HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton

by Jonathan Allen

  In Hillary’s telling, she’s been drafted time and again—rather than volunteering herself. By the late fall of 2013, she had publicly acknowledged she was thinking about running, but she insisted she hadn’t yet made up her mind.

  “I never know what’s going to happen next,” she said. “And I really have never lived my life thinking I knew what was going to happen next. I really try to—I mean, it is very John Wesleyan, believe me. I really try to just do the best I can every day, because who knows what’s going to happen next? I don’t have any idea. So I’m one to just feel like every day I’m being true to my values and I’m contributing in some way, and maybe trying to do some good.”

  THE WOMEN OF HILLARYLAND IN 2008

  Front row:

  Patti Solis Doyle, Hillary’s onetime campaign manager who stepped down from the post in the middle of the primary, and Ann Lewis.

  Second row:

  Neera Tanden, who would later join the Obama campaign; Melanne Verveer, a longtime aide who would head up women’s and girls’ issues at State; Capricia Marshall, a longtime Hillary aide who would become chief of protocol; Minyon Moore; and Huma Abedin, one of her closest aides and so-called second daughter.

  Back row:

  Cheryl Mills, a close aide to both Clintons who would go on to become Hillary’s chief of staff at the State Department; Tamera Luzzatto, Hillary’s Senate chief of staff; Mandy Grunwald; and Lissa Muscatine.

  (Melina Mara, The Washington Post/Getty Images)

  President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton share a laugh after she dropped her briefing papers on the Oval Office floor.

  (White House photo/Pete Souza)

  President Obama and former president Bill Clinton speak outside the White House briefing room before addressing reporters in December 2010.

  (White House photo/Pete Souza)

  President Obama sits beside Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in a cabinet meeting in February 2011. Clinton formed an alliance and friendship with Gates during her time at State.

  (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

  State Department aides Alec Ross and Jared Cohen helped Hillary ramp up her online efforts at the State Department. Many observers say technology was a major problem for Hillary during the 2008 campaign and one of the biggest lessons she learned in the campaign’s aftermath. (Michele Asselin/Contour/Getty Images)

  President Obama and Hillary Clinton pose for a photograph in November 2012 with Aung San Suu Kyi and her staff at the residence in Rangoon, Burma, where she had been detained for fifteen years.

  (White House photo/Pete Souza)

  Hillary Clinton talks to her speechwriter Dan Schwerin in Islamabad, Pakistan, in October 2011. She is also joined by top aides Huma Abedin, Toria Nuland, and Philippe Reines, along with Cameron Phelps Munter (left of Schwerin), the ambassador to Pakistan, and Ambassador Marc Grossman (seated), the special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Diana Walker HC/Contour/Getty Images)

  Hillary Clinton watches the Osama bin Laden raid in the West Wing. The now famous photograph was particularly striking, observers said, because of Clinton’s expression. Hillary described the time as “thirty-eight of the most intense moments.” She later explained that she did not know what she, Obama, Biden, and other top officials were looking at when the photograph was taken. She also chalked up her expressive hand gesture to “my preventing one of my early spring allergic coughs. So it may have no great meaning whatsoever.” (White House photo/Pete Souza)

  President Obama receives a congratulatory hug from Hillary Clinton the day after the House passed the Affordable Care Act. Clinton, who had pushed for health care reform when her husband was president, supported Obama’s insistence that the law be passed and spoke up on the president’s behalf during a cabinet meeting. (White House photo/Pete Souza)

  Hillary Clinton traveled to 112 countries, including this trip to the Philippines in 2009, during her time as secretary of state—more than any of her predecessors. At a cabinet meeting early in his first term, Obama looked at his tireless secretary of state and decided to make an example of her. She was working around the clock, flying around the world, and it showed. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Obama said. (Nick Merrill)

  Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon listen as President Obama and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speak at a NATO summit in Chicago in May 2012. (White House photo/Pete Souza)

