Immediately following the Senate’s vote Wednesday approving her nomination to be secretary of State, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) resigned the seat she had held for eight years.  

Clinton was officially sworn in to her Cabinet post one hour after the vote, in a small ceremony in her Senate office. Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton (D), and her Washington-based staff were present for her swearing-in to serve as the country’s 67th secretary of State.

According to Clinton’s office, the former first lady sent identical letters to New York Gov. David Paterson (D) and the president of the Senate, Vice President Joseph Biden.

“This letter is to inform you that I resign my seat in the United States Senate effective immediately in order to assume my duties as Secretary of State of the United States,” the letter said.