Hillary Clinton’s Future Depends on Presidential Aspirations

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s future is about to become wide open, but her next career moves will all depend on whether she decides to seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2016.

President Barack Obama’s one-time foe for the presidency plans to leave the State Department shortly after Inauguration Day, the New York Times reports, and she’s telling people not to ask her to participate in engagements for next year until April or May.

Friends say she and former President Bill Clinton want to buy a house in the Hamptons or upstate New York, and she’s likely to use her husband’s charitable foundation as a kicking off point for her next phase. Clinton is also considering a new book with an upbeat look at her time as secretary of state.

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Her name has also come up for huge jobs, such as president of Yale University or head of George Soros’ foundation. However, if she gets serious about running in 2016, that will limit her options, including whether she writes a book, takes a job or even makes statements that may prove controversial.

Her decision has a lot of other people on hold. Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo said he once agonized over the same choice. His son, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, may also see his future prospects decided on what Clinton decides.

Former aides say she learned in 2008 that the country approves of her and of female candidates in general, and that her feminist leanings -- including an interest in helping poor women around the world -- won’t hurt her in 2016.

If Clinton does decide to run for president again, her announcement probably won’t come as soon as it did for the 2008 race, when she announced two years in advance. And she’s still sticking to the same story: She says she’s not running.

But her husband shows every indication that he’d like his wife to campaign again, sources told the Times.