Every presidential candidate on the stage, except one skinny Hawaiian-born young fellow with a funny name, thought this line was a laugh riot on December 13, 2007: "Well, Hillary, I’m looking forward to you advising me as well."

Today, as Barack Obama names his national security team, Hillary Clinton leaves her elective office behind for a new chapter in her life — one that provides her with new vistas and opportunities, new challenges and difficulties, and, all people of good-will hope, a new chapter for successful American diplomacy.