  Hillary Clinton watches her husband, former president Bill Clinton, deliver his speech at the Democratic National Convention. Hillary watched the speech from East Timor, after an aide downloaded the video. (Nick Merrill)

  Hillary Clinton received a helmet from her staff upon her return to the State Department in January 2013 after a month-long illness. Clinton, who suffered from a stomach virus and later a concussion, also received a jersey with the number 112 on it. It referred to the number of countries she had visited as secretary of state. (Nick Merrill)

  Hillary Clinton poses with first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, and Rosalynn Carter at the dedication of the Bush Presidential Library in April 2013. (White House photo/Lawrence Jackson)

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book began as a pitch from Bridget Wagner Matzie of Zachary Shuster Harmsworth, who had her sights set on Hillary Clinton even when the rest of the political world was focused on the 2012 presidential race. Pointed to us by a mutual friend, author Karin Tanabe, Bridget asked if we would be game to write a proposal for a book about Hillary’s years at the State Department and her political future. It seemed like such a good idea, we marveled that no one else had thought of it. And thus, Bridget became our agent and friend. We can’t thank her enough for the original idea, her advocacy, her guidance, and her edits. Nor could we be any more grateful to Karin for suggesting us to Bridget.

  Our editor, Kevin Doughten, who had to pick up the book halfway through the process, brought his considerable talents to bear on weaving a set of stories into a narrative and pushing us for more inside-the-room details. We are forever indebted to him. We knew from the minute we met Kevin’s boss, publisher Molly Stern, that she was an ass-kicker who would get the most out of not just us but her own team. We couldn’t be more impressed with the work they have done.

  In particular, we are grateful to Crown’s Jacob Lewis, Maya Mavjee, Linnea Knollmueller, Barbara Sturman, Christine Tanigawa, Christopher Brand, Rachel Meier, Linda Kaplan, Christine Edwards, Candice Chaplin, Jay Sones, Annsley Rosner, Dyana Messina, and Carisa Hayes, each of whom owns a piece of this book. Claire Potter deserves special recognition for helping manage the project, from reading drafts to making herself available at all hours, on weekends and holidays, to ensure that each step moved the process forward.

  Benjamin Kamisar was still an undergrad at Northwestern University when we asked him if he would work as our lead research assistant. An excellent young journalist, he thoughtfully improved upon every project we gave him, transcribed countless hours of interviews, and maintained a give-me-more attitude throughout. We were blessed to have found the right man for the job. We are also grateful to Amelia Wedemeyer and Ellis Weintraub, who provided additional research assistance with professionalism and precision.

  Chris Donovan, a producer for Meet the Press, freely gave advice and counsel, and Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post provided moral support. We thank them for their friendship and insights.

  Hugo Gurdon, Bob Cusack, and Ian Swanson of The Hill saw the value in letting Amie split her time between the White House and the book for much of 2013. John Harris, Jim VandeHei, Kim Kingsley, and Danielle Jones of Politico allowed Jon to pursue the book with the confidence that his job would be awaiting him when he returned. We are eternally grateful to all of you.

  We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the many businesses that unwittingly provided us with shelter and sustenance for our work: Starbucks in Georgetow
n, Shelly’s Back Room, the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton, Ebenezers, and Stoney’s.

  Finally, we would like to thank most of our sources, some of whom sat with us multiple times, fetched physical documents from undisclosed locations, and were generally a fabulous bunch to work with. We are grateful, as well, to Hillary’s post-State staff for their insights and assistance. To sources who pointed us in the wrong direction, we keep lists, too.

  —J.A. and A.P.

  My heart swells when I think about the sacrifices that my family made to allow me to take on this project. My wife, Stephanie Claire Allen, shares with me her love, her wisdom, her counsel, her laughter, and our two children. Asher Henry Allen couldn’t yet walk when this book was first pitched and now he screams “home run” as he runs around the house, unwilling to drop his toy bat. Emma Pearson Allen wasn’t even a thought in the summer of 2012, and now I can’t remember what life was like before her. Though they cannot yet read this book, it is in so many ways for them—that they might assess a leader by her decisions, her character, and her judgment, and never pause at “her.”

