She’s been called one of the finest secretaries of state we’ve ever had.
And
someone who once held the same job as Hillary Clinton—former Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright—says she’s never met anyone more prepared to
be president.
We asked world leaders what made Hillary's four years as America's chief diplomat so consequential. Here’s what they had to say.
1. She restored America’s reputation in the world.
In
2009, our credibility overseas had been badly damaged after years of
unpopular American-led wars in the Middle East. Hillary went to work to
restore America’s reputation around the world. She visited 112
countries, brought smart power—coupling diplomacy with the threat of
force or sanctions—to U.S. foreign policy, and shaped the global
conversation “through her engagement with so many leaders but also the
caliber of her intellect,” says former Australian prime minister Julia
Gillard.
2. She championed the rights of women and girls around the world.
“Hillary
knew in her head that if we wanted to build peaceful, economically
prosperous nations, then we have to educate girls,” says Prime Minister
Gillard. Hillary worked to bring down barriers that stop women and girls
from reaching their potential—standing up against sex trafficking;
helping women gain access to markets, credit, and training; and leading
the fight for a U.N. Security Council resolution to combat sexual
violence against women and children in conflict zones.
3. She negotiated the toughest sanctions Iran has ever faced.
With
Iran at risk of becoming a nuclear nation, Hillary played a critical
role persuading Russia, China, and nine other U.N. Security Council
countries to impose the toughest sanctions in Iranian history. It was “a
remarkable effort,” says former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. “And
it paid off.”
4. She negotiated a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
In
2012, conflict between Israel and Hamas was escalating in Gaza, and
another war in the Middle East seemed imminent. Hillary flew to
Jerusalem, convening meetings with leaders in Ramallah and Cairo, and in
24 hours negotiated a ceasefire—ushering in the quietest year Israel
had seen in a decade.
5. She stood up for LGBT rights.
Hillary’s
boldness in standing up to countries that pushed anti-gay legislation
“transform[ed] the way countries perceive and react to homosexuality,”
in the words of one U.N. official. And when she declared to the U.N.
Human Rights Council in Geneva that gay rights are human rights,
commentators called her words “the strongest defense ever in terms of
gay rights.”
6. She reinvigorated American diplomacy with Asia.
Hillary
renewed the United States’ relationships with Asian and Pacific
nations, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia. “That’s going to
be remembered for many, many long years to come as a diplomatic
breakthrough for the U.S.,” says Prime Minister Gillard.
7. She took on the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.
