Video: Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the World Premiere Screening of "Inside the State Department"

Remarks at the World Premiere Screening of "Inside the State Department"

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

National Geographic Headquarters

Washington, DC

October 25, 2010

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Thank you very much. This is an exciting opportunity that we’re thrilled to have partnered with the National Geographic, and I want to thank Steve Schiffman and Steve Burns and Steve Hoggard and everybody named Steve – (laughter) – who has anything to do with National Geographic.

This project made perfect sense to us at the State Department because the State Department works in just about every country on the planet, and National Geographic has taken its audience over the years to just about every country on the planet. And the filmmakers were wonderful to work with. We very much appreciate their understanding and sensitivity and we'll see the final product, but for us, it was a real privilege to work with you.

This is truly a tribute to the more than 60,000 people who work for the State Department around the world. Now, not all of them could fit into the movie, but without their service standing behind all the faces that you will see and the people that you’ll meet, there are literally hundreds and thousands more who do every day what is necessary to protect America, to promote our values, advance our interests in every corner of the globe.

It is amazing to me how even in this period of connectivity that can literally put us in touch with someone with the flick of a mouse, or the picking up a telephone, it is the face-to-face encounters that are important. And it is a necessity that each and every person who works for the State Department faces because they have to get out and basically tell the story.

So for me, there is a great privilege and honor to be the 67^th Secretary of State. I wish that this could have been done at an earlier time with others who served in my capacity because I think it’s long overdue. Because we want to tell the story of the men and women of the State Department who serve you, the American public, every single day. We have really appreciated the chance to tell this story. It is part of our overall effort to elevate diplomacy and development alongside defense to make it clear that this is who we are and what we do.

I’m delighted that I get a chance to see this for the first time with all of you, and again, I thank National Geographic for going inside the State Department and expanding the audience to all of America, and indeed, the world so that people know what it is that we are focused on and the mission that we are pursuing as we serve the country that we love.

So, Steve, again, thank you very, very much.