i tell vishakha that it is mostly because of the gish -- the gift shop. [laughter] i am always coming back. i gave my first major's speech as secretary of state here. and i am so pleased to be back here today to celebrate you and all you do to strengthen relationships and understanding. and i also want to say a special word of greeting and acknowledge meant to kabul -- kati marton, the wonderful partner in the life of richard holbrooke and a dear friend and colleague to so many of us here. if there were any fear that i might somehow forget about the asia society, they could not happen with richard holbrooke being sure to remind me at every single turn. he never stopped serving as a champion and promoter for this organization that he loved so much. and in the days after we lost richard, i heard so many stories, many of which made me smile in memory of similar experiences that i and others had had with richard along the way. and one story in particular about the mark that he left on this organization involves his time as chairman of the society, and he was

richard and vishakha became partners in the leadership of the society. they were a special team. i will never forget the evening of the 50th anniversary which i mentioned before celebrated at the waldorf where as co-hosts, and i'm sure many of you were there, they entertained, inspired and choreographed one of the most moving evenings if asia society family ever celebrated. we have today's asia society, it is my pleasure to introduce my friend, colleague and president, vishakha desai. [applause] >> thank you, jack, for that generous introduction which i don't deserve, but i'm delighted to be here with all of you. good afternoon and welcome to this very special program with the 67th secretary of state, honorable hillary rodham clip -- clinton. to celebrate the legacy of our powerful and beloved former chair, late ambassador richard holbrooke. many people have mentioned that the last assignment of richard holbrooke was, perhaps, the toughest of his life. he accepted this challenge because he was persuaded by his friend, secretary clinton. secretary clinton, you have this effect on

i tell vishakha that it's mostly because of the gift shop. [laughter] i'm always coming back. i am so pleased to be back here today to celebrate a new and old and you do to strengthen relationships and understandings and i also want to say a special word of greeting and acknowledgment to the wonderful partner in life of richard holbrooke and your friend and colleague to so many of us here. if there were ever any fear that i might somehow forget about the asian society, that could not happen with richard holbrooke being sure to remind me at every single term. he never stopped serving as the champion and a promoter for this organization that he loved so much. in it in the days after we lost pritchard, i heard so many stories, many of which made me smile and memory of similar experiences that awfully and others had with richard along the way. one story in particular about the glove marked that he left on this organization involves his time as the chairman of the society and he was trying to recruit held there in the audience to run the new very exciting china center. orville had

vishakha deasai that it is mostly -- i tell vishakha deasai that it is mostly because of the gift shop that i always come back. [laughter] i gave my first major speech as a secretary of state here, as she said, and i am so pleased to be back here today to really celebrate you and all you do to strengthen relationships and understanding. and i also want to say a special word of greeting and acknowledgment to kathy martin, the wonderful partner in life of richard holbrooke, and a dear, dear friend and colleague to so many of us who are here. now if there were ever any fear that i might somehow forget about the asia society, that could not happen with richard holbrooke be sure to remind me at every single turn. he never stopped serving as a champion and promoter for this organization that he loved so much. and in the days after we lost richard, i heard so many stories, many of which made me smile in memory of similar experiences that i and others had had with richard along the way. and one story in particular about the mark he left on his organization involves his time as chairman of the