In its early years, the Clinton Global Initiative often seemed to present a kind of Democratic administration in exile – a gentle yet important correction to the Bush White House. The former President acted as a dealmaker supreme, bringing together big corporate interests, major philanthropists, heads of state and their governments, and global nonprofits in [...]

I’m here in the media bunker of the old Sheraton on Seventh Avenue, plugged into the sixth annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting – my fifth, as it turns out. Here’s what I just told a reporter from a major financial newswire about what CGI is in a single sentence: “it’s an investment banking service – [...]

Putting the imperative issue of civil rights and justice around the world for women and children front and center at this year’s Clinton Global Initiative required intense coordination between CGI and the Obama Administration – starting of course with the world’s foremost power couple. But it also relied on some special sauce that was both [...]

President Barack Obama brought a strong message to the audience of a thousand heads of state, diplomates, CEOs, major philanthropists, and movie stars at the Clinton Global Initiative this evening:  “Real progress doesn’t just come from the top down – not just from govt – it comes from the bottom up, from real people.” Kicking [...]

Midtown Manhattan is in virtual lock-down, as motorcades shut streets and security agents create instant frozen zones to protect the heads of state here in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Cabs are worthless hulks of immobile yellow metal. Buses are very nearly short-stay hotel rooms. And the commuter trains and subways run [...]