Comic Relief At Clinton Swearing-In

Chevy Chase Got Some Yuks; Clinton, Now Doubly Official, Did Too

(CBS)  Background and analysis by CBS News State Department reporter Charles Wolfson.

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The formal swearing in for Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was part ceremony, part celebration, very political and even had moments of comic relief.

Before the ceremony began, as assembled bigwigs were asked to turn off their cell phones, actor Chevy Chase, an invited guest, playing to the cameras and those around him, held his phone to his ear and loudly said, “No, I’m sorry, Mr. President, I have to turn it off.” The actor had already posed for the cameras in front of the podium before the guest of honor arrived.

Clinton, the nation’s 67th Secretary of State, already had been sworn in by a federal judge in her Senate office so the fact that she’s been on the job legally for nearly two weeks was not at issue. Having a more formal, ceremonial swearing in ceremony is the norm for cabinet level positions and is a good opportunity for friends and family, fellow politicians and former donors and political allies to show up and listen to a military chamber group play lovely background music while everyone else chats up the inside-the-beltway types.

One of Clinton’s predecessors, James A. Baker, III, called out to one of his predecessors, Dr. Henry Kissinger. Hands cupped to his mouth, Baker said “Henry” who was standing about ten feet away. Baker and Kissinger were joined by two other former occupants of the office, Lawrence Eagleburger and Madeleine K. Albright.

Clinton singled out Sen. John Kerry, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and others from the New York congressional delegation. “And I look forward to working with all of you, particularly the appropriators,” Clinton said to much laughter.

As the bible was held by Clinton’s mother, Dorothy Rodham, her daughter Chelsea and husband Bill, there were chuckles in the audience when Vice President Biden briefly stumbled over the words in the oath, reminding everyone of Chief Justice Roberts on inauguration day.

Secretary Clinton, now doubly official, thanked everyone and called it an “overwhelming honor” to serve in her new job. “So for me, this has been an amazing personal journey. As Joe (Vice President Biden) laughingly referenced, neither one of us thought that we would be standing here together, doing what we are now doing together. Life has a funny way of unfolding and politics is even stranger,” Clinton said as many smiled and nodded.

There were more words of thanks including those to her husband, the former President, which brought the biggest round of laughter: “I am so grateful to him for a lifetime of all kinds of experiences -(laughter)- which have given me a -(applause) which have given me an extraordinary richness I am absolutely beholden to and grateful for.”

Finally it was time to shake hands and greet those who had come to honor her. Tuesday, Secretary Clinton has her first two meetings with visiting foreign ministers from close allies Britain and Germany. After the niceties are done with it will be down to the diplomatic nitty-gritty with policy towards Iran front and center.

[shaggydo-2009]

Posted by junglejimy12

Campaign''''''''s over son, you lost. Get over it.

The lies are no longer necessary.


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Posted by brianbwb at 06:40 PM : Feb 04, 2009

Not a lie in what he said, Sir.


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Posted by Texanna10 at 09:01 AM : Feb 05, 2009

Nor is there any truth, just delusional rhetoric.

[jn122736]

Hillary getting a cabinet post is a comedy in itself. Is she so stupid to not realize that the only reason she got the cabinet post was to appease her in order to keep her off Mr. Obama''''''''s back (Unlike CBS, I''''''''am being disrespectful when I call that moron Mr.). They are like two snakes in the grass and can''''''''t stand each other. I look forward to her running astray because Mr. Obama will not be able to control her. She actually can think for herself which makes her a dangerous liberal to the Obama administration.

Posted by dongo1955 at 01:50 PM : Feb 03, 2009

Why do you FASCIST hate this nation so much? Why do you want this administration to fail so badly? I have watched and listened as you people have practiced this fascism for decades now. I have read post after slimy post just like this, NO basis in fact, NOTHING to point to but the fact that YOU called the person you don''''t agree with a "Liberal". I ask all of you, has there EVER, given our present state and how we got here, been people with LESS Honor? Has there EVER been humans who hate so badly they want their nation to fail? DISGUSTING CREATURES these FASCIST... VERY DISGUSTING.

