But I think there are some who believe they are actually protecting women, you know, and that it is better for women to be taken care of. I think women want to take care of themselves, and I think having a voice in how that is done is very important. And frankly, I don’t understand — I mean, I’m obviously a card-carrying Democrat — but I can’t understand why any woman would want to vote for Mitt Romney, except maybe Mrs. Romney.

Well, the thing that I learned as a diplomat is that human relations ultimately make a huge difference.

I am the only high-ranking U.S. official to ever meet with Kim Jong-il, and we are the same height and both wear high heels.

I am by nature a worried optimist.

People are finding it harder and harder to relate to foreign policy.

I think the personal relationships I established mattered in terms of what I was able to get done. And I did bring women's issues to the center of our foreign policy.

I was in Europe and it was at this stage that I fell in love with Americans in uniform. And I continue to have that love affair.