Remarks by President Obama at Nomination of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State

By admin -
110
441

The White House – Office of the Press Secretary
Remarks by the President at Nomination of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State

1:40 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. When I took office, our nation was engaged in two wars, and al Qaeda was entrenched in their safe havens. Many of our alliances were frayed, and America’s standing in the world had suffered.

Over the past four years, we’ve begun a new era of American leadership. We ended the war in Iraq, put the al Qaeda core on the path to defeat, and we’re winding down the war in Afghanistan. We’ve strengthened our alliances, including in Asia; forged new coalitions to meet global challenges; and stood up for human dignity, from North Africa to the Middle East to Burma. We still, of course, face great challenges. But today, I can say with pride that the United States is safer, stronger and more respected in the world.

In this work, I’ve been grateful for an extraordinary national security team. Tom Donilon has been a part of that, and I’m grateful to him. Of course, one of the most important people in this whole transformation has been our outstanding Secretary of State, my friend, Secretary Hillary Clinton. Hillary wanted very much to be here today, but she continues to recuperate. I had a chance to talk to her earlier today, and she is in good spirits and could not be more excited about the announcement that I’m making.

Over the last four years, Hillary has been everywhere — both in terms of her travels, which have seen her represent America in more countries than any previous Secretary of State, and through her tireless work to restore our global leadership. And she’s looking forward to getting back to work, and I am looking forward to paying tribute to her extraordinary service in the days to come.

Today, though, I’m looking ahead to my second term, and I am very proud to announce my choice for America’s next Secretary of State — John Kerry. In a sense, John’s entire life has prepared him for this role. As the son of a Foreign Service officer, he has a deep respect for the men and women of the State Department — the role they play in advancing our interests and values, the risks that they undertake and the sacrifices that they make along with their families.

Having served with valor in Vietnam, he understands that we have a responsibility to use American power wisely, especially our military power. And he knows, from personal experience, that when we send our troops into harm’s way, we must give them the sound strategy, a clear mission, and the resources that they need to get the job done. In an extraordinarily distinguished Senate career — and as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee — John has played a central role in every major foreign policy debate for nearly 30 years.

As we turn the page on a decade of war, he understands that we’ve got to harness all elements of American power and ensure that they’re working together — diplomatic and development, economic and political, military and intelligence — as well as the power of our values which inspire so many people around the world. As John has said, we are an exceptional nation “not because we say we are, but because we do exceptional things.” And I’d say that one of the more exceptional things we’ve seen in recent decades was when John helped lead the way, along with folks like John McCain and others, to restore our diplomatic ties with Vietnam. And when he returned to the country where he and so many others had fought so long ago, it sent a powerful message of progress and of healing.

Over these many years, John has earned the respect and confidence of leaders around the world. He is not going to need a lot of on-the-job training. He has earned the respect and trust of his Senate colleagues, Democrats and Republicans. I think it’s fair to say that few individuals know as many presidents and prime ministers, or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as John Kerry. And this makes him a perfect choice to guide American diplomacy in the years ahead.

On a personal level, John has been a great friend. I’ve appreciated John’s partnership in helping to advance so many of my foreign policy priorities, including the ratification of the New START Treaty. I’ve called on his talents and diplomatic skills on several occasions, on complex challenges from Sudan and South Sudan to the situation in Afghanistan. And each time he has been exemplary.

Of course, I also have to say thanks because John invited a young Illinois state senator to address the Democratic Convention in Boston. I was proud to serve with him on the Foreign Relations Committee under the tutelage of Joe Biden — (laughter) — and where we all became friends. But of course nothing brings two people closer together than weeks of debate prep. (Laughter.)

John, I’m looking forward to working with you instead of debating you. (Laughter.) Finally, I want to thank Teresa. As someone who came to this country as an immigrant, she understands the shining values that America represents to the world. As a former interpreter at the United Nations, she appreciates how our interests can be advanced in partnership with others. Teresa, thank you so much for being John’s partner in this next endeavor.

