With all the debate going on between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, I thought it'd be interesting to attempt to present a simple study that shows the early lives, in the briefest of forms, between these two political icons. I mean the "icon" part too; say what one will about either, but both have life long commitments to political, and even activist lives. No one can take that away from either HRC or Sanders. It might also be useful just to get a simple look because we are all products of our upbringings and experiences. Both HRC and Sanders are contemporaries, and their political thinking emerged essentially the same time and resulting from the same major events.
Obviously, without in depth studies of both and reading their own takes on the evolution of their thought, we cannot say exactly what shapes their positions. That said, one can see where Bernie underdog affection might arise, just as one may see hints that point to Hillary's view of the world.
In any event, I tried not to pass judgment. The information comes from a variety of sources, from the ubiquitous Wikipedia to various online biographies. I think it makes for an interesting post. In case the text appears too small in the image, I've posted it below too along with pictures of their childhood homes.
Sanders
1941 to lower income Jewish family; father was a Polish immigrant from WWII. His mother was born in NY to Jewish immigrants. Both parents lost most relatives in the Holocaust. Lived in a tenement complex in Brooklyn.
Attended lower income public schools
Brooklyn College, then University of Chicago
As a student Bernie was active in civil rights, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. March in 1963 in DC for the March on Jobs and Freedom. He was part of the Young People's Socialist League, the Congress on Racial Equality, and the Student Peace Union. He spent time in a kibbutz after college, but also worked in a metanl hospital in CA as part of the the American Friends Service Committee. His political career being after he received his Political Science degree, joining the anti-Vietnam War Liberal Union Party in Vermont, where he moved along with thousands of hippies. He runs unsuccessfully for senate, and later for governor in the early and mid 1970s for leftwing parties. Bernie does a variety of jobs, from carpenter, writer & director of the American People's Historical Society. He experiences his first political success, beating both the Republican and Democrat, in the race for Mayor of Burlington, VT in 1981, where he served until 1989. he teaches at Harvard and Hamilton College until he successfully wins a seat in Congress, the first Independent to do so in 40 years.
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Clinton
1946 into a well-to-do (though self-made) Methodist family living in an affluent Chicago suburb. Her parents were politically-conservative and locally active in politics, where her father lost (running as an independent) against Daley (senior) in a race for alderman.
Attended affluent public schools
Wellesley College
As a student Hillary was elected president of the campus Republican Club in 1965, having campaigned for Barry Goldwater in the year leading up to college. She interned with a Republican House member and attended the Republican 1968 National Convention. Her senior thesis however was about Saul Alinsky, who she met and interviewed several times (her offered her a job) after being a television witness to the riots surrounding the 1968 Democratic Convention. She was an exceptional student and it is fair to say her political views evolved post 1968, the riots and turmoil close, the racial overtones of the Nixon campaign left its impact. She continued her education at Yale Law School where she meets Bill Clinton. Eventually marrying Bill Clinton, Hillary buries herself in causes for women and children, but then joins the Rose Law Firm when Bill gets elected as Attorney general in AR. She continues serious and distinquished work as an advocate for women and children. Between 1986-1992, while Bill was AR governor, Hillary sits on the board of Directors at WalMart.