Today, Hillary Clinton joined every other living former secretary of state in joining our advisory council. We’re pretty excited about this, so we searched the archives and found a few of her top quotes on why America’s leadership matters:

1) It creates jobs.

The 1 percent of our budget we spend on all diplomacy and development is not what is driving our deficit. Not only can we afford to maintain a strong civilian presence, we cannot afford not to. The simple truth is, if we don’t seize the opportunities available today, other countries will… Other countries will create the jobs that should be created here, and even claim the mantle of global leadership.

USGLC Washington Conference, July 12, 2011

2) It keeps us safe.

It is far cheaper to pay for civilian efforts up front than to pay for any war over the long run.

USGLC Tribute Dinner, December 7, 2009

3) It’s the right thing to do.

We have also learned that women and girls must be the focus of our work in the development area; they comprise the majority of the people on this planet who are underfed, underemployed, uneducated, unhealthy and poor.  Investing in the potential of women and girls is one of the surest ways to fuel economic and social progress.

USGLC Tribute Dinner, December 7, 2009