Hillary Clinton reportedly accepts Barack Obama's Cabinet offer

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to accept the role of secretary of State, according to several published reports. (See news video below)

The reports, if confirmed, mean that Clinton will relinquish her Senate seat from New York to become the nation's top diplomat in an administration led by her former rival, Barack Obama.

The Ticket reported earlier today that talks between Clinton and the president-elect were progressing.

Obama asked the former first lady and runner-up for the Democratic presidential nomination to fill the role last week. Since then, she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have undergone intense vetting.

Hillary Clinton made her foreign policy experience a selling point during the primaries, telling crowds that as first lady she visited 80 countries. During the battle for the Democratic nomination, she and her husband often criticized Obama for lacking the foreign policy credentials necessary to be president. Remember "Ready from Day One"?

But after Obama clinched the nomination, Clinton campaigned hard for him. She allegedly made Obama's short list for vice president but lost out to Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.

Clinton would become only the third woman in U.S. history to hold that post, after Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine Albright.

We will update with official confirmation. Meanwhile, The Times' Peter Nicholas has a smart piece about the Clinton-Obama negotiations.

-- Kate Linthicum

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Photo: Michal Czerwonka / EPA

Comments

[John Williams]

People are free to complain about Hillary and say that this will be the Clinton Administration all over again. I am fine with that idea. I did well fine under the Clinton Administration - bought a house, saved for retirement, and put my kids through college. Now I have to scrape to get by, my wife hasn't had health insurance in 3 years, and I haven't saved money in the past 4 years.

[Donny Cheeks]

This is change but you Republican do not embrace change unless it comes from you; which has never come. Unless you figure it out; you will do nothing but hurt this country and try to belittle people that do not agree with you. Totally Un-American and you say you put America first. Just another byline; how stupid

[Annette]

Big Mistake Barak.
B I G Mistake!!
I voted for you - NOT for Hillary BECAUSE she is trouble - as is her husband as are her aides. You are surrounding yourself with Clintonites and now with the lady herself. What a wasted vote - I could have voted for McCain or change like this!

[justme2727]

C'mon people, seriously, your comments are pretty far off point.

The "Change" everyone wants is from the disasterous policies of the Bush administration. This is that change on foreign policy. If we can revisit the peace and prosperity of the Clinton years, would that really be a bad thing?

Sure there are other changes Obama supporters would also like to see that would differ somewhat from the Clinton years, like reduced influence of lobbyists, a serious effort on alternative energy, and successful passage of universal health care. And appointing Hillary to Secretary of State does nothing to preclude any of those.

It's a good move that will let us hit the ground running on foreign policy. You all have every right to be skeptical about things if you want to, but at least be skeptical over something well reasoned!

[Julie D.]

No, Shirley, we do not know what you mean...but YOU are mean--mean-spirited and stupid. Hillary will make a great Cabinet member. And, yes, Shirley, there really is a Santa, and he gave us CHANGE and PROGRESSIVES for the next 4 years, at least...

[Jack]

I sure hope that she doesn't get us into trouble by falsely reporting being under attack and ducking for cover when she visits other countries.

[Ed]

Wow! Conservatives and the "old" guard must be fuming with rage at these news. Just when they thought their nightmare could not get any worse! I LOVE IT!!!!

[Franky]

Putting "SOS" next to the Clinton name is a good idea, but this is going a little too far!

[Digital Publius]

The American Troika; Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, like every other totalitarian regime in history, need a serviceable minister of propaganda. Who better to represent the new American paradigm to the world than Hillary Clinton? The terraforming of America by the leftists has begun, we will be remade into the more acceptable likeness of Western Europe. The long suffering, liberal turmoil is at an end. America can at last take it’s place at the adult table beside the other more progressive socialist leader nations of the West. ‘Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished.

[rick]

Change? What change. I am so disappointed. I want to see new ideas and people, like OBama promised. Not corrupt politics as usual. The name on the door may have changed, but what else? I think Obama duped us. Another stuffed shirt lying politician.....doing favors to payback the special interests that ponied up the cash to buy his way into the white house. Our country is doomed.

[Jill]

3am phone call payback

[Sam]

This is the best thing could ever happen to this country
More of the same staff but with new policy, that is the difference.
It is a known fact that republicans mess things up and the democrats clean it up.
Well done Barack for choosing Hilary as our next secretary of state.

[Mike]

Good decision - Obama is picking the best and brightest, he isn't intimidated by former rivals, for these key positions. In the long run, this will be a great advantage for the country.

[David]

Stage managed...Does the Casino management prefer "Senator" Bill Clinton or "Senator" Al Sharpton? Bet on the house..."Senator Bill Clinton.

[The Definer]

@ Shirley
Do you mean a United States Senator?

[WOI]

Hillary is a good choice for the job: she's well liked overseas and has as much credibility as any of the other leading contenders (and certainly no less of it than Condie did when she got her cabinet post). This decision also demonstrates unity (as did Lieberman's "pardon"), burying the hatchet, and might be a very wise way to preemptively avoid potential internal division in the future. I really don't understand why some fellow readers react so lividly to this news!

[e henderson]

all of the information concerning Hillary Clinton's supposed nomination for SOS was leaked (reported) by Andrea Mitchell. Who gave her the press release? Is she and her group still campaigning????? Hillary and her people just won't give up. I will not believe anything that the media says since the only person reporting is AM, HRC, and WC.

The Clinton's LOST the election!!!!!!! GIVE IT UP...

[Dio]

Hillary is a great choice. She would have been a good President, but she will be a great Secretary of State.

[Joseph]

I think it's great! She will sure do a much better job then Ms. Rice!

[Kate]

The best of both worlds! What a positive CHANGE from the past 8 years of Bush's destruction.

[Robert]

Once announced as President Elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of State and before her Senate confirmation Hillary Clinton will begin to publically reinvent herself. She will clearly demonstrate her readiness and willingness to serve her country as Secretary of State under President Obama and will present her vision and indicate what her approach and her goals will be as head of the State Department. I can only wonder if the new Hillary will sport a new hairdo and wardrobe as well.

[David in Los Angeles]

I voted for McCain, but wish President-Elect Obama all the best.

I actually think Senator Clinton will do a good job as Secretary of State. Like everyone else, I want the war in Iraq to end ... but just pulling out our troops would result in a bloodbath.

I actually would rather have Hillary (and Bill) involved in foreign rather than domestic policy ...

[Bill Dingle]

Ninety pound weakling boy President Obama needs Clinton ideas and Clinton leadership and Clinton trained people. He could have had Hillary as a new-role power-Veep but he passed. WE could have had Hillary if not for John Edwards. The world can use Hillary as SoS.

[Spirit]

You guys are haters! Obama is acting like any person in a leadership position would, get the best and brightest to complete the difficult jobs ahead.

[Al]

The candidate of change is loading up on Clinton retreads. At least this position will keep HIllary away from domestic policy.