In her first major public appearance since stepping down as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton embraced key pillars of President Barack Obama's domestic agenda Thursday and said she will strive to act as an envoy between businesses, nonprofit entities and the federal government.

Speaking at a charitable conference in Chicago convened by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, the potential 2016 presidential candidate announced that she had joined the Clinton family's foundation and said she will spend the coming months championing early childhood development, economic development and opportunities for women and girls.

The speech, centered on educational and economic empowerment, echoed many of the Obama administration's top priorities and suggested some of the possible themes Clinton could use in a presidential campaign, should she decide to run.