--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was secretary of state, I had to…" description: "\"When I was secretary of state, I had to be responsible for getting a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia through the Senate. We needed, I think, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/hillary-clinton-51_arms_when-i-was-secretary-of-state-i-had-to-b_2307396.jpg" --- # When I was secretary of state, I had to be responsible for… ![“When I was secretary of state, I had to be responsible for getting a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia through the Senate. We needed, I think, 13 Republican votes to get to 67. I started working in the summer making just endless phone calls, meetings, bringing experts to talk to…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/hillary-clinton-51_arms_when-i-was-secretary-of-state-i-had-to-b_2307396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/hillary-clinton-51_arms_when-i-was-secretary-of-state-i-had-to-b_2307396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/hillary-clinton-51_arms_when-i-was-secretary-of-state-i-had-to-b_2307396.jpg) > “When I was secretary of state, I had to be responsible for getting a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia through the Senate. We needed, I think, 13 Republican votes to get to 67. I started working in the summer making just endless phone calls, meetings, bringing experts to talk to Republicans, and then we finally got it done at the end of the year 2010. So I'm excited to roll up my sleeves and get into the business of solving problems and making progress together.” [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes the intensive, bipartisan effort required to pass a nuclear arms reduction treaty, emphasizing perseverance and collaboration. **In simple terms:** Hard work and teamwork achieve big political goals. Key Takeaway Collaborate and persist to solve big problems. Themes politics collaboration perseverance Mood determined optimistic Type political inspirational When to use this quote - legislative lobbying - diplomatic negotiations - policy advocacy Key Concepts bipartisanship policy negotiation Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help build cross‑party support? - How can persistence overcome political obstacles? A Different Perspective Political success often depends on personal relationships and timing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Being responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-responsible/) [Call me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/call-me/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [End Of The Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-year/) [Endless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endless/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Getting Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-nuclear-3121238/) [Making Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-progress/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-arms/) [Phone calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Reduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reduction/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republican Votes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican-votes-719009/) [Republicans Finally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans-finally-4037871/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) [Senate Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate-needed-5468246/) [Sleeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeves/) [Solving problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solving-problems/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Talk Republicans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-republicans-3684359/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Treaties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaties/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [It was during George W. Bush's presidency that Iran mastered the nuclear fuel cycle, that they built covert facilities, that they stocked them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-was-during-george-w-bush-s-presidency-that-iran-mastered-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The cavalier casual way that Donald Trump talks about nuclear weapons is not only frightening but it goes counter to more than 70 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-cavalier-casual-way-that-donald-trump-talks-about-nuclear-weapons/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ I checked the emails the same theme that I could summarize them. "Rush, whatever you're talking about here - \[Donald\] Trump, you talk about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-checked-the-emails-the-same-theme-that-i-could-summarize-them-rush/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It was very clear, even from long before Donald Trump got in this race, when he would talk to Republicans, the number-one concern they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-walter/it-was-very-clear-even-from-long-before-donald-trump-got-in-this-race/) [Amy Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-walter/) > [Yet, when Republicans were finally able to push through tough policies on crime and welfare which they'd supported for decades, they were magnificent successes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/yet-when-republicans-were-finally-able-to-push-through-tough-policies/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [The Republicans finally got some good news over the weekend. The North Koreans set off a nuclear bomb. Thank God. It was so powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-republicans-finally-got-some-good-news-over-the-weekend-the-north/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Republicans have to finally get smart and come together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/republicans-have-to-finally-get-smart-and-come-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The Republican Party cannot win the White House anymore with just conservative and Republican votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-republican-party-cannot-win-the-white-house-anymore-with-just/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I think \[Donald Trump\] s got the votes for \[tax reform\]. I think he's definitely has the Republican votes for it, in House and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-think-donald-trump-s-got-the-votes-for-tax-reform-i-think-he-s/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [While we always strive to reach 218 with Republican votes, sometimes that is not possible with divided government, and the story of a bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/while-we-always-strive-to-reach-218-with-republican-votes-sometimes/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Before I even came into office, I said that preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon was a priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/before-i-even-came-into-office-i-said-that-preventing-iran-from/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ They \[Iran\] are going to end up getting nuclear. I met with Bibi Netanyahu the other day. Believe me, he's not a happy camper. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/they-iran-are-going-to-end-up-getting-nuclear-i-met-with-bibi/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There isn't any finer folks living than a Republican that votes the Democratic ticket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/there-isn-t-any-finer-folks-living-than-a-republican-that-votes-the/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [I think there's something remarkable happening here that nobody is talking about. They're skirting the issue. For the longest time, the Republican Party has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-think-there-s-something-remarkable-happening-here-that-nobody-is/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I'm prepared to continue doing what we need to do to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-m-prepared-to-continue-doing-what-we-need-to-do-to-stop-iran-from/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) ## More by Hillary Clinton > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think we have to take a look at corporate law. We have to take a look at the incentives that we can perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-have-to-take-a-look-at-corporate-law-we-have-to-take-a/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-in-new-york-we-have-several-million-at-any-one-time-who-are/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have always believed that women are not victims, we are agents of change, we are drivers of progress, we are makers of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-always-believed-that-women-are-not-victims-we-are-agents-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We now have power under the Dodd-Frank legislation to break up banks. And I've said I will use that power if they pose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-now-have-power-under-the-dodd-frank-legislation-to-break-up-banks/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I do not think homosexuality is immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-do-not-think-homosexuality-is-immoral/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We need to have more second chance programs. I'm glad that we're ending private prisons in the federal system; I want to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-to-have-more-second-chance-programs-i-m-glad-that-we-re/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [A nuclear-weapons armed Iran is not in anyone's human-rights interests. That is a direct threat to the lives and the livelihoods and the stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/a-nuclear-weapons-armed-iran-is-not-in-anyone-s-human-rights/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) [Explore all 1,911 Hillary Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was secretary of state, I had to be responsible for getting a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia through the Senate. We needed, I think, 13 Republican votes to get to 67. I started working in the summer making just endless phone calls, meetings, bringing experts to talk to Republicans, and then we finally got it done at the end of the year 2010. 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