Hillary Clinton on Gloria Steinem: “One of the architects of the entire structure of women’s equality”

Hillary Clinton gave a televised remembrance of Gloria Steinem after the feminist leader's death at 92. Speaking on CBS Mornings, Clinton framed Steinem as a foundational figure in the fight for women's equality and tied Steinem's public work to concrete changes in American life.

Clinton said she was "heartsick" over Steinem's death and recalled first noticing Steinem in the 1960s and 1970s. She described Steinem as an "incredibly smart, beautiful, talented woman" who began publicly arguing that women should have equal opportunity and be able to pursue their own dreams.

Specific impacts Clinton attributed to Steinem

Clinton named several concrete outcomes she associates with Steinem's influence:

• Expanded awareness of barriers that denied women access to education and jobs.
• Cultural pressure and organizing that contributed to opportunities for women in professions and public life.
• Support for Title IX's expansion of sports and academic opportunities for girls.
• Indirect influence on moments such as the entry of women into fields like NASA and the broader legal landscape around reproductive rights.

Clinton said she knew Steinem personally, spent time with her, and visited her at home the prior year, describing their visit as "the most incredible conversation." She said that despite setbacks and pushback to women's full participation, Steinem remained an optimist and that her activism was "rooted in optimism," which Clinton called a moral choice Steinem made daily.

Clinton used the tribute to make a practical appeal to younger women: keep fighting, don't get discouraged, and work to lift other people as you advance. She framed that approach as both a way to improve others' prospects and to expand one's own opportunities.

Clinton connected Steinem's public voice and platforms — including the founding of Ms. magazine — to how ordinary women began to read about and understand the status of women. That widened understanding, Clinton argued, made systemic barriers visible and helped create political and social pressure for change. Clinton's remarks link a historical figure's public work to the everyday rights and access that later generations experienced.

Clinton's remembrance positions Gloria Steinem as a public organizer whose writing and advocacy helped expose systemic barriers and push them open. Clinton stressed optimism as central to Steinem's method and urged a practical ethic of helping others among young women continuing the work.