You run a department with tens of thousands of Foreign Service officers, as I say, civil servant officials, and we have national employees out around the world. I read where you said you felt confident and humble, and I thought that was a really good combination as you embark on this important job. Well, I can imagine what that’s like for them as well, Secretary, because it’s been a tough four years for our Foreign Service officers and our Civil Service officials, and it’s important to do what you’re doing, which is spending time with them, talking with them, listening to them. And the greatest pleasure I’ve had since I’m back is just reconnecting with people that you and I know so well. So I’m really looking forward to being able to get out there.īut what’s been so gratifying is because I’ve been doing this for a while – I started working for President Clinton in 1993, and my first job was here at the State Department working in the front office of the European Affairs Bureau, and so I’ve known the men and women of the department for a long time. But, of course, you know as well as anyone, better than anyone, it’s just not the same thing. I’ve been saying that it’s a good thing the department’s on the family plan, otherwise I would have bankrupted the budget. Now, the good news is I’ve been burning up the phone lines. I wish I could do the same thing, but we’re grounded. I remember so well when you became secretary, you were off almost immediately on that airplane visiting with, working with, engaging with our allies and partners and others around the world. But you know – obviously, because of COVID it’s been a challenge, and there’s a little bit of frustration that comes with that. It’s a little bit like jumping onto a treadmill that’s already moving at 10 miles an hour, and partly it’s just trying to hold on. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, you know this better than anyone. So let me ask you, what have your first few weeks as Secretary of State looked like and felt like to you? I’ve had the good fortune to have spent a lot of time in these halls with you in the past, at the White House over many years, but it’s particularly fun to be connected via the podcast. I could not be happier to be able to spend some time with you. I cannot express how pleased I am to have this chance to talk with you. SECRETARY CLINTON: So, Secretary Blinken, welcome. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.Bureau of International Organization Affairs.Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.Office of Management Strategy and Solutions.Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations.Bureau of Information Resource Management.Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services.Office of the Science and Technology Adviser.Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment.Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.Office of International Religious Freedom.Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance.Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security.Arms Control and International Security.Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy.Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority Special Representative for Syria Engagement.Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.Special Presidential Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology.
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