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State Department role not limited to diplomacy

Mar 13, 2018
International reaction to President Trump’s firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been muted. One of the few public statements today came from Germany’s deputy foreign minister, who said it would not improve ties with his country. The State Department will face some tough challenges globally in the months ahead — everything from North […]

Rex Tillerson out as secretary of state, to be replaced by CIA chief Mike Pompeo

Mar 13, 2018
A White House official said Trump wanted to have a new team in place ahead of upcoming talks with North Korea and various trade talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds a press conference with Nigeria's foreign minister in Abuja on Monday.
PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images

The diplomatic approach to North Korea is a long game

Oct 9, 2017
Felicia Schwartz of the Wall Street Journal reports on how the State Department has been quietly pressuring Pyongyang. But don't expect results any time soon.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson listens during a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York City about nuclear non-proliferation in September.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Now that Tillerson works for the American people, will his skill set transfer?

Apr 11, 2017
The new secretary of state and administration are finding out 'how hard the world is to bend to your will,' writer says.
Rex Tillerson worked for decades at Exxon Mobil, including as CEO, before becoming secretary of state in the Trump's administration.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Can the U.S.-Mexico relationship be saved?

Feb 23, 2017
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly are in Mexico for talks. They will be covering a variety of topics from security to trade, but most of all, they’ll be trying to smooth over what are now very fraught relations between the two countries. There’s a whole lot at stake.  Click the […]

Where Trump's Secretary of State falls on climate change

Jan 10, 2017
An oil CEO may seem dire for climate change, but he has some moderate leanings.
Exxon Mobil chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson gestures while speaking at a discussion organized by the Economic Club of Washington on the energy innovations that have led to a new era of energy abundance for North America in Washington, DC on March 12, 2015. 

 
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Rex Tillerson has a plan to divest from Exxon Mobil

Jan 4, 2017
He will let go of his salary, retirement benefits and bonuses.
Exxon Mobil's Rex Tillerson speaks at a discussion organized by the Economic Club of Washington.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

What does it mean to have the ExxonMobil CEO as secretary of state

Dec 13, 2016
The multinational oil company has what amounts to its own foreign policy, which can be contrary to U.S. policy.
Chairman and CEO of US oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil, Rex Tillerson, speaks during the 2015 Oil and Money conference in central London on October 7, 2015. 
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images