Late in the evening of June 6, 2016, the Associated Press announced that Hillary Clinton had secured the delegate count necessary to become the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. She became the first woman in American history to become a major party’s presidential nominee.
The news came as I was ending dinner with a childhood friend whom I hadn't seen in over 50 years. She and I stood on the street outside the restaurant reading the news on our phones. We each looked at one another, said nothing for a moment, and then said, "Finally."
For women of our generation - Hillary Clinton's generation - the significance of this historic moment is powerful. The strength of Hillary’s pure achievement as a woman in this country is never to be underestimated. She is now officially the first.
Clinton cinched the nomination in a low-key manner, as a few more delegates moved to her side and the word began to spread. No balloons or confetti. That will come later. No big speech. She did that last week. And voters are still voting before the primary season ends. But we know she's the one.
Her nomination will come 32 years after New York Representative Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman named a vice presidential candidate by Walter Mondale. On July 12, 1984, Mondale made history and did what many thought was a gutsy, smart political move. Thirty-two years is not yesterday, but that's how long it's taken for another woman to make her mark at the highest level in our land.
Being the first is not easy. It takes fearless determination. Like many women who worked the tides of change at the same time as Hillary Rodham Clinton, we know what it's like to break barriers. It's hard. You make mistakes. Not everyone likes you. But all along, we worked with dogged perseverance to win a place at tables of our choice. Hillary has won her place.
Unless there is a first, there can't be a second, or a third or a fourth. Congratulations Hillary.