Hillary Shifts To New Role

As President Clinton lit the national Christmas tree for the seventh time Thursday, the first lady was not by his side.

She was in New York campaigning, serving notice that she would not be standing by many of his policies, like gays in the military, reports CBS News Correspondent Diana Olick.

"I don't believe 'don't ask, don't tell' has worked, and I don't believe it is ultimately the policy we should have in our military," the first lady said.

It's not the first issue on which she has taken an opposing stand, and she vowed it would not be the last.

"And I will be stating my positions, and there will be, from time to time, differences, in degree and kind, from the White House," she said.

Clinton did show off the White House Christmas decorations this week, but more often she's dropping out of official first lady events. On a recent trip to Greece, she left early for New York, leaving daughter Chelsea for the photo op at the Acropolis.

"I think for Mrs. Clinton, she has been the subservient political wife for over 25 years, now it's her turn," said political analyst Charles Cook.

It's not as if this has been done before. Still, the question is: Will shedding the house, the role and the policy she's known for the last seven years make her a stronger candidate or just another politician who will do anything to win?

Examining Chelsea's Rolesize=4>

The first lady's campaign for the Senate in New York has generated speculation that first daughter Chelsea will help fill in for her mother at the White House, taking on some of Clinton's social responsibilities.

First lady historian Carl S. Anthony cautions that it's still "pure speculation," but says the offspring of past presidents have often stepped in to help their parents at the White House.

"There's a very long tradition of presidential daughters substituting for their mothers who either may be dead or sickly or just disinterested or distracted from fulfilling that role," says Anthony, a contributing editor to George magazine.

Anthony notes that Chelsea is a full-time, pre-med college student at Stanford University in California. As such, her schedule will be full for most of the year.

CBS

First lady historian Carl S. Anthony.

"I think if one were to see her at all, it would be in similar family-trip gatherings like the recent trip overseas," Anthony told the CBS Early Show, referring to the Clintons' visit to Europe.

Other presidents have asked their family members to take up the responsibilities of the first ady in times of need, including:

• President Ford, who asked his daughter, Susan, to substitute for her mother at a state dinner following first lady Betty Ford's recovery from breast cancer.
• Julie Nixon was "almost like a supplemental first lady to Pat Nixon's activities," Anthony says. Julie kept her own full schedule of public duties and activities, even holding a press conference on how Watergate was affecting the family.
• When Jacqueline Kennedy took her children on trips, President John F. Kennedy's sisters and mother would step in. Rose Kennedy substituted at state dinners, while Jackie's mother also substituted for her at teas and afternoon events.
• When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, he had been widowed for 19 years. His daughter Patsy often appeared as "the lady of the President's House."
• Fifteenth president James Buchanan was the only bachelor president. His White House hostess was his niece, Harriet Lane.

"It's just a very ceremonial kind of role in that one just simply greets people and is gracious. I mean, you know, the social office really is a large enterprise and they take care of putting the event together and approving the menus and that sort of thing," he says.

If Chelsea does indeed take on this responsibility, Anthony believes she would contribute her help during school breaks. Her visibility has been highest as a companion to her mother and father on diplomatic trips abroad that doubled as vacation time for the student.

While the Clintons have unavoidably been under a microscope, they have sheltered Chelsea from too hot of a public spotlight. Anthony believes their protective stance will not change.

"She's going to be twenty years old in February," he says. "She's growing up. She's a very fine, poised young woman. But I think they're probably going to continue to keep that sort of veil of privacy, the zone of privacy that Mrs. Clinton talks about in regard to her as much as possible."