Hillary Clinton makes a splash in Chicago, but not an overtly political one
In her first policy speech since leaving the State Department, Hillary Clinton made no firm declarations of political intentions. But she did laud the role of women in politics.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Meeting in Chicago, Thursday. Her speech Thursday was a broad-brush address heralding the power of women and talking education and opportunity.
Scott Eisen/AP
Washington
She is the Illinois girl made good, after all, and so perhaps it鈥檚 a natural that Hillary Rodham Clinton chose Chicago for her first policy speech since leaving the State Department.
Her speech Thursday at the Clinton Global Initiative America conference that she is co-hosting with her husband was a broad-brush address heralding the power of women and talking education and opportunity.
But it was not 鈥� no surprise here 鈥� an obvious return to the political fray. No firm declarations of intentions this June day. Instead, call it her national stage debut as a much-watched private citizen.
"When women participate in the economy, everyone benefits. This also should be a no-brainer," . "When women participate in peacemaking and peacekeeping, we are all safer and more secure. And when women participate in politics, the effects ripple out across society."
Her comments 鈥� much as her Twitter debut was just a few days ago 鈥� are being mined by 2016 watchers for every clue about whether she鈥檒l run for president and what that bid might look like. Perhaps of most note, she talked a great deal about leveling the field for women, and women, of course, handed the White House to President Obama in the last two national elections.
What is also clear is that the Clintons remain formidable manipulators of the political press. Even as news breaks of a involving staff at the State Department while she was in charge, Hillary Clinton is ignoring the hubbub and generating the headlines she wants.
NBC鈥檚 teased the speech with this: 鈥淗illary fully steps out of Bill Clinton鈥檚 shadow.鈥�
Meanwhile, the Clinton foundation is the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
Clinton used her foundation remarks to outline her goals for her work with the organization, and she hinted at another 鈥渆xciting announcement鈥� she鈥檒l make tomorrow.
During Clinton鈥檚 30-minute speech, she called her work for children 鈥渁 core cause of my life,鈥� according to , and she said helping women to succeed at work and families to thrive 鈥� creating more opportunities for women and girls 鈥� is 鈥渢he great unfinished business of this century.鈥�
She wants to 鈥渕ake equal pay a reality,鈥� expand family and medical leave benefits, encourage women to pursue careers in science and math, technology and engineering, among other .
She received a standing ovation from the friendly crowd of hundreds of business and political leaders, including Treasury Secretary Jack Lew (who was director of the Office of Management and Budget under former President Clinton), Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers; and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, among other notables.
From her perch at State, a globetrotting Clinton visited 112 countries. She appears to be returning her attention to domestic issues.
鈥淲omen are the world鈥檚 most underused resource,鈥� Clinton said, as she touted those areas of interest in which she鈥檒l invest her time and personal capital.
Would that line fit on a 2016 bumper sticker?