Kerry, Clinton Face Off at State Hearings

Today's confirmation hearings for Hillary Clinton also mark John Kerry's debut as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It could be an awkward meeting as she interviews for the job he openly campaigned for—after he dumped her to back Obama in the presidential race. But Kerry's putting a game face on, and swears to the New York Times there’s no sour grapes. Kerry has built much of his reputation on work for the committee that launched his political career when it invited him, a 27-year-old Vietnam War vet, to testify.

Kerry and Clinton have been discussing foreign policy trips they should take together, the Washington Post reports, and Obama, too, has been working hard on his relationship with Clinton, in regular phone calls and meetings. Kerry plans a serious effort on climate change. “The Obama administration is going to have to get up to speed very, very quickly,” he says. (More John Kerry stories.)