  My contribution to this book begins where all human stories do, with a mother—in this case my mom, Marin Allen, who earned a Ph.D. while raising two small children, worked all day at the office and all night at home, taught me how to listen to what politicians say, and to this day demonstrates that strength and compassion are reinforcing traits. Similarly, neither I, nor this book, would be here without my father, Ira R. Allen, the most talented writer I know, who taught me his father’s curve—or “drop”—and who talks baseball, politics, and journalism with me in the best running conversation of my life. It would be hard to imagine having published this book without my sister, Amanda Allen, whose love, support, and mockery have always spurred me to do better—and yes, Amanda, you are the good one.

  The following people who inspired me personally and professionally have my deepest gratitude and affection: Joan Pearson, Kathy Rizzo, Martha Angle, Greg Giroux, Christopher Pearson, the Pearson family, the Bergman and Cohen families, Thom Rafferty, Jed Weiss, Dan McBride, Will Hessler, Robert Tomkin, Laura McGann, Martin Kady II, and Bill and Ronnie Weintraub.

  And finally, to Amie, thank you for pouring your talent, your energy, and your soul into this project—and, of course, for putting up with me.

  —J.A.

  This book would not be possible without the love, friendship, and encouragement of my mom, Esther Parnes, who has always been the ultimate role model to me. I will never admire anyone more for their strength, wisdom, and moxie.

  Sherry Parnes, you are everything: my sister, my best friend, my greatest fan, my biggest advocate, and my favorite comedian. No one gets my creative juices flowing more than you. To my dad, Henry Parnes—who almost lost his voice reading edits back to me when I was ill during this book-writing process—you instilled in me a love of reading and writing, and for that I am so grateful. Thanks also to Garri Hendell, the closest thing I have to a brother, for his continued love and guidance. And to my favorite little readers, J.W. and Cal, for being the cutest little guys ever and for providing an endless supply of hugs and kisses.

  I will be forever indebted to Mickey Lipton, my sixth-grade English teacher who saw a glimpse of writing potential in a shy twelve-year-old girl and signed her up for her first journalism class. I would be absolutely nowhere without my mentor and friend Rick Bragg, the most elegant writer I’ve ever read, for opening the door to a world of journalism the aforementioned twelve-year-old would only dream about.

  I’m also thankful for the help and friendship of journalists M. E. Sprengelmeyer, Niall Stanage, and my very first professional editor, Jon O’Neill, for inspiring me, offering words of wisdom, and cheering me on in the grandstands on this journey. And I owe thanks to Justin Sink for filling in on the White House beat when I went missing to work on this project. Thanks also to Steve Vasil and Peter Feldman for their advice and counsel.

  I send enormous gratitude to my best friend in the world, Craig Bode, for listening to me ramble about this book and the characters in its pages for months and months and for reassuring me in the darkest hours that everything would be fine.

  Thank you, as ever, to my dear friends for ensuring I didn’t live a hermit’s life while drowning in work on this project: Jamie Radice, (my perma-workwife) Karin Tanabe, Jennifer Martinez, Lesley Clark, Erika Bolstad, Julie Mason, Bethany Lesser, Michael Collins, Megan Chan, Vanessa Parra, Kendra Marr Chaikind, and Bridget Petruczok.

  To my lifelong friends, Jarah Greenfield, Abby Tegnelia, and Dolly Hernandez, even though you’re all spread out around the country and I rarely get to see you, I am so lucky to know you.

  Finally, to Jon Allen, my partner-in-crime, we fought like hell at times, but you can’t say it wasn’t worth it.

  —A.P.

