The XX Factor: Slate women blog about politics, etc...

You Just Described Sandra Day O'Connor

Anne,

Being a rock star in law school, creating a local legal career for yourself, and getting involved in local politics was about the extent of Sandra Day O’Connor’s résumé, too. Yet it’s often said of her that even if she hadn’t been tapped for the high court, she’d have been a national political figure someday. (I agree.) I think Melinda is right on this one: Whether Hillary hitched her star to Bill’s wagon, he hitched his star to hers, or they just recognized and loved in each other a boundless driving personal ambition is too close for me to call. But if we start dissing power women just for having married power men (and then succeeded slightly later in life, which will often happen if you have kids, no?), we're writing off a lot of incredible talent.