Keeping Hillary Close

There’s talk about making Hilary Clinton Secretary of State in an Obama cabinet. (I shall resist the temptation to ask if that position has become home to the resident token female. I merely note that the last two presidents have had a woman in the slot.)
We should keep in mind that secretaries of state in my lifetime have had a great deal of impact on American foreign policy (Acheson and Dulles), all but none (Hull), and been glorified messengers for several presidents (Powell and Rogers).
In terms of actual power, the position is questionable. How much authority a Secretary of State has is totally dependent on his or her relationship with the President. Does he trust him or her; would he dare send him or her around the world to speak authoritatively for him? Or does he trust that person to speak only the words he or she has been programmed to speak?
Worse yet, does he send someone from his personal staff inside the White House to do the real negotiating—like Kissinger with China? Going in, Hillary can have no idea which niche she will find herself in. (If I were she I would think long and hard.)
There are lots of potential positives for Obama. Hillary certainly has some skills as a diplomat. She proved to be a popular figure abroad as First Lady. She has a vast popular following here that might be at least partially propitiated by Hillary receiving a high sounding title. Having a leash on Hillary just possibly might also mean having some control over Bill.
As I write he’s off in the Arab world doing “something” that appears to involve this or that financial entanglement. (When it comes to personal finances Bill and Hillary have often seemed to be more concerned with Bill and Hillary’s well-being than the national good.
While none of their investments have been proven strictly illegal, some of them have unquestionably left applicable law stretched and gasping for breath. Then there are all those rumors about how she took gifts and furnishings with her from the White House in 2001.)
Could it be that having Hillary in his cabinet—and her thus needing a relatively clean image—will enable Obama to keep both Clintons under reasonable control? Would there be a further advantage in having her in his cabinet and comparatively under his thumb—rather than in the Senate where she could keep her eye on future elections and subtly sabotage crucial legislation?
There are also negatives for Obama to consider. Can he trust her? What about Bill? Can they have a meeting of minds that must be there to have an effective and useful Secretary of State (like Bush apparently had with Condoleezza Rice)?
He’s got some serious and tough negotiations coming up. Two wars, Arab oil states, Asian economic competitors who may or may not play fair. It will take a serious load off him if he can rely on his Secretary of State to do at least some of the heavy lifting. Is that Hillary?
If he’s going to pick someone inside the White House to do his serious negotiating, why not make that person his Secretary of State? (If I were Obama I would think long and hard.)
But, then again, there may one positive that outweighs all. Remember the old adage? Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer. Right in the cabinet?