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President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sat for an unprecedented joint interview that . If you missed it, it was both jolly and elegiac, like a goodbye party for a valued employee. Which, in a way, is what it was.

Mr. Obama and Secretary Clinton talked about the bond they鈥檇 developed over the past four years 鈥� 鈥渧ery warm, close," according to the latter. They discussed how their staffs and spouses had taken some time to get over the way they鈥檇 fought in the 2008 Democratic primaries. Oh, and they dealt with foreign policy, too 鈥� a bit.

Both gave well-rehearsed answers to the inevitable question about the attack in Benghazi, Libya.

鈥淲e did fix responsibility appropriately. And we鈥檙e taking steps to implement that,鈥� said Clinton, pointing to an internal Accountability Review Board report on the issue.

鈥淚t is a dangerous world,鈥� added Obama.

Then, CBS interviewer Steve Kroft asked whether the United States had become too reticent on the world stage. Obama and Clinton easily parried this general question.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be careful. You have to be thoughtful. You can鈥檛 rush in, especially now, where it鈥檚 more complex than it鈥檚 been in decades,鈥� said Clinton.

Hmmm. 鈥�60 Minutes鈥� remains a big platform, and the interview鈥檚 getting a lot of attention in Washington today. What鈥檚 the fallout from this unusual appearance?

Well, Republicans are not happy with what they think were easy questions. They鈥檙e grousing that most of the thing was about the Obama-Clinton relationship, like CBS was talking to two characters from a buddy movie.

Some in the mainstream media had a similar reaction.

鈥淗ow relaxing was that interview? What a series of softballs. I remember when the scariest words in TV journalism were, 鈥業鈥檓 from "60 Minutes" and I鈥檓 here to interview you,' 鈥� on Monday morning.

This got us thinking. The interview was the administration鈥檚 idea 鈥� Mr. Kroft noted that, and said he鈥檇 been allotted just 30 minutes for the talk. So what were White House press officials after with this? Given the restrictions, they must have had a specific something they were trying to accomplish.

One, Clinton gets a good send-off. (See 鈥済oodbye party," above.) She deserves as much after all those countries she鈥檚 visited. One hundred and twelve, in case you鈥檙e interested.

鈥淗er conduct as secretary of State has been highly dignified. She does her homework,鈥� 鈥� though he added that he believes the case for her being great in her job is 鈥渆xceedingly weak.鈥�

Obama should be grateful. By appearing with her on CBS, he ensures that she gets a high-profile interview that is about the two of them, not Benghazi.

Two, the Obama-Clinton appearance may be an attempt to keep the Democratic Party united. Whatever Clinton decides to do as 2016 approaches, she and her ex-president husband represent a more moderate faction. This joint interview gives a picture of unity, dampens any talk that she鈥檚 being rushed out the door, and gives an impression that she鈥檚 going to continue to advise the administration in the months ahead. That鈥檚 all good for her political fortunes.

(Is that Joe Biden stifling a sob? Sure sounded like it to us.)

Third, Obama gets to build himself up. Yes, there鈥檚 nothing like appearing on a joint platform with the most popular politician in the country. And right now, that鈥檚 Hillary Clinton, not Obama himself.

Clinton鈥檚 stature is now such that if she wants to be the next Democratic nominee for president, she will be, , a foreign- policy expert and chief executive officer and editor at large of the FP Group.

鈥淛oe Biden, Andrew Cuomo, Mark Warner, Martin O鈥橫alley and the others in the long list of commander-in-chief wannabes will go about their day jobs for the next couple years, but at the back of their minds will be only one question: Will she or won鈥檛 she?鈥� Mr. Rothkopf writes.