Senator Hillary Clinton's Future Political Aspirations

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CNBC News Transcripts

SHOW: Capital Report (7:00 PM ET) - CNBC
HEADLINE: Senator Hillary Clinton's future political aspirations
ANCHORS: ALAN MURRAY
BODY:
ALAN MURRAY, co-host:

Welcome back. Of all the names on John Kerry's list of possible vice presidential picks, few generate more buzz than Hillary Clinton. She's built a political reputation of her own since her husband left office, fueling speculation that she could one day return to the White House. But what are Senator Clinton's real aspirations? Well, she sat down with NBC's Katie Couric for an exclusive interview.

(Excerpts from NBC exclusive)

Senator HILLARY CLINTON (Democrat, New York): We have a fight on our hands, folks, and that fight is going to determine your future and the future of this country.

KATIE COURIC (Co-host, "Today"): She's one of the Democrats' not-so-secret weapons in their battle to win back the White House. And just as Hillary Clinton is hitting the stump and hitting the Republicans, the paperback version of her best-selling autobiography "living history," is now hitting the bookstores.

We've talked about this before, but you do have a lot of fans and a lot of...

Sen. CLINTON: Un-fans.

COURIC: Yeah, hmm.

Sen. CLINTON: Whatever that is.

COURIC: Yeah, critics. Do you think you've changed any minds?

Sen. CLINTON: Well, people told me they did. I think, too, now that I've been a senator and on my own for three years in the public eye, where I'm judged for what I do and what I say, people can draw their own conclusions more accurately, I believe, than they could from a distance in the White House.

COURIC: What kind of advice, seeing what you've seen and experiencing what you've experienced, would you give to John Kerry right now?

Sen. CLINTON: Well, I would tell Senator Kerry what I've told him in private and that I've said publicly: He just has to stick to his strategy about what he believes is best for America. He has to go out and let the American people get to know him. And he has to not be, in any way, knocked off course by the ups and downs of the polls or by the headline of the day or the story of the hour.

COURIC: In fact, many Democrats have urged Senator John Kerry to choose her as his running mate to guarantee enthusiastic support among hard-core Democrats. But now it's official: Hillary Clinton says there will be no Kerry-Clinton ticket.

If John Kerry called you tomorrow and said, 'Hil,' whatever he calls you...

Sen. CLINTON: Yeah.

COURIC: '...Senator, Hillary, I'd like you to be my vice president...'

Sen. CLINTON: Well, you know, I don't think that will happen. I've made it clear I don't want that to happen. And my answer will be no if it does happen. I'm not prepared to do that.

COURIC: When you hear that people say, 'She can't really be supporting John Kerry because if he wins, that screws up her political future.'

Sen. CLINTON: You know, people make a lot of money talking about me, don't they?

COURIC: Do you think it would be appealing to you to be president of the United States?

Sen. CLINTON: You know, because I'm not doing it, I haven't thought about it. It's not the way I think. I never thought I would end up being the senator from New York. I never thought that the long-haired, bearded guy I married in law school would end up being president. I just don't think like that. And, you know, I'm very happy doing what I'm doing.

COURIC: Part of what she's doing is becoming a less-polarizing figure than she's been, even softening her famous accusation during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Do you regret saying that this was because of a right-wing conspiracy, or do you still believe that?

Sen. CLINTON: Well, I think that evidence has proven over the last several years that it may not be quite a conspiracy. It's pretty much out in the open that there is a real network of institutions and individuals and political leaders who have a radical agenda for America that is quite right wing.

COURIC: Do you worry that the whole Monica Lewinsky scandal is going to cast a shadow over your husband's legacy?

Sen. CLINTON: I think you have to see the entire eight years in context, and every part of it is part of history. But there was so much else that was so good for America and for the world.

COURIC: And yet when it comes to the man who replaced her husband, she's less than effusive.

Do you dislike President Bush personally?

Sen. CLINTON: No, not at all.

COURIC: You seem like you do.

Sen. CLINTON: You know, after 9/11, for example, I personally told him I would do anything to support him publicly or privately because I had such empathy for the situation that he found himself in. But I fundamentally disagree about his vision for America.

(End of excerpts)

MURRAY: Katie's full interview with Hillary Clinton airs tonight on "Dateline" NBC, 8 PM Eastern.

And coming up, Teresa Heinz Kerry spoke candidly as she introduced her husband at a rally today. So what is she really like? We're going to take a closer look at the potential first lady ahead.

Then later, Bill won "The Apprentice," but Kwame is getting job offers already. We'll also talk to him about Omarosa, The Donald and more. So stay with us on CAPITAL REPORT.