Hillary and Wal-Mart

Things I didn't realize about Ms. Clinton and Wal-Mart:

• she was there for six years from 1986 to 1992, which was a long time ago. Not thrilled she was on this board, but let's keep the time frame in context for fairness. She doesn't seem proud of it:

Mrs. Clinton rarely, if ever, discusses it, leaving her board membership out of her speeches and off her campaign Web site.

Fellow board members and company executives, who have not spoken publicly about her role at Wal-Mart, say Mrs. Clinton used her position to champion personal causes, like the need for more women in management and a comprehensive environmental program, despite being Wal-Mart’s only female director, the youngest and arguably the least experienced in business. On other topics, like Wal-Mart’s vehement anti-unionism, for example, she was largely silent, they said.

• She gave back a $5,000 donation in 2005 from Wal-Mart because of “serious differences” with the company.

• Wal-Mart is based in Arkansas, duh. Forgot about that connection.There's still ties, via Bill and the company's top dog H. Lee Scott Jr.

from NYTimes. Photo credit: Richard Berquist of the 1990 board.