Hillary Clinton: Best Pick for Secretary of State

By Brigitte L. Nacos
I have no idea whether President-elect Barack Obama will offer Senator Hillary Clinton the important secretary of state position. But I am convinced that Hillary would be an excellent choice and indeed the best choice among those mentioned for the post. After Obama and Clinton met on Thursday in Chicago, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, also in the run for the job, met with Obama on Friday. Perhaps John Kerry, another candidate, will be next to travel to Chicago. I agree with Gal Collins of the New York Times that Kerry’s personality is not well suited for the diplomat-in-chief position. Richardson would be a far better choice than Kerry because of his different persona and his diplomatic background (ambassador to the United Nations and negotiator who won the release of prisoners and hostage with North Korea, Iraq under Saddam Hussein, and Cuba).

However, there is no doubt in my mind that Senator Clinton is best qualified to be secretary of state from day one of the new administration in terms of the depth of her foreign policy knowledge, her extensive traveling abroad, and her positive image around the globe. President Obama’s victory on November 4th has been hailed in most parts of the world. With Hillary as secretary of state at his side, Mr. Obama’s campaign promise of CHANGE would gain more credibility abroad. Just imagine what a compelling message the image of an African-American U.S. president and a female U.S. secretary of state side by side at an international gathering would send to people here and abroad!

Moreover, by selecting Hillary, the incoming president would take an important step in the direction of those supporters of Senator Clinton who did not vote for him or did so reluctantly. This one important appointment would go a long way in reuniting Hillary’s most faithful fans with the Democratic Party under Obama’s leadership.

This Saturday morning, the Washington Post reports that Clinton, Richardson, and Kerry are top contenders for the attractive position. The fact that Senator Clinton has remained silent and not said that she is not interested seems to indicate that she wants the job. If the president-elect was not sure that she was his first choice before he invited her to Chicago, he should not have arranged a meeting that, as he must have known, would be reported. If he now decides in favor of Richardson or Kerry or someone else, it means snubbing Hillary in full public view. At this point, it would not be terribly credible, if Hillary were to declare that she is not and was not interested in becoming secretary of state.

Comments

[Eric Chen]

Given that the 2nd highest face of American diplomacy has been black for 8 years and the current well-travelled Secretary of State is an African-American woman, I doubt that Clinton as a (second white) female Secretary of State will be considered a revelation in that regard.

I'll be impressed if Obama and Clinton can convince our NATO allies to invest more of their resources and funding, troops, and a more robust mandate into Operation Enduring Freedom.

[Andrew]

I'd love Clinton as Secretary of State. She is a hawk compared to Obama, and would at least for me keep a sensible voice in foreign policy.

That being said, I disagree with the above comment - I think she'll pick the job so she can stay relevant. To keep herself alive in politics, she would need to be named Senate Majority Leader, which is unlikely, so she'll pick the next best limelight option.

Plus, if Obama (don't see how) pulls of some miraculous foreign policy bonanza, she'll get a lot of good will and credit.

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[newrepublican]

I agree. Hillary would be a good choice. Chuck Todd of NBC had an interesting political point. By making Hillary the Secretary, it would take her out of politics. She wouldn't be able to campaign, etc. Media wouldn't go to her for reactions on Obama's proposals, etc.