Transcript: Hillary Clinton's Final Television Interview as Secretary of State

Jan. 29, 2013— -- The following is a transcript of "Nightline" anchor Cynthia McFadden's interview with Hillary Clinton in her final television interview as Secretary of State. This interview will air on "Nightline" on Jan. 29, 2013.

"Nightline" anchor Cynthia McFadden: Thank you for letting us come and talk to you.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Of course, I'm so happy to see you again.

McFadden: This is your last TV interview as Secretary of State.

Clinton: Hard to believe, Cynthia, it feels like the time has just flown by.

McFadden: In Moscow, three years ago, you told me, 'I have absolutely no interest in running for president, none.' Two years ago you said the exact same thing in Australia. And yet, in the past few days, a PAC called "Ready for Hillary" has been launched. Can you still say with a straight face there is no way you would consider running for president?

Clinton: Sitting here right now, that is certainly what I believe and I am still the Secretary of State so I am not in politics. I am going to be focusing on my philanthropies, my charities, my writing and speaking so I am looking forward to having something resembling kind of a normal life again.

McFadden: And yet, are we up to "maybe?"

Clinton: (laughing) yes, that's very good, Cynthia, of course, of course. I am flattered and honored, I didn't even know about some of these things that are happening now, but I am really not focused on that at all. I have no plans or intentions, I don't know how else to say it but I am going to get back into my life again, see how it feels not having a schedule, waking up and going back to sleep if I choose for a while. I have been working or attending school full time since I was 13. This is going to be new for me. I don't know how I'm going to react to it to be honest.

McFadden: When you conceded defeat in the primary, you made a famous speech in which you said, "there are 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling."

Clinton: Right.

McFadden: If in the course of the next couple of years it appears as it does appear right now that you might be the person who could actually break through that glass ceiling and become the first female president of this country, would you feel a certain obligation to seize that mantle?

Clinton: Well I'm very conscious of how important it is for us to shatter that glass ceiling in my country. A country that has done so much for so many women and really has set the standard for women's rights and responsibilities, and I do want to see that glass ceiling shattered. I don't think it has to be any particular person, it just has to be a convergence of the right candidate and historical forces so I don't think one person is the only way to do that. I think there are a lot of people that are in the pipeline and moving to a position where they might be able to as well.

McFadden: But there's never been a woman who's had a credible chance and it looks as if you might just be that person, and I know how serious you take commitment and obligation and how serious the women's issue is to you.