Half a World Away, Clinton Watches Husband's Speech

Secretary Clinton, in an office at U.S. Embassy Dili, watches a recording of her husband's Democratic National Convention speech. Traditionally, U.S. secretaries of state do not participate in partisan political events.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, after a busy day of diplomacy in Timor-Leste, retires to an embassy office to watch a recording of her husband's speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 5.

"This is the first convention I have missed in many, many years," Clinton said at a press conference in Timor-Leste, adding that her husband had given her the prepared text of his speech and she was anxious "to compare it with the as-delivered version." (Former President Clinton regularly and substantively deviates from prepared text as he delivers a speech.)

"It’s a great honor for him to be nominating the president," the secretary said, "and I’m delighted to be here in Timor-Leste on behalf of the United States in furtherance of our shared values, interests and security."

U.S. secretaries of state do not attend partisan political events, a tradition that underscores the nonpartisan nature of U.S. foreign policy. The 2012 Democratic National Convention is the first Secretary Clinton has missed since 1968.