USA: WASHINGTON: HILLARY CLINTON SWORN IN AS SENATOR

(3 Jan 2001) English/Nat
XFA
Hillary Rodham Clinton was sworn in as New York's junior senator on Wednesday, making history as the only first lady ever elected to office.
Following tradition, she was escorted into the Senate chamber by New York's senior Senator, Charles Schumer.
Then, as President Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea watched from the Senate gallery, the first lady raised her right hand and took the oath on a Bible she brought for the occasion.
The first lady's mother, Dorothy Rodham, and the Clintons' six-year-old nephew Tyler were also in the gallery.
The president smiled proudly.
After the ceremony he described his mood as "ecstatic."
He wore a tiny lapel pin that said "Hillary".
The oath was administered by Vice President Al Gore, who is president of the Senate.
After Clinton took the oath she was enveloped in a bear hug by 98-year-old Senator Strom Thurmond, who also gave her a kiss on the cheek.
As is the custom, the Clintons then re-enacted the oath in the Old Senate Chamber for the benefit of a mob of flashing cameras.
Chelsea held the Bible for her mother.
The Bible was given to Clinton eight years ago by the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church.
Clinton was to finish off her first day as a senator with a pair of parties - an afternoon reception in a Senate office building and an evening event sponsored by New York insurance executive Walter Kaye.
Wednesday was an historic day for the U-S Senate in more ways than one.
Once the new senators took their oaths of office, the Senate became evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.
That's never happened before.
Just 17 days from now, President Clinton will cede the White House to Republican George W. Bush.
Until that day, Democrats will be the Senate majority because Gore will still be vice president.
Under the Constitution, the vice president can preside over the Senate - which he did on Wednesday - and vote to break ties in the chamber.

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