. It could give her credibility in two different circles: It would demonstrate that she does have a background in business, and isn't as anti-corporate America as many have attempted to portray her as being. It would also show that she had the strength of character to at least try to make changes on some of Wal-Mart's policies.

But I think she should be proud of her tenure at Wal-Mart for another reason: While so many prominent people sit on the boards for numerous companies and collect a decent stipend and do little else, Hillary Clinton tried to push for change on issues that are important to her. We need more people like that in corporate America.

Tags: 2008 presidential election, Hillary Clinton, HillaryClinton, Wal-Mart, WMT, women in management

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-20-2007 @ 3:14PM

Pony said...

Mr. Bissenette mentiones the Walmart executives who say, "Mrs. Clinton used her position to champion personal causes, like the need for more women in management and a comprehensive environmental program." That says more about the bad attitudes of Walmart than anything wrong with Hillary!says a lot about Walmart!
WOW...a woman wanting to help other women get equal pay for equal work while caring about the environment. Gee...How SCARY is she?
Walmart is a MONSTER corporation who has IN HOUSE PR people (some trained by EDELMAN of NYC....the biggist SPINMEISTERS in the country) just working in an office of their own to keep Walmart's IMAGE that of a "Grassroots" company. Ha! As the New Yorker recently said...their GRASSROOTS are more like ASTROTURF!
Sam Walton would role over in his grave to see the sharp RIGHT turn the company has taken since his death 15 years ago! And, I think Sam Walton would like Hillary Clinton's MOXY!

5-20-2007 @ 3:14PM

Bradbarb69 said...

By your own admission,she was after personal goals only.Forcing changes within a company,just to make changes of a personal preference goal,is not the way to run a company and this is not somone I want running the country.I have nothing against women or minorities taking responsible company positions,unless somone better qualified is shafted in the process of a "percentage" based plan.We can agree to disagree I suppose,but putting personal preferences ahead of what is best overall for company performance is not somone I would emulate.In my view,this is a very selfish posture to take and should not be condoned.The best person for a job should be taken,not based on gender or race.This is basically a reverse discrimination stance if she fought to get people in based on this philosophy.Maybe they were the best for those positions maybe not,but this should not be the overriding factor to quench your personal opinions.

5-21-2007 @ 1:20AM

W.L. Barton said...

Bradbarb69: If you're going to attack her, do it on the issues, not just because she's Hillary. Even when Sam was alive, the company was so large that a lot of things got by him. That's what happens when you loose control. It would be reasonable to assume that the causes within Walmart she championed were the issues that needed the most attention. In the midst of a majority of men who just didn't care about women in Walmart or polution, she had the balls to stand on those issues. I really feel that your comments are politically motivated. You are the kind of Republican who makes the rest of us look bad.

5-21-2007 @ 11:14AM

Jeff said...

a personal cause can be, and often is, a public cause as well. The one's that aren't- those are the selfish ones. Public causes typically have personal ramifications.

BradBarb69, you're stupid.

5-22-2007 @ 12:25PM

Ford97 said...

Hey Jeff whats a 12 year old doing looking at stock blogs? Calling someone stupid for their opinions is childish.... As for you Barton How can Hilary have balls if she is a female? God help us all if Hilary wins.... And if she does I'll see a lot of you up in Canada with me! What can be worse than a menstrating female running a country?