The youth thing never really, from my vantage point, slowed me down. I think the harder audience for me to gain acceptance from was the career diplomatic corps that worked with and for me in the Africa Bureau.

I have no regrets whatsoever that I have acted in a way to advance my country's interests

I was very happy in my job at the United Nations.

I'm sort of in this rhythm where we want to make the most of the time we have, but when it's done it will be time for it to be done.

The United States really only accounts for about 3 percent of the economic engagement with Russia. Europe is 40 percent, and so Europe's contribution to this pressure is far more than symbolic. It's very practical. And that's one of the many reasons why we have worked hard to remain in close coordination with our European partners.

We are patriots in my family, we are believers in America, we're believers in democracy.

I think it's very, very important that in foreign policy and national security decision making, as in any other realm, that there be a range of diversity that reflects the full complexity of America. We should draw on those experiences to inform our decision making.