A Giddy Bill Clinton Talks Live With Astronauts in Space

By Liz Kreutz September 24, 2014

It was like Christmas morning for Bill Clinton today at the closing session of his foundation's annual meeting in New York City, where he surprised the audience by video-chatting live with astronauts in space.

Joined on stage by NASA's Cady Coleman, he video-conferenced with astronaut Reid Wiseman, who is in the International Space Station. At one point during the session at the Clinton Global Initiative, Clinton and Coleman even turned around and snapped a selfie with Wiseman, which they then sent to him in space. Wiseman, in turn, tweeted out the photo.

All the while, the former president, who has a special place in his heart for astronauts, stood there beaming.

Wiseman, who was joined mid-chat by a second astronaut, spoke about how the astronauts - all from different countries - work together in space to get the job done. To this, Clinton joked that in order to end political gridlock in Washington, D.C., he's "convinced" we should send members of Congress up to the space station. "Obviously, something happens to you up there," he quipped.

During the roughly 15-minute chat, Clinton continually stressed the importance of international space endeavors, and when Wiseman told him he thought earthlings would at some point leave the solar system, Clinton wistfully replied, "me too."

Hillary Clinton eventually joined Bill Clinton on stage and thanked the astronauts for their insights, and their somersaults. She then turned to her giddy husband and said, "That was very exciting, especially for someone who wanted to be an astronaut. Oh, my goodness!"