Clinton's First Day at State Dept: "Honored and Thrilled"

Photograph of Hillary Clinton being greeted by State Department employees by Kevin Wolf/AP

As the drama over her Senate seat continues, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was enthusiastically greeted by State Department staffers this morning. The Caucus reports, "Mrs. Clinton was greeted by a crowd of more than a thousand State Department employees, cheering and whooping like a campaign gathering." Aw. She told them:

I am absolutely honored and thrilled beyond words to be here with you as our nation's 67th Secretary of State. And I believe, with all of my heart, that this is a new era for America. President Obama set the tone with his inaugural address. And the work of the Obama-Biden Administration is committed to advancing America's national security, furthering America's interests, and respecting and exemplifying America's values around the world.

There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy: defense, diplomacy, and development. And we are responsible for two of the three legs. And we will make clear, as we go forward, that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States. And I will do all that I can, working with you, to make it abundantly clear that robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America's future.

Also on the State Department's blog, the U.S. Embassy in Kenya's Counselor for Public Affairs, Thomas Dowling, writes about Kenyans watching the inaugural festivities: "For the last week, the imminent accession of Kenya’s favorite, if somewhat removed son, to the most visible office in the world had become the news again and the only topic on people’s lips for days."