A celebrity welcome for Hillary Clinton at State Department

When a new secretary of State arrives for work at The Building in Foggy Bottom -- which looks like a leftover from the Stalinist school of architecture -- there's an elevator waiting to take the new Cabinet officer from the main entrance on C Street to his or her seventh-floor power office.

Sometimes there's an all-hands-on-deck meeting in the agency's huge auditorium.

But today, when political rock star Hillary Rodham Clinton showed up for her first day of work, there was an enormous crowd of hundreds of foreign service and civilian employees packed along the agency's lobby balcony and stairwell that looked for all the world like an adoring political rally.

Amid the tumultuous welcome, Steve Kaskent, who represents the foreign service union, drew a laugh from Clinton -- and everyone else -- when he said, "So far we are thrilled to have you here."

Clinton lost no time in signaling to the employees -- and the international community -- that U.S. foreign policy has changed course. "I believe with all of....

...my heart that this is a new era for America," she said.

Noting that she welcomes "a good debate and the kind of dialog that will make us better," Clinton urged employees to "think outside the proverbial box."

The nomination of Clinton as secretary of State surprised some pundits who questioned why Barack Obama would give his toughest opponent in the presidential race such a plum assignment. The selection was no surprise to those who knew that Obama and his staffers were reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals," in which the historian described how Abraham Lincoln effectively won over some of his key opponents by putting them in his Cabinet.

This afternoon, Obama plans to underscore Clinton's message on foreign policy when he too, along with Vice President Joe Biden and national security advisor James Jones, stops by the State Department to rally the troops.

Obama will also signal his interest in engaging in foreign policy with the appointment of three envoys who are heavyweights in their own right -- Richard Holbrooke for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Dennis Ross for Iran and George Mitchell for the Middle East.

But for Clinton, a former first lady and senator from New York who had hoped to be the first female president in U.S. history, the moment was personal as well as political. "I am absolutely honored and thrilled beyond words to be here with you as our nation's 67th secretary of state," she said.

--Johanna Neuman

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Photo credit: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg News

Comments

[Amber]

This woman is a GOD! I love her beyond words.

And by the way...she WILL be the first woman U.S. President. Just wait and see.

[Tamara]

Any success this new administration has will be due to Secretary of State Clinton. Obama lucked out when she accepted this post.

[Angelino, CA]

I'm "thrilled" that Hillary & her staff are "thrilled." This indeed is a new era. Way to go, girl! I'm happy that Obama chose her to be Secretary of State instead of VP. She will gain greater and more powerful status around the world and carry out the messages of what is America really all about. I'm still waiting to vote for you for the first female president in our country in the years to come!

[Chad]

It's amazing how much our country has change in one day. Hillary you are brilliant, thank you for all you do. I am ready to help elect you a the first female president.

[Maggie]

I watched the entire 25 minute video of Hillary's arrival at the State Department on the Department's website and it was awesome. Half the video is applause and cheering and hundreds of people trying to shake Hillary's hand. Her completely unscripted ten minute speech was strong, clear and inspiring. I am so comforted and happy to see her in this position. It is good news for the world. She is really remarkable.

[erika]

Go Hillary! Go! Go! Go! Godspeed girl.