Hillary Clinton: From Campaign Defeat to Diplomatic Triumph
WASHINGTON What a difference four years makes if youre Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In March 2008, though she would remain a presidential candidate for several more months and win some big primaries, she was defeated and discredited. Barack Obama was sweeping most contests, and the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, said it was unacceptable for Mrs. Clinton, then a senator, to try to use controversial rules to wrest the nomination.
Mr. Obamas campaign outperformed hers, starting with the Clinton miscalculation that her support for the Iraq war would be an asset. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was tarred for his overzealous support for her.
After the election, when the president-elect surprisingly offered her the post of secretary of state and she surprisingly accepted, there were more than a few predictions of disaster. She now is completing what she has said will be the final year of a successful stint as the top U.S. diplomat.
A testament to her standing is the opening she has to become president of the World Bank. Others, including a former Treasury secretary, Lawrence H. Summers, are panting for the job. It would be Mrs. Clintons for the asking. No one matches her global profile and political skills.
Shes not asking for it and wouldnt take it.
In part, friends say, thats because shes exhausted after a grueling year and a half running for president, followed by a punishing schedule as secretary of state. Unstated is that on Nov. 7, the day after the presidential election, she will be the front-runner for the 2016 Democratic nomination, regardless of who wins the presidency this time or whether she plans to run.
In contrast to four years ago, shes the most popular American, far outshining Mr. Obama. Shes celebrated as a diplomat and rock star around th! e globe.
She has made people all over the world more respect, appreciate and understand America, says one of her predecessors, Madeleine K. Albright. She has made very clear what American values are while at the same time understanding other countries national interests.
There are detractors. On Afghanistan, she was on the prevailing side in arguing to send more troops in 2010. As that war continues to look like a quagmire, even some former supporters of the war now wish the more skeptical stance of Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. had won the day.
Shes played a less than major role in many of the administrations big decisions on defense and intelligence: the killing of Osama bin Laden, the use of drones, relations with Pakistan and even some of the debates about Iran.
Moreover, great secretaries of state have close relationships with presidents: George C. Marshall and Harry S. Truman, Henry A. Kissinger and Richard M. Nixon. The Clinton-Obama relations are professional, cordial, not close. The Team of Rivals line that this presidents advisers trumpet Mr. Obama is like Abraham Lincoln in embracing former political opponents as intimate advisers is more appearance than reality.
The White House national security advisers, whose primary objective often seems to be protecting this presidents political interests, have been a source of tension with the secretary. This isnt unusual. The only time, it is said, when the secretary of state and the national security adviser enjoyed complete mutual respect and regard was in 1973-75; thats when Mr. Kissinger held both jobs. (Actually the other time was in President George H.W. Bushs administration, when Brent Scowcroft had the job, creating a model that every successor has unsuccessfully sought to emulate.)
Still, she gets credit for lifting morale at the State Department and making good appointments! . Collea gues say she still misses the friendship and counsel of the late Richard C. Holbrooke, who compensated for Mrs. Clintons lawyerly bent by being an idea machine and geostrategic thinker in the Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski mold.
She was a key figure in decisions leading to the toppling of the Libyan dictator Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi and is deeply involved in Asian affairs, including the relationship with China.