Summary of Hard Choices: by Hillary Rodham Clinton | Includes Analysis

By Instaread Summaries

Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton | Includes Analysis

 

Preview of the earlier Chapters:

Chapter 1

Hillary Clinton came to terms with the fact that Barack Obama won the 2008 primaries after her long and grueling campaign to win the primaries herself

• Language: English
• Publisher: Instaread, Inc
• Release date: May 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781683781837

Book preview

Book Overview

Hard Choices details Hillary Clinton’s four years as Secretary of State. The book begins with Clinton meeting with then-rival Barack Obama after he won the Democratic Nomination for president over her. Obama asked for Clinton’s support, which she later agreed to give. After the election, Obama offered Clinton the job of Secretary of State. She accepted.  

After becoming Secretary of State, Clinton received conflicting advice as to where to focus her initial efforts. Clinton chose to attack the areas that could pose the biggest threat, and set her sights on Asia. China was quickly developing economically, and Clinton felt it was important to show a strong commitment to Asia as a whole, especially after many previous years of solid focus on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Clinton visited Burma and was proud of the country’s hard-won status as a democracy on the rise. She also met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was recently freed from house arrest.

Clinton had many discussions with Obama regarding the lengthy war in Afghanistan, after which he decided to send more troops to the region. Clinton engaged in secret talks with the head of the Taliban and was frustrated that the Afghan government and the Taliban were not able to work things out during her time as Secretary of State.

Tense relations existed between the United States and Pakistan in the months, weeks, and days prior to the raid on the compound of Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda founder. The secrecy of the ultimate attack that resulted in bin Laden’s death led to more tension as Pakistan felt slighted by the United States.

Clinton dealt with a great many foreign leaders during her time as Secretary of State. She looked up to several, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. At the same time, Clinton faced challenges in dealing with Russia’s Putin.

Clinton made some progress in Latin America despite ongoing struggles with the drug cartels, a matter she worked hard to help the region combat. Hard choices in Africa revolved around how to best help the region continue to progress while also helping those in the most need.

Clinton extended effort in the Middle East, leading negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians as well as deciding whether or not to side with protesters in Egypt. She also helped to institute a no-fly zone in Libya and dealt with the aftermath of the attack in Benghazi.

Clinton tackled difficult talks with several nations regarding Iran and their nuclear weapons, and the ultimate standoff involving some of the toughest sanctions imposed in history. From there, she dealt with the conflict in Syria,