( CNN ) President Barack Obama said Saturday that he learned Hillary Clinton exclusively used a private email account for government business `` through news reports '' and was glad his former secretary of state asked for those emails to be made public . `` The policy of my administration is to encourage transparency , which is why my emails , the BlackBerry I carry around , all those records are available and archived , '' Obama said in an interview with CBS News . `` I 'm glad that Hillary 's instructed that those emails about official business need to be disclosed . '' Clinton used a private email account -- housed in servers at her New York home -- for the four years she served as America 's top diplomat , a practice that skirted legal standards in place and has some Republicans calling for investigations . On Wednesday night , the former secretary of state tweeted that she `` asked State to release '' her email , a request accepted by the department . Obama backed Clinton 's request , telling CBS that he thinks `` the fact that she is putting them forward will allow us to make sure that people have the information they need . '' While Obama commented on the issue Saturday , Clinton did n't mention it during an 18-minute appearance on stage at a Clinton Global Initiative event at the University of Miami . Clinton took no questions from reporters at the event . Instead , Clinton 's remarks to about 1,000 students focused on the foundation 's work , including a new report she will roll out Monday about the underrepresentation of women and girls . `` There 's so much that needs to be done , '' Clinton said on the issue of equaling the playing field for women and girls . As she regularly does , Clinton said there is `` a lot of unfinished business '' to do on the issue . Obama sat down with CBS after the president spoke at the 50th anniversary of the `` Bloody Sunday '' marches in Selma , Alabama . `` If Selma taught us anything , it 's that our work is never done , '' the President said while standing near the Edmund Pettus Bridge , the symbol of the Selma marches . `` Fifty years from Bloody Sunday , our march is not yet finished , but we 're getting closer . '' Clinton did not go to Selma , instead opting to attend her Clinton Foundation event in Florida . `` Watched @ repjohnlewis & @ BarackObama in # Selma , '' she tweeted . `` Let 's answer their call to keep fighting for voting rights , civil rights , & human rights . '' Clinton mentioned the anniversary on stage , tying the marches and event into her work toward leveling the playing field for women and girls . `` You can see how progress is made by looking at what happened this weekend in Selma , Alabama , where our country is marking a historic anniversary of the long march towards equality and a more perfect union , and also recommitting to carry the cause forward into the 21st century , '' Clinton said . `` So whether it 's women 's rights or human rights , civil rights or LGBT rights , we 're counting on all of you to lead the way , and that 's what the no-ceilings initiative at the Clinton Foundation is really all about . ''
President pleased Hillary Clinton emails will become part of public record . Clinton attends CBS event , promotes opportunities for women , girl .