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Hillary Clinton Westchester Business Council Appearance Draws Record Crowd

Westchester resident and 2016 Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton attracted a record crowd at The Business Council of Westchester’s (BCW) Annual Fall Dinner held Monday, Nov. 20 at The Hilton Westchester with overflow tables that spilled out into the hallway.

Hillary Clinton, center, with Anthony Justic, BCW Board Chairman, right, and BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon, left.

Hillary Clinton, center, with Anthony Justic, BCW Board Chairman, right, and BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon, left.

Photo Credit: John Vecchiola
Hillary Clinton, center, with Anthony Justic, BCW Board Chairman, right, and BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon, left.

Hillary Clinton, center, with Anthony Justic, BCW Board Chairman, right, and BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon, left.

Photo Credit: Jeanne Muchnick
Hillary Clinton speaks in Rye Brook.

Hillary Clinton speaks in Rye Brook.

Photo Credit: Jeanne Muchnick
Hillary Clinton at the Business Council of Westchester annual Fall dinner.

Hillary Clinton at the Business Council of Westchester annual Fall dinner.

Photo Credit: Jeanne Muchnick

The former first lady, secretary of state and U.S. senator from New York was at the Rye Brook hotel to receive the Westchester Global Leadership Laureate Award.

She was greeted -- after a speech by BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon -- with a standing ovation, rousing applause, and even a "We love you Hillary" shouted from a group in the back of the room. There were more than 900 people in attendance.

After a brief mention about how crazy the electon was -- she drew laughter from the audience when she referenced the recent Westchester county executive race between Democrat George Latimer and two-term Repulican Rob Astorino (as opposed to her own) -- she spoke about lessons learned from the 2016 Presidential campaign.

"People often ask me, since the election, how I am," said Clinton. "And I say, as a person, I'm good. But as an American, I'm concerned."

The Chappaqua resident then spoke at length about a number of topics, starting with the opiod crisis, how heartsick she is about Congress killing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (which leaves nine million children uninsured), Russia's threat to our national security, and the importance of working together.

"Compromise is not a dirty word," she said.

She also spoke about her love for Westchester, how at her recent book signing in Chappaqua, young girls came dressed in pantsuits and Wonder Woman costumes and how that inspires her. More women, she said, need to get into politics for real change to occur.

She also mentioned how Westchester is the highest educated county in the U.S. and of her concerns on how the proposed tax reform bill will hurt local residents who are already heavily taxed.

Clinton praised BCW members for getting up every day and working to get the job done and for building their businesses on evidence-based information.

"Alternative facts are not facts," she stressed. "You don't build your business on wishful thinking."

While her speech referenced chapters she covers in her new book, "What Happened," Clinton was also quick to speak about her optimism. "Everyone gets knocked down," she said. "What matters is whether you get up and keep going."

She promised she will keep working on issues and causes.

Said Clinton: "There's so much we can do, but it requires us working together." 

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