Two Years Ago Today, Clinton's Memoir Of Her Time At The State Department Hard Choices Was Released. "Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is about to be a grandmother - and now her memoir has a title on the way, too. Publisher Simon & Schuster said Friday that Clinton's first-person account of her four years as secretary of state will be titled "Hard Choices," and will hit the stores June 10." (Annie Karni, "Hillary Clinton's 'Hard Choices' Memoir Detailing Secretary Of State Years Hits Stores June 10," [New York] Daily News , 4/18/16)

In Hard Choices, Clinton Spoke Favorably Of The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Deal, Including How As Secretary Of State She "Worked Hard" To Convince Other Nations To Join The Trade Deal. "So we worked hard to improve and ratify trade agreements with Colombia and Panama and encouraged Canada and the group of countries that became known as the Pacifica Alliance - Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile - all open-market democracies driving toward a more prosperous future to join negotiations with Asian nations on TPP, the trans-Pacific trade agreement." (Hillary Clinton, Hard Choices, 2014, cclxxiv)

As Secretary Of State, Clinton Took "A Leading Part In Drafting The Trans-Pacific Partnership." "She's pressed the case for U.S. business in Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries in China's shadow. She's also taken a leading part in drafting the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade pact that would give U.S. companies a leg up on their Chinese competitors." (Elizabeth Dwoskin and Indira Laksmanan, "How Hillary Clinton Created A U.S. Business-Promotion Machine,"Bloomberg, 1/10/13)

But In A More Recent Release Of Hard Choices, Clinton's Mention Of TPP Has Been Conveniently Deleted

In A More Recent Paperback Version Of Hard Choices, Clinton's Mention Of Her Work To Bring More Nations Into TPP Talks Has Been Deleted. "At the same time, a review of the hardback edition of her memoir as secretary of state, 'Hard Choices,' compared to the paperback - first noted by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) - finds that segments of the book where Clinton describes an effort to convince American countries to join the TPP negotiations have been left out. We encouraged 'all open-market democracies driving toward a more prosperous future to join negotiations with Asian nations on TPP, the trans-Pacific trade agreement,' the original version of the book reads in a two-page segment discussing a 2009 conference in El Salvador. Those two pages have been cut from the paperback version of the book, according to CEPR." (Clark Mindock, "Hillary Clinton State Department Memoir omits TPP Reference In Paperback Edition," The International Business Times , 6/7/16)

As Clinton Began To Struggle In The Democratic Primary Last Year, She Flip Flopped, Publicly Opposing TPP

Clinton Opposed TPP In An Effort "To Distance Herself" From The Trade Agreement As She Struggled In The Democrat Primary Against Bernie Sanders. "Facing an increasingly tough primary fight against Bernie Sanders last October, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, now the presumptive Democratic nominee, tried to distance herself from her push to negotiate the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal during her time atop the State Department (2009-2013). After months of taking positions on the deal that were criticized - even by members of her own party - as vague, Clinton said the deal wasn't what she'd hoped it might be. Since then she's held fast on that position, weathering a primary fight that was anything but expected from the populist, self-described Democratic socialist Sanders, who has repeatedly railed against the TPP." (Clark Mindock, "Hillary Clinton State Department Memoir omits TPP Reference In Paperback Edition," The International Business Times , 6/7/16)

When Clinton First Hit The Campaign Trail, She Said "Virtually Nothing About The TPP, Other Than To Point Out Areas Of The Deal With Which She Has Concerns." "As the president has scoured Capitol Hill for elusive Democratic support in recent weeks, Clinton has said virtually nothing about the TPP, other than to point out areas of the deal with which she has concerns. Clinton's silence on trade, coming at the worst possible time for Obama, dovetails with her transformation into a presidential candidate eager to align herself more squarely with the liberal wing of her party." (David Nakamura, "Hillary Clinton's Hedge On Trade Leaves Without Obama Without Political Cover," The Washington Post , 5/12/15)

In October 2015, Clinton Took A Position Opposing The TPP, Saying The Deal Did Not "Meet The High Bar" She Has Set. PBS'S JUDY WOODRUFF: "So are you saying that as of today, this is not something you could support?" CLINTON: "What I know about it, as of today, I am not in favor of what I have learned about it. And there is one other element I want to make, because I think it's important. Trade agreements don't happen in a vacuum, and in order for us to have a competitive economy in the global marketplace, there are things we need to do here at home that help raise wages. And the Republicans have blocked everything President Obama tried to do on that front. So for the larger issues… and then what I know, and again, I don't have the text, we don't yet have all the details, I don't believe it is going to meet the high bar I have set." (PBS's " NewsHour," 10/7/15)

Opposing The Deal Opened Clinton Up To "Charges Of Flip-Flopping" Since She "Pushed The Deal" As Secretary Of State." "But opposing the deal is also a problem because it opens her to charges of flip-flopping. As Secretary of State, she pushed the deal as a central component of the pivot to Asia, say former administration officials." (Victoria Guida, "Will Hillary Clinton Flip On Trade?" Politico, 10/5/15)

But Clinton Cannot Erase History, She Publicly "Expressed Support" For The TPP "At Least" 45 Times

As Secretary, Clinton Had "Expressed Support" For The Trans-Pacific Partnership In "At Least 45 Public Speeches." "The TPP negotiations are a part of the Obama administration's so-called pivot to Asia. Early in his presidency, Obama outlined a plan to put more energy and focus into the Asian Pacific, especially in terms of economic development. While serving as Obama's secretary of state, Clinton expressed support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership in at least 45 public speeches, according to a roundup of quotes by CNN." (Jake Tapper, "45 Times Secretary Clinton Pushed The Trade Bill She Now Opposes," CNN , 6/15/15)

In November 2012, Clinton Said The "TPP Sets The Gold Standard In Trade Agreements" And Includes "Strong Protections For Workers And The Environment." CLINTON: "So it's fair to say that our economies are entwined, and we need to keep upping our game both bilaterally and with partners across the region through agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP. Australia is a critical partner. This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field. And when negotiated, this agreement will cover 40 percent of the world's total trade and build in strong protections for workers and the environment." (Hillary Clinton, Remarks At Techport Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 11/15/12)

In July 2012, Clinton Spoke In Support Of TPP And Said "We're Hoping To Really See This Agreement Finalized And Then Watch It Take Off." CLINTON: "And through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we're working with Vietnam and seven other nations to lower trade barriers throughout the region, as we ensure the highest standards for labor, environmental, and intellectual property protections. Vietnam was an early entrant to the TPP, and we're hoping we can finalize the agreement this year. And the economic analysis is that of all the countries that will be participating -- Australia, Canada, Mexico, others -- of all the countries participating in the TPP, Vietnam stands to benefit the most. So we're hoping to really see this agreement finalized and then watch it take off." (Secretary Hillary Clinton, Remarks At American Chamber Of Commerce Reception And Commercial Signings , Hanoi, Vietnam, 7/10/12)

Elections

Hillary Clinton

Read more research