Hillary Rodham Clinton was confronted with nonstop challenges over the course of the past year as US secretary of State, a position that deals with some of America’s most sensitive and critical relationships around the globe.
From managing the government’s response to the release of hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables via the website WikiLeaks to grappling with the upending of the United States’ critical, sensitive relationships with several Arab governments amid the revolutions of 2011, to the death of Osama bin Laden, Ms. Clinton’s handling of the potential diplomatic landmines has been largely considered adept and consistently solid.
Clinton, who served as senator of New York before becoming President Obama’s secretary of State, is the third woman to serve in this position. She has denied speculation that she might stay in politics, even if Obama were to be reelected.
"I have made it clear that I will certainly stay on until the president nominates someone and that transition can occur" if Obama wins re-election, the Associated Press reports she told a town hall meeting. She says after 20 years in politics, she’s ready to “see how tired she is,” however, some still hold out that the trailblazing politician could have a change of heart.
Larry Downing/Reuters
