Mitt Romney is staying off the campaign trail this week, taking it easy in New Hampshire and Vermont and preparing for the fall's debates.

But his surrogates are active, and Thursday, four former Republican Secretaries of State urged people to consider Romney as a potential commander-in-chief.

The nation "cannot be strong militarily, politically or diplomatically unless we are strong economically. These past few years, we have experienced an anemic economic recovery, one that has weakened our influence in the world and shaken the confidence of our friends and allies," wrote George Shultz, James Baker, Henry Kissinger and Condoleezza Rice.

"We need pro-growth strategies that will renew our ailing economy, just as they did when Ronald Reagan took over in 1980. If the U.S. economy continues to stagnate, then predictions of an American retreat from greatness could come true."

 The former officials' piece was run in the Washington Times. They continued:

"That is why we have endorsed Mitt Romney for president. He has the experience, strategy and temperament to lead a robust economic recovery and rein in the mounting federal debt that threatens our future. And he fully understands that our prosperity at home is inextricably linked to our influence abroad.

"Mr. Romney has laid out a strong and mature vision of American leadership during his campaign. It is based on a consistent theme that peace abroad depends on American vitality.

"Mr. Romney understands that the world remains a dangerous place. He is a staunch supporter of our alliances around the world. He believes in maintaining our military strength. He is committed to expanding free trade and investment. He will oppose the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. And he knows that no American president should ever be ashamed of espousing the democratic principles upon which our nation was founded.

"Most of all, he recognizes that America is at its best when it assumes a leadership role on the world stage. Mr. Romney will devote himself to building an America that remains the hope of the world — a world of peace, justice and democracy."

The former Secretary of State says she's not interested in serving as Mitt Romney's running mate. 

In an interview with CBS' This Morning, the George W. Bush appointee said "there is no way that I will do this.

She noted she never ran "for student council president. I don't see myself in any way in elected office. I love policy. I'm not particularly fond of politics."

Speculation on Rice ramped up over the weekend when she appeared at a Romney fundraising retreat -- and then raised money Monday night for a superPAC that backs Republican women.

The former Secretary of State is back in DC tonight raising money for a Super PAC -- ShePAC -- that raises money for Republican women.

ShePAC says she'll hold a roundtable with members of Congress and congressional candidates, along with two receptions. Though Secretaries of State generally steer clear of politics, Rice is no longer in office and was apparently a huge hit with a weekend appearance at a Mitt Romney presidential retreat. 

President Obama and Bush-era Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talked national security at the White House today, but an aide said she also brought by a "personalized" copy of her new memoir (about growing up in Alabama during the civil rights era), and a young-adult version of the memoir as a gift for Obama girls Sasha and Malia. Rice is in Washington promoting her book.

This video by a Stanford student has been around for a couple of days, but if you haven't watched it's well worth the trouble.

Hear Rice's pitch rise as she defends the harsh interrogation authorized under Bush. Hear her assert that, "with all due respect," Nazi Germany was less of a threat than al Qaida (start at 3 minutes 30 seconds).

Her student interrogator does pretty well pointing out the irrelevancy of some of what she says (4'10"). And she does a great job of treating us to a topsy-turvy view of who deprived the Guantanamo detainees of their due process rights (from about 4'50" to 5'26"). OK, no suspense, it was the Supreme Court. No wonder the student can't answer.

But the best line is her assertion that whatever happened at Guantanamo couldn't have been torture because President Bush authorized it: "By definition, if it was authorized by the president, it did not violate our obligations under the Convention Against Torture" (5'36" to 6'26").

Maybe she should see the movie Frost/Nixon: "When the president does it, it's not illegal."

Here're some related links:

Red Cross Report

Document: Cheney, Rice signed off on interrogation techniques

Report: Abusive tactics used to seek Iraq-al Qaida link

CIA official: No proof harsh techniques stopped terror attacks on America