  NOTES

  A NOTE ON SOURCING

  This book was reported primarily through interviews with more than two hundred people, most of whom were granted anonymity to freely discuss their knowledge of Hillary Clinton, their insights into other players in Washington politics and policy, and sensitive conversations and actions that took place out of public view. Some sources were willing to speak “on the record,” meaning that they are quoted directly and identified by name. They include, but are not limited to, former CIA director David Petraeus, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, representatives Darrell Issa and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and deputy secretaries of state Jim Steinberg and Tom Nides. Many of the interviews were conducted “on background,” meaning that sources’ words appear in quotation marks but they are not identified by name. Those sources are identified by their office or some other characteristic that provides protection from being revealed—such as “Republican congressman” or “senior adviser.” Still other sources simply provided information and guidance, leaving light fingerprints but not quotes in these pages. When dialogue appears in quotation marks, it was relayed to the authors by at least one of the participants in the exchange, a source who was present to hear it, or multiple sources who were apprised of the discussion and agreed on the content.

  ONE: HILLARY’S HIT LIST

  1 Bill Clinton had pleaded with Kennedy John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime (New York: HarperCollins, 2011), p. 219.

  2 “entirely too nice” “Clinton Remembers Walter Capps,” AllPolitics, CNN, November 12, 1997.

  3 to give her their word, privately Ben Smith and Amie Parnes, “Clinton Asks Supers to Commit in Private,” Politico, May 8, 2008.

  4 because of Band Todd S. Purdum, “The Comeback Id,” Vanity Fair, July 2008.

  5 Florida State University football player Christina Wilkie, “Glory Days: Altmire Recalls His Season with FSU Football Coach Bobby Bowden,” The Hill, December 16, 2009.

  6 endorsed Barack Obama Josh Drobnyk, “Patrick Murphy Backs Obama,” Morning Call, August 21, 2007, http://bit.ly/17Q696b.

  7 packed with more than four hundred people Timothy McNulty, “Bill Clinton Appears at Fund Raiser for Ravenstahl,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 26, 2008.

  TWO: “BE GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT”

  1 $4 million–plus redbrick home Zillow.com, accessed August 22, 2013.

  2 he did not intend to ask her John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime (New York: HarperCollins, 2011), p. 251.

  3 memorial to “the built environment” National Building Museum, www.nbm.org.

  4 nearly an hour late Dana Milbank, “A Thank-you for 18 Million Cracks in the Glass Ceiling,” Washington Post, June 8, 2008.

  5 “about time” for a woman Shailagh Murray, “Pool Report from the Clinton-Obama Event at Mayflower,” Washington Post, June 26, 2008.

  6 “I’m going to need Hillary” Ibid.

  7 “root canal” Heilemann and Halperin, Game Change, p. 263.

  8 more than $22 million July 2008 monthly report of
Hillary Clinton for President, Federal Election Commission, http://www.fec.gov/fecviewer/CandidateCommitteeDetail.do#2, accessed August 22, 2013.

  THREE: CALCULATED RISK

  1 in late October Jonathan Alter, The Promise: President Obama, Year One (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010), p. 68.

  2 “who I had tea with” Amy Chozick, “Obama, Clinton Tea Off,” Wall Street Journal, December 28, 2007.

  3 $6.4 million debt December 2008 monthly report of Hillary Clinton for President, Federal Election Commission, http://bit.ly/15O7mqD.

  4 Obama had offered her the job Nico Pitney, “Officials: Obama Offered Clinton Secretary of State,” Huffington Post, November 14, 2008.

  5 He came to see the political benefits Bob Woodward, Obama’s Wars: The Inside Story (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010), p. 30.

  6 He had suggested Hillary Alter, The Promise, p. 67.

  7 “I mean to make it hard” Hillary Clinton, “townterview” by Suttichai Yoon and Veenarat Laohapakakul of World Beat, July 22, 2009, U.S. Department of State.

  FOUR: US AND THEM