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Running parallel to this homing instinct is what friends describe as a growing spirituality over the past few years. Though the fact is not trumpeted -- even in the face of Republican family-values attacks -- Hillary, a Methodist who claims to have been "religiously committed since childhood," carries her favorite Scriptures (Proverbs, Psalms, Corinthians, Beatitudes) wherever she goes. She and Bill regularly pray with Chelsea at bedtime. "As I have grown older," says Hillary, "I have tried to synthesize my personal beliefs with the way I act in the world and to try to keep growing. It's a very important part of who I am and what I think my life should mean."
Friends describe Hillary as someone who tends toward the earnest and serious but who nonetheless has a playful side. "She laughs harder than anyone at the jokes, but she is always a little surprised when she herself gets off a good line," says Mack McLarty, who has known the Governor since they attended Miss Mary's Kindergarten together in Hope, Arkansas, and is now chairman of the board of Arkla Inc., a huge natural-gas conglomerate. Prominent Washington lobbyist Liz Robbins, an old friend of both Clintons, marvels at the fact that Hillary manages to stay in touch while less busy people do not. "Hillary is a very inclusive person, which you don't usually find in successful women," says Robbins.
While not the life of a party, Hillary tends to get into the spirit of an evening. She's the one to "try the new meal -- hippopotamus stew -- or order the blue drink," says television producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. Most socializing is done at home, in the kitchen and breakfast room and around the piano. (All three Clintons play the instrument, says Hillary, "but none of us is what you'd call good.") They play Pictionary, Scrabble and a cutthroat card game called Hungarian Rummy.
Before the campaign switched into high gear, the Clintons would eat dinner at least once a week with Bill's mother and stepfather and Hillary's parents, who moved from Chicago to Little Rock a few years ago. On such occasions, says Dorothy Rodham, Hillary's mother, they all subscribe to the theory that it is more important who is around the table than what's on it -- which is fortunate for Hillary, who admits she served black beans, chili and leftovers from an official dinner as last year's Christmas meal.
There is no mistaking that Hillary is a strong and determined woman, used to dominating whatever situation she is in by force of mind. Although the campaign plays down her role, she is the talent that test-drives the Governor's ideas, punches holes in his theories, comments on his speeches and often identifies the weak spots in his campaign operation and helps get them corrected. She is one of the people who can convince him it's better to make three points in a speech than six, and the only one who can make sure he gets to bed on time rather than shooting the breeze with staff members into the wee hours, as he likes to do. Hillary herself ensures that Clinton's Arkansas supporters are properly used in his presidential quest. Says campaign aide Betsy Wright: "She has the analytic ability to make certain that the decisions he is leaning toward are ironclad." Mrs. Clinton is certain to be one of the key players in the room when her husband finally sits down to prepare for his crucial -- though still unscheduled -- debates with President Bush.