Secretary of State Hillary Clinton laughs at a comment before testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, in Washington, DC on January 23, 2013. UPI/Molly Riley |
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The warm letter, which includes a personal note to the president thanking him for his friendship, stands in stark contrast to the fraught relationship the two politicians held four years ago, when Obama beat out Clinton for the presidential nomination.
The Secretary of State
Washington
February 1, 2013
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C., 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I hereby resign as the 67th Secretary of State, effective upon the appointment of my successor.
It has been an honor to serve in your administration and the represent our country around the world. I am proud of what we have accomplished together on behalf of the American people and in pursuit of our interests and values. And I am more convinced than ever in the strength and staying power of America's global leadership and our capacity to be a force for good in the world.
It has been a privilege to lead such a dedicated and skilled team of Foreign Service Officers and Civil Servants at the State Department and USAID. I am deeply grateful for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the country they love.
On a personal note, it has been a pleasure to work with you and your team. Thank you, Mr. President, for your friendship, and for the opportunity to serve in your Cabinet.
With gratitude and warm regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton