Hillary Clinton Aides Mulled 'Home Improvement' Cameo

Remember the 90s?

Thousands of pages of previously unreleased documents from Hillary Clinton's years as first lady offer a glimpse into the White House's media strategy during the decade that brought us Forrest Gump, New Kids on the Block lunchboxes and Pogs.

One idea: leveraging the 'most popular television show on the air' - 'Home Improvement.'

'I know this may sound like a wild idea, but I think it is an interesting one to discuss,' wrote the first lady's press secretary, Lisa Caputo, in an August 1995 memo. '[ABC News producer] Rick Kaplan brought to my attention that Home Improvement would very much like to have Hillary make a guest appearance on its show ... They are willing to do a show on women, children and family issues or a show on whatever issues Hillary would like.'

Caputo argued in the memo that, while it could 'diminish the role of First Lady' by appearing on a sitcom, 'it would present Hillary in a very likable light.'

Clinton's advisers also mulled using the budding and hip technology of 'Internet.'

'Internet has become a very popular mode of communication,' Caputo suggested. 'Hillary could speak to young women through Internet.'

'In addition, People Magazine is tinkering with the possibility of using Internet,' she added. 'They have been in touch with me about the prospect of having Hillary communicate with parents across the country about children and families through Internet.'

The documents released Friday are part of a tranche of communications set to be released over the next two weeks.

You can read the releases on the Clinton Library web site -- yes, on 'Internet' -- here.

First published February 28 2014, 11:57 AM

Carrie Dann

Carrie Dann is a national political writer for NBCNews.com. She has worked for NBC and NBCNews.com since 2006. Dann writes about politics and Congress. Dann rejoined the web team after 18 months as a campaign reporter for NBC News, covering presidential and vice presidential candidates during the 2012 election. She also covered the 2007-2008 presidential campaign for NBC, including extensive reporting on the Iowa caucuses.



Prior to her work at NBCNews.com, Dann was a staff reporter at CongressDaily, where she covered lobbying and government reform.



A Virginia native, she now lives in Washington, D.C.