New York senator, Mrs Hillary Clinton says she has no plans to run for the 2004 American presidency but remains circumspect about entering the race in 2008.
Speaking during an interview to promote her autobiography, Mrs Clinton said she hoped her country would elect a woman leader during her lifetime.
Her popularity was in evidence as hundreds of fans turned up in London's Piccadilly Circus to have copies of Living Historysigned by the author.
In a wide-ranging interview, the senator spoke of the pressures of the diversity of roles and expectations placed on the First Lady and her own political career.
Asked whether writing the book was part of an agenda to progress a return to the White House, Mrs Clinton told Radio 4's Woman's Hour she had no plans or intentions for the 2004 Presidency.
But she was more circumspect about 2008 and said: "2008 is an eternity in American politics. But I think that the role I'm playing, trying to bring attention to issues, trying to get people to focus on what's at stake is a very appropriate role for me."
Questioned about how her husband Bill Clinton would cope with being "First Man", she replied: "I don't know if he'll ever have a chance to figure that out.
"I had a friend say that there will eventually be a woman president - and I hope in my lifetime and in the not too distant future - and then what will we call that person?
"Someone suggested, how about First Mate? I thought - that's a good answer."
The former First Lady reportedly received a £5 million advance for the book - with her US publishers earning back the fee in the first week of sales.
PA