Guess who worked the phones after the 3 a.m. call?

Posted By P.J. Aroon Thursday, April 9, 2009 - 2:50 PM Share

As some of you know, President Obama and Secretary Clinton received a "3 a.m. phone call" (OK, it was actually 4:30 a.m.) in Prague on Sunday morning after North Korea launched a missile. (An April 6 Congressional Quarterly article I accessed on Nexis confirms that both received the call.)

Now here's an interesting nugget from an Associated Press analysis piece, "Hillary Warned There'd Be Days Like This." The article states:

Clinton, now Obama's top diplomat who no longer hawks the 3 a.m. campaign line, was traveling with the president. She worked the phones, and Obama issued the expected words of condemnation. Calls went out for the U.N. Security Council to convene.

In all fairness, Obama was working the phones too, consulting his top aides, but it looks like when the 3 a.m. calls come ringing, Clinton is right there, too, doing 3 a.m. diplomacy.
EXPLORE:EAST ASIA, EASTERN EUROPE, NORTH KOREA, NUKES, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
 
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TEXASGAL

9:34 PM ET

April 9, 2009

Oh My God!

This reminds me of that hilarious SNL skit with Amy Poehler as Hillary in her bathrobe talking to Obama on the phone. It was around the time of the 3am ad and the Ohio primary I think. I've tried looking for it on Youtube & can't find it. It was just too funny.

 

CAROLYN-RODHAM

1:26 AM ET

April 10, 2009

Don't have the videotape, but here's the transcript...

Operator: "Hello? Senator Clinton, I have President Obama on the line."

Clinton: "I'll take it."

Obama: "Uh, Hillary, I'm sorry to call this late again but I need your help."

Clinton: "Mr. President, what can I do?"

Obama tells her that the CIA has confirmed that Iran has finished a nuclear device and the Russians, the North Koreans and Venezuelans have been helping them.

"I trusted them,'' he complains. "They lied to me... What do I do, Hillary, what do I do?"

"Mr. President,'' Clinton says, "you can start by getting a hold of yourself.''

"I can't,'' he replies. " Don't you see that I am in a panic, a blind, unreasoning inexperienced panic?''

After Clinton has put him right, Obama thanks her: "Once again, I am amazed by the range and the depth of your experience,'' he says. "This job is hard. I had no idea.''

 

STILL4HILL

6:11 PM ET

April 12, 2009

Ha ha!

Hillary is such a trouper! She just goes along, makes the calls, and gets her team from State to brief the only person on the face of the earth who was taken by surprise when this launch finally occurred. His lameness knows no bounds.

 

Madam Secretary is an obsessive blog about all things Hillary Clinton. From her policies to her pantsuits, Madam Secretary delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and gossip about America's top diplomat.