Chelsea Clinton said Thursday that she and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky, are expecting their first child this fall, giving Hillary Rodham Clinton an additional line in her biography as she contemplates another run for the presidency: grandmother.
“One more thing to say very quickly,” Chelsea Clinton said as an event on the Lower East Side of Manhattan was coming to a close. “Marc and I are very excited that we have our first child arriving later this year.”
With her mother at her side, Ms. Clinton added, “I just hope that I will be as good a mom to my child and, hopefully, children as my mom was to me.”
Excited to add a new line to my Twitter bio…grandfather-to-be! @hillaryclinton and I are so happy for Chelsea and Marc!
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) April 17, 2014
Mr. Mezvinsky watched the event — held to discuss efforts by the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation’s efforts to advance women and girls — from the back of the room with Bari Lurie, Ms. Clinton’s chief of staff, whom she has known since living in the White House. Ms. Clinton, who married Mr. Mezvinsky in 2010, made the announcement on her own terms, and many of her mother’s closest aides were unaware of how she planned to break the news.
Since leaving her job as secretary of state, Mrs. Clinton has made women’s and girls’ issues central to her work. Rooting the family announcement in that philanthropy, Mrs. Clinton said, “We’re very excited about what’s happening in our family, but we’re also very excited because of what we’re doing that we hope gives confidence and support to so many of you across our country.”
To that sentiment, her daughter added, “I certainly feel all the better whether it’s a girl or a boy that they’ll grow up in a world with so many strong female leaders.”
The news will probably bring a wave of warm attention as Mrs. Clinton contemplates whether she will run for president again in 2016, and it could serve as a counterweight to criticism from political rivals.
The coming year is expected to be an awkward one for Mrs. Clinton as independent groups spring up around her to support her candidacy, though she remains mum on her plans. People close to Mrs. Clinton have for months said a grandchild would be a welcome distraction. Last fall, her daughter told Glamour magazine 2014 would be the “year of the baby.”
Former President Bill Clinton and Mrs. Clinton have said for years that they would like to be grandparents, putting unabashed pressure on Chelsea, their only child.
“Excited to add a new line to my Twitter bio… grandfather-to-be!” Mr. Clinton said in a Twitter message after his daughter’s announcement.
