But why did Clinton get into this? With the dream of becoming President deferred — certainly for a while, probably forever — Clinton had to decide how she wanted to spend the next 5-10 years of her life. She could be a top diplomat, a high-profile and influential force in the world community at a time when America is seeking to redefine its role and reposition itself. Or she could remain in the Senate, where her symbolic power as a national spokeswoman for the Democratic party occasionally conflicted with her decidedly junior status in the chamber.

It’s clear that Hillary Clinton believed she could have more impact in the former role.

In the end, that Obama and Clinton could stand together on a stage — one as president, the other as his secretary of State — speaks to the unpredictability and soap-operatic nature of politics. This is the beginning, not the end, of a fascinating storyline in American politics.