Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Kellerman: Hillary’s First Day at State “Nothing Short of a Triumph”

Barbara Kellerman of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and author of Bad Leadership and Followership gives Hillary Clinton high praise for her first day on the job at the State Department:

Here’s Kellerman’s lead paragraph (emphasis mine):

“Hillary Clinton's first day at the office was nothing short of a triumph. Greeted by cheering throngs - many of them old hands at the State Department convinced that under her leadership at new day dawned for diplomacy - she did not let them down. Not only did she bring with her the polish and panache of seasoned celebrity, she delivered the message they wanted to hear."

And here’s her conclusion (emphasis mine):

“Obviously, the new Secretary of State has her work cut out for her. She faces great challenges abroad. And she faces great challenges at home - not least of which is managing her outsized team, including men like Richard Holbrooke, who is himself outsized, and used to having wide latitude and direct access to the president himself. Still her presentation of self at State gave evidence yet again of Hillary Clinton's strengths and smarts. Even the big boys would be foolish to underestimate her.”

To read the complete article, go here.

Hillary’s Star Quality Shines Attention on State Department

Tom Brune at Newsday.com reports:

"WASHINGTON - On her first day as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday did what she does best: She used her star quality to shine attention on a State Department that felt it had been in the shadows for far too long.

"With a broad smile, Clinton won excited, almost giddy, applause and cheers from hundreds of diplomats, foreign service officers and staff as she worked a rope line in the department's packed main lobby yesterday morning.

"As if to underscore Clinton's role both as the high-profile public face of U.S. diplomacy, and as a member of his team of rivals, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden paid an unusually early visit to Foggy Bottom.

After taking credit for naming Clinton as secretary of state, Obama stepped aside as she introduced George Mitchell newly assigned to the Middle East and Richard Holbrooke to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Brune continues:

"She showed up at 9:15 a.m. and after a short ceremony, went to her office and phoned her counterparts in other countries, including Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. She then took an intelligence briefing and toured the building before holding a closed meeting with Obama, Biden and national security advisers."

Brune concludes:

'"Though it was a day of smiles and camera flashes, the uncertainty and gravity of international affairs weighed heavy. "This is not going to be easy," she said, upon arriving. "I don't want anybody to leave this extraordinarily warm reception thinking, 'Oh, good,' you know, 'this is going to be great!' It's going to be hard."'

It occurs to me this morning that naming Hillary Clinton as secretary of state may turn out to be the smartest decision Obama has made since elected president.

Politico Readers Choose Hillary for Secretary of State by Wide Margin

And the Winner is: Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State with 42% of 4,330 votes cast at Politico. Bill Richardson came in second with 26% as shown below.

Hillary Rodham Clinton 42 %
Richard Holbrooke 4 %
John Kerry 9 %
Colin Powell 13 %
Bill Richardson 26 %
Other 7 %

Results are based off 4330 votes
Reference Story