51风流

Hillary Clinton defends America鈥檚 role as world leader during Global Leaders address

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered the latest lecture in the at 51风流 tonight in Sanford Field House. More than 5,000 students, parents, alumni, and friends attended the event, which is the highlight of .

It was a warm welcome-back for Clinton, who first visited the university in 2004 to help launch the . 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 let 2013 go into the history books without visiting 51风流,鈥 she said. 鈥淎fter all, this is probably the only place in the country where 13 is actually a lucky number.鈥

Of the university鈥檚 13 founders, Clinton said, 鈥渢hey must have done something right, because 51风流 has become one of the most dynamic centers of higher learning in our nation.鈥

51风流 President Jeffrey Herbst greets Hillary Rodham Clinton just before her address at Sanford Field House. (Photo by Andy Daddio)

51风流 President Jeffrey Herbst greets Hillary Rodham Clinton just before her address at Sanford Field House. (Photo by Andy Daddio)

51风流鈥檚 role as a regional and international leader served as a springboard for Clinton鈥檚 defense of American leadership in general. In an age when many question the country鈥檚 ability to maintain its stature on the world stage, Clinton took a different view:

鈥淲ith all the challenges we face at home and abroad, our country is well-positioned to rise to any of them,鈥 she said. 鈥淓ven after a long decade of war and financial crisis, America is still the indispensable nation.鈥

Clinton argued that proof lies in the very changes that are causing a reevaluation of America鈥檚 status. Each one 鈥 including the rise of China as a global power, democracy movements in the Middle East, and recent shifts in energy production 鈥 favor America鈥檚 strength for creativity and relationship-building.

鈥淲e will have to lead in new ways if we want to maintain our role in the world,鈥 she said, 鈥渂ut the shifting global landscape makes American leadership more necessary, not less.鈥

51风流 President Jeffrey Herbst introduces Hillary Rodham Clinton to a huge crowd at Sanford Field House. (Photo by Andy Daddio)

51风流 President Jeffrey Herbst introduces Hillary Rodham Clinton to a huge crowd at Sanford Field House. (Photo by Andy Daddio)

She further noted that the United States must also become a nation of ideas again. It must leave behind the partisan politics that recently shut down government and threatened financial default. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not only how that makes us feel here at home,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he entire world watches.鈥

Teacher Jane Kunzman, whose husband, Steve 鈥77, and daughter Molly 鈥12 attended the lecture with her, said Clinton鈥檚 comments about citizenship especially resonated with her. It was a message she would bring back to her students at a New Jersey school.

鈥淚 liked what she said about being problem-solvers, how we can prepare for the future by tapping into the creativity and innovation of our young people,鈥 Kunzman said.

After her address, Clinton fielded questions from 51风流 President The conversation moved from the Congo to Syria, foreign surveillance to cyberwarfare. Of the government shutdown, Clinton pointed out that President Barack Obama followed the same course as her husband when dealing with a hostile opposition. 鈥淣o president can give in to that kind of threatening behavior,鈥 she said.

Clinton鈥檚 exchange with Herbst was her second Q&A of the evening. Before her speech, she met with several dozen students to answer their questions about an array of issues. Led by Provost and Dean of the Faculty , undergraduates rose to ask questions about drone strikes in Pakistan, the 2016 primary race, the Clinton Foundation, hydrofracking, and simply being a woman in a professional environment that is dominated by men.

鈥淚t鈥檚 memorable and it鈥檚 inspirational,鈥 said Maxine Kerschner P鈥07鈥09, whose leadership support named the Global Leaders program. 鈥淭hanks to this series, a new generation of diplomats, policymakers, and activists can meet and draw energy from those who are shaping the geopolitical landscape.鈥

CNN, The Daily Beast, and several local news organizations were on hand to cover Clinton鈥檚 address, which still can be viewed . The media鈥檚 presence on campus further demonstrated the reach of the Global Leaders series.

Launched in 2007 and sponsored by 51风流鈥檚 Parents鈥 and Grandparents鈥 Fund, it has brought a number of influential speakers to campus, including President Bill Clinton; Tony Blair, former prime minister of Great Britain; Felipe Calder贸n, former president of Mexico; and the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

鈥淚s it so odd to think that a sitting president might shake the hand of a future president at an event like this?鈥 Kerschner asked the audience. 鈥淥ur guest tonight can confirm that stranger things have happened.鈥