If you had your choice of cozy places to be snowed in for some relaxing downtime, shortly after narrowly losing a hard-fought election that you had been widely expected to win, what better wintry refuge can you imagine than Mohonk Mountain House? Last Wednesday morning, December 28, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton was spotted in the resort’s dining room by Carolyn Ryan, senior editor for politics at The New York Times, and photographed by Ryan’s former colleague, Mike Smith.
The snowstorm that hit New Paltz the following day was mild in comparison to the blizzard of negative comments posted on social media on December 28, after Ryan tweeted the picture of Clinton having breakfast alone at Mohonk, wearing no makeup and peering at her cell phone. The image was quickly reproduced in many media outlets, including The Washington Post, with reporters variously describing Clinton as “very sad-looking,” “a bit down,” “depressed” or “forlorn.” A piece in the online magazine Politico bore the headline, “Losing a Presidential Bid Looks a Lot like Getting Dumped.” However, knowing the many amenities available at Mohonk, a local might just as easily assume that the former candidate was simply spacing out after a nice massage.
While some of the more hostile comments theorized that Bill Clinton had left his wife alone at the resort, a Mohonk Mountain House spokesperson and other eyewitnesses confirmed that both Clintons had spent time there together last week. “The Smiley family and Mohonk Mountain House staff were honored to have welcomed back the Clinton’s to stay with us,” said vice president and general manager Eric Gullickson. “It was a distinct pleasure to have hosted them, and we warmly welcome them back to visit anytime of the year.”
Mohonk Mountain House representatives declined to specify on what dates the Clintons had arrived and departed. The former First Family, who reside in Chappaqua in Westchester County, have been known to visit Mohonk on multiple occasions in the past. Hillary Clinton has been keeping a low public profile since her surprise defeat in the Electoral College, but a few “selfies” have been posted on social media by neighbors encountering her while shopping or out for a walk.
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