Food security and a kiss for Bill and Hillary Clinton

Elise Labott
CNN State Department Producer

America’s preeminent political power couple made a rare joint appearance Friday, when Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton took the stage at the former President’s Clinton Global Initiative.

“I want to begin by expressing my extreme indebtedness to the Clinton global initiative, to all of you who participated, for giving me the first chance I have had in a week to see Hillary,” the former president told the audience of social activists and business leaders at the closing session of CGI, a week long conference designed to find solutions to global problems through public and private partnerships.

Secretary of State Hilly Clinton was at the session to unveil a new State Department initiative on food security.

As he introduced her President Clinton was effusive in his praise for his wife, saying that Hillary’s approach to food security, helping farmers around the world grow their own food to earn income and alleviate poverty, was much smarter than the decades-long policy of simply giving humanitarian aid and food to countries.

“It was a wrong headed policy. It persisted through Democratic and Republican policies alike, including mine. We were all wrong and she is determined to reverse it,” Clinton said, adding that while he was busy engaging in politics, Hillary had “become her own NGO.”

“Most of what I know about what I do today, I learned from her and she has become the best public servant our family has produced, he said. “I am very proud of her and honored that she came here."

Secretary Clinton, who received a standing ovation, had equally kind words for her husband.

“It won't surprise you to hear that I am very proud of my husband and I think what he has invented and brought to life here is extraordinary,” she said, adding the new State Department food initiative in part was an idea she developed by seeing the kinds of partnerships the Clinton Global Initiative produced.

The Clinton’s book-ended a photo op with State Department officials and executives from General Mills and other organizations, who pledged at the conference to start a program to help farmers around the world.

And then, for Bill and Hillary fans, a rare treat. As she walked off the stage, Hillary’s proud husband drew some more cheers when he gave his wife a kiss.

Bill continued to read million dollar commitments he received at the conference for additional social programs. And Hillary left to meet with 15 ministers from the Caribbean.