Thaindian News

Washington, Oct 17 (IANS) US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated Monday that she would not run for president again, but would turn to a life of writing and teaching after retirement.

In an interview broadcast on the NBC TV network’s “Today” show, the top US envoy repeated her intention of leaving her current post after President Barack Obama ended his first tenure in early 2013, Xinhua reported.

Asked whether she would run for president again in 2016, Clinton said: “No, No.”

“I’m very privileged to have had the opportunities to serve my country, and I am really old fashioned,” she explained.

“I feel I’ve made my contribution. I’ve done the best I can. But now, you know, I want to try some other things. I want to get back to writing and maybe some teaching, working on women and girls around the world.”

Clinton pitted herself against Obama in 2008 for the Democratic presidential nomination but failed. She accepted Obama’s offer and took office as his secretary of state in January 2009.

Told by NBC anchor that people will not believe that she is locking it on running for office ever again, Clinton replied: ” They’ll have to just watch and wait.”

“I have made my contribution. I’m very grateful I’ve had a chance to serve. But I think it’s time, you know, for others to step up,” said Clinton.

She claimed that despite very difficult circumstances when the Obama administration started its job, it has “reasserted American leadership”.

“We are going to lead despite other countries coming to the forefront. We are going to lead because America is destined to lead,” she said, adding whoever sees an America that is in decline is “badly mistaken”.

However, she acknowledged that “we do have to get our own house in order — our economic house, our political house. But at the same time we cannot abdicate leadership around the world, because when we do it does comes back to bite”.