Secretary Clinton on the Foundations of Smart Power

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virginia on April 3 to an audience of more than two thousand after receiving the institution’s Distinguished Diplomat Award.

Commending VMI and its Corps of Cadets for their “commitment to the common good and…long tradition of service,” Secretary Clinton outlined her vision of “smart power” in an era where international security relies on an effective mix of military strength and investments in global peace and prosperity.

In her discussion of the “three Ds” of foreign policy – diplomacy, defense, and development – Clinton noted that Feed the Future is contributing to global development by helping countries lay the foundation for their own long-term agricultural productivity and stability. “Our goal is not just to intervene in crises, like famines, but to try to help farmers improve their own yield. We’re looking for that day when countries no longer require outside aid to nourish their own people. And we also want to avoid conflicts over food resources, and foster a stronger, more productive population in our partner nations,” she said.

VMI’s most famous alumnus is General of the Army George C. Marshall, Class of 1901, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for his contributions as Secretary of State under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the reconstruction of Europe after World War II; the Marshall Plan was named after him.

Read a full transcript of Secretary Clinton’s remarks or watch the video on the U.S. Department of State website.