On February 1, 2013, Hillary Rodham Clinton, stepped down as Secretary of State and took her leave from the political scene. Before abdicating her position, Clinton gave a farewell address at the Council on Foreign Relations. During her speech, Clinton reflected on her time in office, and urged the U.S. to look toward the future for the good of the country. “We are the indispensable nation. We are the force for progress, prosperity, and peace. And because we have to get it right for ourselves."
Hillary Clinton has been an active politician since long before her term as Secretary of State for President Obama. Before she was sworn into the office of Secretary of State in January 2009, she was most commonly known for her role as the First Lady from 1992 to 2000, her role as a Senator of New York, and her campaign for president in 2007. During her reign as first lady, Clinton was an advocate for health care reform, and also worked on many issues related to children and families. Among her successful efforts were her bipartisan efforts to improve adoption systems, to reduce teen pregnancy rates, and to provide children with health care. Clinton not only has established many different programs, but she also made history as the first first lady elected to the United States Senate.
During her time in politics, Clinton has routinely championed human rights, democracy, and civil society, and she continues to urge that these three aspects are essential throughout the world. In her address, Clinton made clear that it is essential for the U.S. to lead the way in human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. She explained that human rights are essential for the progress of not only our nation, but the entire world. “The evidence is absolutely indisputable. If women and girls everywhere were treated as equal to men in rights, dignity, and opportunity, we would see political and economic progress everywhere,” she stated. “So this is not only a moral issue, which, of course, it is. It is an economic issue and a security issue, and it is the unfinished business of the 21st century. It therefore must be central to U.S. foreign policy.”
In fact, one of the first things Secretary Clinton did as to elevate the Office of Global Women’s Issues. Recently, President Obama signed a memorandum making that office permanent.
When Hillary Clinton was sworn into the office of Secretary of State back in 2009, the Obama administration faced two wars, a plunging economy, fraying alliances, a declining diplomatic status around the world, and a looming decline in U.S. global leadership. Since then, Clinton states that the Obama administration has taken great strides to remedy these problems, and has thus helped the country come a long way towards overall recovery. For instance, under the Obama administration the war in Iraq has ended, a transition in Afghanistan has begun, and Osama bin Laden has been brought to justice. Clinton claims that the other issues, such as American diplomacy, foreign alliances, and economic recovery, are slowly on the path toward recovery. “In short,” Clinton states, “America today is stronger at home and more respected in the world. And our global leadership is on firmer footing than many predicted.”
Looking forward, Clinton spoke to the challenges ahead and the different world we face. Now, more and more countries have a voice in political debates, and it is no longer acceptable to just keep up relations and alliances with a few key powers in the world. “The old postwar architecture is crumbling under the weight of new threats,” Clinton declared. “The geometry of global power has become more distributed and diffuse as the challenges we face have become more complex and cross-cutting.”
So, how does America move forward, fixing our ongoing financial and diplomatic crises while also preventing others from surfacing? Put simply, we have to be smart about our use of power. Of course, American military and economic power will remain at the forefront of our foundation, and the U.S. will use force when necessary, but it is essential to exhibit soft power as well. Clinton believes the U.S. must keep a progressive attitude toward the future by strengthening bonds abroad, modernizing our relationships with new institutions tailored for new challenges, reconsidering diplomatic models, keeping technology and the freedom of technology protected across the world, and remain leaders of equality.
As Clinton took her leave from her position as Secretary of State, she left with a heavy heart. Although she described the moment as bittersweet, she seems confident that her successor and future Secretaries of State will continue to make the world more peaceful, more safe, and more free because we are an indispensable nation. Clinton concluded her speech with this idea explaining “When I say we are truly the indispensable nation, it’s not meant as a boast or an empty slogan. It’s a recognition of our role and our responsibilities.”
The video with Hillary Clinton's full remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations can be found here.
Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
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Clinton's Farewell to an 'Indispensable Nation'
February 9, 2013
On February 1, 2013, Hillary Rodham Clinton, stepped down as Secretary of State and took her leave from the political scene. Before abdicating her position, Clinton gave a farewell address at the Council on Foreign Relations. During her speech, Clinton reflected on her time in office, and urged the U.S. to look toward the future for the good of the country. “We are the indispensable nation. We are the force for progress, prosperity, and peace. And because we have to get it right for ourselves."
Hillary Clinton has been an active politician since long before her term as Secretary of State for President Obama. Before she was sworn into the office of Secretary of State in January 2009, she was most commonly known for her role as the First Lady from 1992 to 2000, her role as a Senator of New York, and her campaign for president in 2007. During her reign as first lady, Clinton was an advocate for health care reform, and also worked on many issues related to children and families. Among her successful efforts were her bipartisan efforts to improve adoption systems, to reduce teen pregnancy rates, and to provide children with health care. Clinton not only has established many different programs, but she also made history as the first first lady elected to the United States Senate.
During her time in politics, Clinton has routinely championed human rights, democracy, and civil society, and she continues to urge that these three aspects are essential throughout the world. In her address, Clinton made clear that it is essential for the U.S. to lead the way in human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. She explained that human rights are essential for the progress of not only our nation, but the entire world. “The evidence is absolutely indisputable. If women and girls everywhere were treated as equal to men in rights, dignity, and opportunity, we would see political and economic progress everywhere,” she stated. “So this is not only a moral issue, which, of course, it is. It is an economic issue and a security issue, and it is the unfinished business of the 21st century. It therefore must be central to U.S. foreign policy.”
In fact, one of the first things Secretary Clinton did as to elevate the Office of Global Women’s Issues. Recently, President Obama signed a memorandum making that office permanent.
When Hillary Clinton was sworn into the office of Secretary of State back in 2009, the Obama administration faced two wars, a plunging economy, fraying alliances, a declining diplomatic status around the world, and a looming decline in U.S. global leadership. Since then, Clinton states that the Obama administration has taken great strides to remedy these problems, and has thus helped the country come a long way towards overall recovery. For instance, under the Obama administration the war in Iraq has ended, a transition in Afghanistan has begun, and Osama bin Laden has been brought to justice. Clinton claims that the other issues, such as American diplomacy, foreign alliances, and economic recovery, are slowly on the path toward recovery. “In short,” Clinton states, “America today is stronger at home and more respected in the world. And our global leadership is on firmer footing than many predicted.”
Looking forward, Clinton spoke to the challenges ahead and the different world we face. Now, more and more countries have a voice in political debates, and it is no longer acceptable to just keep up relations and alliances with a few key powers in the world. “The old postwar architecture is crumbling under the weight of new threats,” Clinton declared. “The geometry of global power has become more distributed and diffuse as the challenges we face have become more complex and cross-cutting.”
So, how does America move forward, fixing our ongoing financial and diplomatic crises while also preventing others from surfacing? Put simply, we have to be smart about our use of power. Of course, American military and economic power will remain at the forefront of our foundation, and the U.S. will use force when necessary, but it is essential to exhibit soft power as well. Clinton believes the U.S. must keep a progressive attitude toward the future by strengthening bonds abroad, modernizing our relationships with new institutions tailored for new challenges, reconsidering diplomatic models, keeping technology and the freedom of technology protected across the world, and remain leaders of equality.
As Clinton took her leave from her position as Secretary of State, she left with a heavy heart. Although she described the moment as bittersweet, she seems confident that her successor and future Secretaries of State will continue to make the world more peaceful, more safe, and more free because we are an indispensable nation. Clinton concluded her speech with this idea explaining “When I say we are truly the indispensable nation, it’s not meant as a boast or an empty slogan. It’s a recognition of our role and our responsibilities.”
The video with Hillary Clinton's full remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations can be found here.
Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
