But she also made comments that divided voters along racial lines, stretched the facts and last month raised the specter of assassination as a justification for remaining in the race to the bitter end despite a mathematical near-certainty that she had lost weeks earlier.
"The Clintons are and probably always will be a paradox," said Leon Panetta, who was chief of staff in the Clinton White House and supported Hillary Clinton's candidacy. "They were very good at being able to gain power and then try to use that power to try to help ordinary Americans. The paradox is that in order to gain power, they sometimes did whatever it takes to win."
There were moments in this campaign, Panetta said, that made some people "question where their heart really was." Panetta said that was especially sad given Bill Clinton's strong presidential record on affirmative action and other racial issues.
"Look, both of them are viewed as tough fighters; both are viewed as people who will continue to confront the most difficult odds and sometimes still win," Panetta said. "People will always admire that in them." But he added that this campaign, because it seemed to take a divisive turn, "has in many ways hurt their legacy."
The race question will be one of the most difficult for the Clintons to deal with. Black politicians and voters were among Bill Clinton's hardiest defenders during impeachment and supported Hillary Clinton in large numbers at the beginning of this contest. But comments by Bill Clinton and several prominent black supporters of Hillary Clinton this year helped turn the black electorate decisively against her. Her remark last month that "hard-working Americans, white Americans" were supporting her did not help.
"It has definitely damaged not just hers but also Bill's legacy on race," said David Bositis, senior political analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
Sean Wilentz, professor of American history at Princeton University, said the Clintons have been unfairly accused of exploiting racial divisions but that the perception has taken hold and will take time to erase. He also said the harm to Bill Clinton's image and stature in the party will turn around more quickly than the public view of Hillary Clinton.
Wilentz said Hillary Clinton's loss will sting for a bit but that her commitment to public life and public service will continue, whether in the Senate or perhaps in another run for the presidency.
"She's the titular leader of the center of the Democratic Party," he said. "She has a duty to party and country to assume that role with grace and dexterity."
