"We are not going to negotiate our way to the negotiating table!"

A man who is emerging as one of the most valuable members of the Trump team is Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Here is a video of him talking to the staff of the State Department. If you are able to view the video, you will be struck by the way he gestures with his hands as he makes various points.

US Economic prosperity, national security, but not at the expense of others. Bringing relationships back into balance NATO, trading partners). Our fundamental values around freedom and human dignity never change. Our policies do change, depending on the countries we are dealing with, and the situation we are confronting. Speaking from a posture of strength.

He starts with North Korea. First he wanted to find out, where are our allies, then engage with other regional powers (Russia and China). Denuclearize the peninsula: our shared policy. First, we have leaned hard into China. We are preparing additional sanctions, but we are hopeful that North Korea will see their security and economic prosperity will be achieved through their following their commitments to denuclearize. We are not going to negotiate our way to the negotiating table!

Tillerson then goes to China, where we have an opportunity to define the relationship for the next 50 years. Trump will be going to Viet Nam and the Philipines in the fall.

Tillerson believes we are defeating ISIS in the Middle East, and he is determined to stop them from spreading into North Africa. He stressed that more work needs to be done in cybersecurity and social media.

He mentioned Saudia Arabia and getting Muslim nations to focus on how they want to be perceived by the rest of the world.

The poor relationship with Russia must change. We must always let our allies know what we are doing. Putin agrees that the relationship is at a low point.

We cannot let Africa become a breeding ground for ISIS. Africa has "health challenges." We want to support emerging governments and encourage trading opportunities.

The focus here in the western hemisphere is to improve trade relationships and defeat organized crime. There will be a meeting May 18 focusing on transnational organized crime.

In many ways, the Cold War was easier to navigate than what we have now. History froze. Constraints were put in place. Now, however, conflicts are not being contained.

Tillerson encouraged his staff to approach the future "with no constraints" on their thinking. He sincerely values their perspective on how we got here and where we need to go.

Andrea Mitchell ushered out of State Department before being able to ask questions of Tillerson

hat tip The Daily Caller

Rex Tillerson sworn in as Secretary of State

Mike Pence swears in Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. Trump: "This is a man who is respected all over the world, even before he begins!

What kind of man is Rex Tillerson?

A woman in her twenties served on a jury with Rex Tillerson on a sexual abuse case in Texas. She credits his analysis and persuasiveness for convincing the jury to bring to justice the perpetrator. He also made a contribution afterward to the foster care agency that had been helping the young victim. Read the story here.

"We have a values deficit, and we have a skills deficit."

It's not about you! First, duty to God and country. Second, duty to others. Third, duty to yourself. Self-reliance. STEM skills. Servant leaders. You were put here for a purpose: fill the values gap, fill the skills gap. Gerard Vanderleun brings us a speech given by Rex Tillerson in October.

Gerard also brings us Tillerson's oath:

"I Rex Tillerson
reaffirm my allegiance
to the three promises of the Scout Oath.

I will do my best to do my duty to God
And my country and to obey the Scout Law.
I will help other people at all times
And keep myself physically strong,
Mentally awake, and morally straight.

I thoughtfully recognize and take upon myself
The obligations and responsibilities
Of the rank of Eagle Scout.
I will at all times do my best
To assist other Scouts climbing the Eagle Trail,
Especially those of my own Troop, Team an Post.

I will help build America on the solid foundation
Of clean living, honest work and reverence to God.
I promise to make my training and example,
My rank and my influence
Count strongly for better Scouting
And for better citizenship in my family,
Church, community and country
And with my contacts with all people.

I realize that the Eagle rank
Is not the end but the beginning
To this I pledge my sacred honor!"

"Strength, security, and sovereignty of the United States"

At Breitbart Charlie Spiering brings us the news that Trump has picked Rex Tillerson to be his Secretary of State.

“Rex Tillerson’s career is the embodiment of the American dream. Through hard work, dedication and smart deal making, Rex rose through the ranks to become CEO of ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest and most respected companies,” Trump said in a statement. “His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for Secretary of State.”

Tillerson was hailed in the release for guiding a global company and his experience negotiating with world leaders.

“Rex knows how to manage a global enterprise, which is crucial to running a successful State Department, and his relationships with leaders all over the world are second to none,” Trump said. “I can think of no one more prepared, and no one more dedicated, to serve as Secretary of State at this critical time in our history.”

Tillerson accepted the nomination, appearing willing to leave his position at the top of one of America’s greatest companies.

“I am honored by President-elect Trump’s nomination and share his vision for restoring the credibility of the United States’ foreign relations and advancing our country’s national security,” Tillerson said. “We must focus on strengthening our alliances, pursuing shared national interests and enhancing the strength, security and sovereignty of the United States.”

Ann Althouse calls out the New York Times and John McCain on Trump's selection of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State

Ann Althouse quotes from a New York Times story today on Trump's choice of Rex Tillerson to be his Secretary of State. Tillerson has worked with Vladimer Putin, among others, in his role at CEO of Exxon Mobil.

The Times forefronts this statement from John McCain:
“Vladimir Putin is a thug, bully and a murderer, and anybody else who describes him as anything else is lying,” Mr. McCain said on Fox News.
Is that the language of diplomacy? If Trump had said "Vladimir Putin is a thug, bully and a murderer," he'd have been regarded as a lout who doesn't have any idea how to talk like a President. But here's McCain saying that anyone who doesn't use that kind of crude, brutal language is a "liar." You're a liar if you don't baldly insult the world leaders you're trying to deal with? Yet somehow Trump is portrayed as the off-the-rails hothead and McCain is the wise, elder statesman.

I'm just teasing, saying "somehow." I know how, and you do too. McCain got defeated in his bid for President. If he, a Republican, were running for President or had been elected President, his words would be presented as evidence — part of a swell of evidence — of his unfitness. Safely defeated, McCain is the quotable statesman — quotable because he usefully disparages the Republican who did get elected.

Now, I'm at the end of the article, and I see what I suppose is meant to support the assertion that the search for a secretary of state has been "chaotic." Trump looked first to Rudy Giuliani and then moved to Mitt Romney, and then Kellyanne Conway spoke openly about Trump supporters who opposed Romney. Thereafter:
Mr. Tillerson emerged as a contender on the strong recommendations of James A. Baker III, the secretary of state under President George Bush, and Robert M. Gates, the former defense secretary, according to a person briefed on the process.

Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon argued for Tillerson, then Trump met with him for 2+ hours on Saturday and made the decision. Is that "chaotic"? I can't help feeling that if Hillary Clinton were picking a Secretary of State through a process like that it would have been presented as methodical, careful, and beautifully indicative of a brilliantly competent presidency to come.

Read more here.