Clinton Had Absolutely Zero Honeymoon, None Whatsoever.

On The Day I Started College In 1979, No Woman Had Ever Been On The United States Supreme Court Or Served As The Speaker Of The House. None Had Been An Astronaut Or The Solo Anchor Of A Network Evening News Broadcast. Not One Had Been President Of An Ivy League College Or Run A Serious Campaign For President.

When I Became White House Press Secretary, There Were Other Limitations That Were Thrust Upon Me. Bill Clinton Was Under Pressure To Appoint Women To Visible Positions. I Was 31, I'd Never Worked In Washington. Was I Ready For This Large And Visible Job? Still He Wanted The Credit. So He Gave Me The Job But Diminished The Job.

No Doubt, The White House Thinks The American People Know Obama's Story. But Since The Inauguration, We've Seen Only The President's Present: His Perfect Family, His Ivy League Elegance, His Effortless Mastery Of Complex Issues. We Never See Him Sweat. And We Forget That He Ever Had To Struggle.

While Eschewing Emotion - And Its Companion, Vulnerability - Obama Should Be Careful Not To Sacrifice Empathy, The 'i Feel Your Pain' Connection That Sustained Clinton. This Connection Is The Shorthand People Use To Measure Their Leaders' Intentions. If People Believe You're On Their Side, They Will Trust Your Decisions.

I Think How Pay Gets Determined Is Pretty Broad - Experience, How People Look, What They Bring To The Job. But There's No Question Women Are Paid Less. Women Don't Ask.