Hillary Clinton: ‘Absolutely No Interest’ in Another Presidential Run; ‘No’ to Running for Governor or Senate Again, Too
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is probably going to face the questions for the rest of her life. But she’s strongly disavowing any interest in seeking elected office again in her career. Asked by ABC’s Cynthia McFadden in an interview in Moscow if she’s “never going to run for president again,” Clinton responded: “I have absolutely no interest in running for president again. None. None. I mean, I know that’s hard for some people to believe, but, you know, I just — I just don’t — I feel like that was a great experience — you know, I gave it all I had, I’m giving this job all I have. I try to live in the present, so it just seems, you know, that — that’s not in my future.” Asked whether she’s contemplating resigning to run for Senate again, she said: “No. I am neither frustrated nor planning anything other than being the best secretary of state I could be.” Asked about rumors that she’d run for governor of New York, Clinton responded: “No. No. I love the fact that there’s so much . . . curiosity about what I might do, but I’m so focused on what I am doing, I really can’t imagine why anybody would have time to think about something in the future.” Clinton also talked in detail about President Obama’s request for her to serve as secretary of state, and why she ultimately said yes: “If I had called him, I would have wanted him to say yes.” She also said she’s surprised by how much “one-on-one” time she gets with the president: “I am shocked at how much time I spend in the White House. I mean, you know, for people on the outside, the idea of going to the White House for a meeting must seem like the most important, serious, even glamorous kind of thing to do. But I’ve been there so much, it’s . . . I say, oh, my gosh, I have to go to the White House again,” Clinton said. “I spend so much time every week. I spend it in meetings with others in the White House. I spend it in meetings in the Situation Room, particularly given everything that’s going on. And I spend it one-on-one with the president. So there’s an enormous amount of interaction, which I find fascinating.” Watch more of Cynthia McFadden’s interview with Secretary Clinton tonight on “World News,” with the full interviewing airing on “Nightline.”
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Hillary Clinton sounds like she has found a fulfilling position, this is exactly what women were striving for during the equal rights movement of the sixties. I am ten years younger than Hillary, I remember when women had to fight to the right to a career. Now we see the fruits of the fight: competent women in rewarding jobs, making the world a better place. Thank you boomer generation feminists!
Posted by: Amy in Maine | October 14, 2009, 9:32 am 9:32 am
Amy in Maine — I would agree about women in rewarding jobs. I do not, however, agree Hillary wanted her position. Her problem was losing to Obama, she was fairly sure she wouldn’t be able to run in 2012. Accepting her current position was probably more a slap in the face, but she at least remains a prominant figure in her party. Deep down, she certainly wanted the Presidency and that feeling will never go away.
Posted by: lfrichar | October 14, 2009, 9:41 am 9:41 am
She said the exact same thing about running for president, a couple of years before running for president. It shouldn’t make much difference anyway, by the time her current job is up, the US will likely be a radioactive smoking ruin with the survivors freezing in the dark and unable to get to the polling booths. Women and minorities will no doubt be hardest hit.
Posted by: patrick | October 14, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
lfrichar
Really? I felt like Hillary was running for President because she felt she had to. I never got a vibe that she actually wanted the job. She’s a dutiful-type person, wonky, responsible, why else would she have enjoyed being a Senator? She liked the Senate, unlike Obama who clearly wanted the higher profile. That’s my take on Hillary and Barack.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | October 14, 2009, 9:46 am 9:46 am
I think Hillary is happy where she is at. I dont think shes bitter about not becoming President and I think after being Sec of State she will Retire all together.
Posted by: Angie in PA | October 14, 2009, 9:55 am 9:55 am
Yep !! Hillary figgers she’s done enough damage already. Plus, she recognizes that she can’t compete with Bill.
Posted by: Willie12345 | October 14, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am
Hillary is the only competition obama has for the 2012 democratic presidential nominee. He’s squeezing her out so no dem can contend against him. I still think she won that nomination and the books were fixed for barry. I am very surprised many feminists groups didn’t follow up on this. Very sad she was abandoned like that. She would be running the country so much better than barry!
Posted by: Fabiansbass | October 14, 2009, 11:36 am 11:36 am
Fabiansbass | Oct 14, 2009 11:36:27 AM
And your “draft drama for this political Reality show” – is intended to accomplish WHAT???
And BTW, who’s barry – fabianb ass?
Posted by: bobj72 | October 14, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
Willie that would be “figures” not figgers and your wrong. Hillary is doing what she wants to do, and why is it so hard to beleive that woman who will be about 65 doesnt not want to go into another grueling campaign. Hillary has put her time in I will be sad if she does retire but its well deserved if she does. All those complaining about her saying the same thing when a few years ago. Obama also said that he wouldnt run before he finished his first term a senator oops. Also the circumstances are different Hillary will be older and she has ran and saw how the democratic party turned on her infavor for Obama. Why waste her energy?
Posted by: rachel | October 14, 2009, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
Bravo Hillary. Often shrill in the past, she seems to have obtained some dignity and is impressive in her role. I voted twice for her as NY Senator. I’ve had mixed opinions of her, but always respected her nerve and resilience. Good Job!
Posted by: power2people | October 14, 2009, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
I think after her latest fiascos such as “I’m not Bill” and still being in his shadow and stigma of him, I think she’s giving up. Her current position was a door prize. I think she’s seen the writing on the wall. IF Obama does well, he’s in for another term. IF he doesn’t I don’t think she’d make the cut for her current performance. Bow out ahead of time. Beat em to the punch line.
Posted by: kab4usa | October 14, 2009, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
rachel: I see that I got your attention. Hillary is a poor excuse for a SOS, Senator, or dog catcher. She’s married to a first class jerk, who couldn’t keep his zipper up. Moreover, she lacks the guts to drop him. Must be seriously lacking self esteem. What has this wonder woman done since taking office as SOS? Nothing, besides chew on some poor African student. She needs to consider some sort of domestic position in the White House. Perhaps you could “figger” out a position she could handle. May be walking the Obama’s dog. Your loyalty to this loser is misplaced.
Posted by: Willie12345 | October 14, 2009, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
I think I actually believe HRC on this one. Otherwise her acceptance of BHO’s offer to be his SoS makes absolutely no sense. She had to understand there was no way she could run for POTUS in 2012 once she accepted the SoS job. And she’d probably be too old to wait around for 2016. After BHO’s election, I think she made up her mind that 2008 was her one and only shot. Figured SoS would a nice consolation prize. If she had chosen to remain in the Senate, then that would have signaled she was keeping her options open for 2012, particularly if things looked bad for BHO by 2011. As a Senator, she could more easily distance herself from an unpopular Democratic president and at least try to position herself as an alternative voice of the party, like “See, I told you he wasn’t ready for prime time!”
Posted by: joelw | October 14, 2009, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
Hillary will be 66 yrs. old, I believe after this term. She needs to go, maybe to another country to retire along with Bill who, signed NAFTA & costs us millions in jobs. Thank You Bill. What a guy, you lived up to your “democrat” image along with your wife and her scowling face. We need Happy people running our country not self-serving ones.
Posted by: Ann | October 14, 2009, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
Who let Willie out of the basement?
Posted by: ceeLeelee | October 14, 2009, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
I refuse to admit it, but he was screaming so loud…. and surprisingly Ann had knotted her hair around his wrist!
Posted by: bobj72 | October 15, 2009, 8:43 am 8:43 am