Posted by irmcvet971 at 03:00 PM : Feb 03, 2009
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irmcvet971;

No one could have said it better or more accurate.

The best part is that the entire world (with the exception of most bush apologists) recognize that fact, and generally skip those comments after the first line or so.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by junglejimy12

Campaign''s over son, you lost. Get over it.

The lies are no longer necessary.

[violist47]

I am delighted that we have in Hillary Clinton an intelligent, canny, well-informed, competent, steadfast and honest woman as Secretary of State.

[sly_64]

I really wish this person would go away, forever. No more Billlary.

[omnibus66]

The negative posts here by the charter members of the Rush Limbaugh ''I Want America to Fail Club'' are indeed humorous, and at the same time sad. These are the same people who were the core of the ''George Bush Fan Club''.

Their previous hero caused this monstrous mess we are all in, but they refuse to admit it, and worse, are now attempting to shift the blame to Obama.

Pathetic!

[kirstinharr]

How quickly you posters forget that the Clinton administration brought jobs and economic stability to this country. Clinton took a huge deficit and left a surplus to Bush. Now, look at the mess Bush left to Obama! If you don''t like the Clinton''s on a personal level, no issue but you gotta give credit where it''s due. They did a great job during their 8 years...

[fsw3]

Hand on the Bible, ready to pledge responsibility to God for the fate of a nation and...turn it into a comedy. Hmmm. Maybe the Democrates do NOT feel resonsible to God for their care of a nation.

I wish they would.


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Posted
Putting your hand on the Bible or any other anthology or religious writings and swearing to a God or gods does nothing to ensure good behavior. If you are good, truthful, competant person you will perform your duties well, no matter what you swear.

[prelgovisk]

Hand on the Bible, ready to pledge responsibility to God for the fate of a nation and...turn it into a comedy. Hmmm. Maybe the Democrates do NOT feel resonsible to God for their care of a nation.

I wish they would.

[denny12331]

The position of Secretary of State is fourth in line for succession to the Predidency. If I were the three in front of Billary, I would hire food tasters, keep bomb sniffing dogs with me at all times, never be alone with her, wire tap all her calls,(in case she is talking to a Gumba, arranging an "accident" and never go jogging alone

[pws54]

Everyone that wants to bash the new administration before they even have a chance to fix this mess WE ARE ALL IN, must know something the rest of us don''t. Great, you''re all brilliant! But I have a question, if you can see complete "destruction" coming with this administration, then why didn''t you see the mess we''re in right now coming? Don''t try to make a living as a fortune teller, you''ll go hungry, fast.

[irmcvet971]

that woman and her old man will do anything to be in the news. and to her that job is more than likely a joke to her anyway

Posted by raymystereo at 12:03 PM : Feb 03, 2009

You a "Ditto Head" too? Just HAVE to do something to make the Country fail EVERY day don''t you? What do you freaks get if we achieve failure? A OXY Button?? ROFLMAO

[irmcvet971]

Hillary getting a cabinet post is a comedy in itself. Is she so stupid to not realize that the only reason she got the cabinet post was to appease her in order to keep her off Mr. Obama''''s back (Unlike CBS, I''''am being disrespectful when I call that moron Mr.). They are like two snakes in the grass and can''''t stand each other. I look forward to her running astray because Mr. Obama will not be able to control her. She actually can think for herself which makes her a dangerous liberal to the Obama administration.

Posted by dongo1955 at 01:50 PM : Feb 03, 2009

Why do you FASCIST hate this nation so much? Why do you want this administration to fail so badly? I have watched and listened as you people have practiced this fascism for decades now. I have read post after slimy post just like this, NO basis in fact, NOTHING to point to but the fact that YOU called the person you don''t agree with a "Liberal". I ask all of you, has there EVER, given our present state and how we got here, been people with LESS Honor? Has there EVER been humans who hate so badly they want their nation to fail? DISGUSTING CREATURES these FASCIST... VERY DISGUSTING.

[raymystereo]

that woman and her old man will do anything to be in the news. and to her that job is more than likely a joke to her anyway