User:Wasted Time R/Sandbox/hrc-tenure

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Clinton spent her initial days as Secretary of State telephoning dozens of world leaders and indicating that U.S. foreign policy would change direction: "We have a lot of damage to repair." In February 2009, Clinton made her first trip as secretary to Asia, visiting Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China on what she described as a "listening tour" that was "intended to really find a path forward." She continued to travel heavily in her first months in office, often getting very enthusiastic responses by engaging with the local populace. She kept a low profile when diplomatic necessity or Obama's involvement required it, but maintained an influential relationship with the president and in foreign policy decisions. Her first 100 days found her travelling over 70000 mi, having no trouble adapting to being a team player subordinate to Obama, and gaining skills as an executive.

In June 2009, Clinton had surgery to repair a right elbow fracture caused by a fall in the State Department basement. The painful injury and recuperation caused her to miss two foreign trips amid conflicting reports of her level of influence within the Obama administration; she then resumed a more prominent role. In October 2009, Clinton's intervention overcame last-minute snags and saved the signing of an historic Turkish–Armenian accord that established dipomatic relations and opened the border between the two long-hostile nations. The same month, when asked if she would run for president again, she said: “I have absolutely no interest in running for president again. None. None.”

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Before beginning her tenure at the State Department, Clinton began a push for a larger international affairs budget, citing the need for an increased U.S. diplomatic presence, especially in Iraq where the Defense Department had conducted diplomatic missions. Clinton was able to secure a 9.5% budget increase for fiscal year 2010. During the initial days of the administration, Clinton telephoned dozens of world leaders affirming U.S. foreign policy would change direction. In March 2009, Clinton prevailed over Vice President Joe Biden on an internal debate to send an additional 20,000 troops to Afghanistan. Following a fracture of her right elbow, Clinton was forced to cancel several foreign trips. Her diminished profile during this period caused the media to question Clinton’s influence in foreign policy. Still, during President Obama’s trip to Russia, Clinton was appointed to a U.S.-Russian Presidential Commission to discuss nuclear, economic, and energy and environmental policies relating to the United States and Russia. After resting her elbow, Clinton returned to the diplomatic scene sitting down with ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who agreed on a U.S.-backed proposal to begin talks with the Micheletti government. A few days later Clinton announced a new State Department initiative, the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, to establish specific objectives for the State Department’s diplomatic missions abroad. In September, Clinton unveiled the Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to develop agriculture economies, counter malnourishment, increase productivity, expand trade and spur innovation in developing nations. In October, on a trip to Switzerland, Clinton’s intervention overcame last-minute snags and saved the signing of an historic Turkish–Armenian accord that established diplomatic relations and opened the border between the two long-hostile nations.

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Clinton spent her initial days as Secretary of State telephoning dozens of world leaders and indicating that U.S. foreign policy would change direction: "We have a lot of damage to repair."

She advocated an expanded role in global economic issues for the State Department and cited the need for an increased U.S. diplomatic presence, especially in Iraq where the Defense Department had conducted diplomatic missions. She pushed for a larger international affairs budget; the Obama administration's proposed 2010 budget contained a 7 percent increase.

In June 2009, Clinton had surgery to repair a right elbow fracture caused by a fall in the State Department basement. The painful injury and recuperation caused her to miss two foreign trips amid conflicting reports of her level of influence within the Obama administration; she then resumed a more prominent role.

An elbow fracture and subsequent painful recuperation caused Clinton to miss two foreign trips in June 2009 amid media speculation about her level of influence within the administration. Clinton returned to the diplomatic scene sitting down with ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who agreed on a U.S.-backed proposal to begin talks with the Micheletti government.

In October 2009, during a trip to Switzerland, Clinton's intervention overcame last-minute snags and saved the signing of an historic Turkish–Armenian accord that established dipomatic relations and opened the border between the two long-hostile nations. In Pakistan, she engaged in several unusually blunt discussions with students, talk show hosts, and tribal elders, in an attempt to repair the Pakastani image of the U.S. The same month, when asked about her political future, she said: “I have absolutely no interest in running for president again. None. None.”