I have to say I think I speak for John and Joe and myself — we just left Danny Inouye’s funeral, a man who exemplified the very best of the U.S. Senate tradition. And so, I know that, John, it won’t be easy to leave the Senate that you love. And I think it’s fair to say that there are going to be some great challenges ahead. An uncertain world will continue to test our nation.

But even with all the challenges that we face, I have never been more confident, more optimistic, that if we act with wisdom and with purpose, and if we’re guided by our values, and we remind what binds us together as Americans, the United States will continue to lead in this world for our lifetimes.

So, John, I am very grateful that you’ve agreed to take on this new assignment. I’m confident that the Senate will confirm you quickly. I guess you won’t be able to actually appear and preside at the same time — (laughter) — so we’ll have to figure out how that works, but I know that you are going to be an outstanding Secretary of State.

Thank you so much. Congratulations. (Applause.)

END – 1:45 P.M. EST
– White House, december 21, 2012

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

110 COMMENTS

  1. … [Trackback]

    […] Here you can find 47477 more Info to that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  2. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More to that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  3. … [Trackback]

    […] Info on that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  4. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More Info here to that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  8. … [Trackback]

    […] Here you can find 15927 more Info on that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  9. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More here to that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  10. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More Info here on that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  12. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More Info here to that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  14. Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
    A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog
    jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme.
    Thanks

  18. … [Trackback]

    […] Info to that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  19. … [Trackback]

    […] Find More Info here to that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  30. Click Here

    […]that will be the end of this report. Here you will come across some web pages that we assume you’ll appreciate, just click the hyperlinks over[…]

  31. Click Here

    […]we like to honor several other net internet sites around the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Below are some webpages really worth checking out[…]

  41. Click Here

    […]that is the finish of this write-up. Right here you’ll come across some web-sites that we assume you will enjoy, just click the hyperlinks over[…]

  44. Click Here

    […]we like to honor a lot of other net web pages around the internet, even though they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Underneath are some webpages really worth checking out[…]

  48. robotics case study

    […]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a couple of unrelated information, nevertheless actually worth taking a look, whoa did 1 find out about Mid East has got much more problerms also […]

  61. Click Here

    […]we like to honor numerous other net internet sites around the net, even though they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[…]

  66. Click Here

    […]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they may be truly really worth a go by means of, so possess a look[…]

  72. Click Here

    […]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine several unrelated data, nonetheless definitely worth taking a appear, whoa did one particular master about Mid East has got much more problerms also […]

  81. I simply needed to say thanks again. I am not sure the things that I would have achieved in the absence of the secrets revealed by you directly on such question. It previously was a very terrifying setting in my opinion, but being able to view this well-written mode you dealt with that forced me to cry with gladness. I’m just happy for the support and as well , hope you know what a great job you were undertaking educating most people with the aid of a web site. I’m certain you haven’t got to know any of us.

  82. Click Here

    […]very handful of web-sites that come about to become detailed beneath, from our point of view are undoubtedly very well really worth checking out[…]

  84. Click Here

    […]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a couple of unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did a single understand about Mid East has got a lot more problerms as well […]

  90. Click Here

    […]although web-sites we backlink to beneath are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they are in fact really worth a go as a result of, so have a look[…]

  92. Click Here

    […]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a number of unrelated information, nonetheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one particular study about Mid East has got far more problerms at the same time […]

  94. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More Information here to that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  97. … [Trackback]

    […] Read More Information here on that Topic: news1.ahibo.com/2012/12/21/remarks-by-president-obama-at-nomination-of-senator-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/ […]

  98. Click Here

    […]although sites we backlink to beneath are considerably not related to ours, we really feel they may be in fact worth a go by way of, so possess a look[…]

  103. cheap-premium-domains

    […]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated information, nonetheless truly worth taking a look, whoa did 1 master about Mid East has got extra problerms at the same time […]

  106. best tech startup books

    […]we prefer to honor many other web websites around the internet, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Underneath are some webpages really worth checking out[…]

  110. 2023 Books

    […]although internet websites we backlink to beneath are considerably not connected to ours, we feel they’re essentially worth a go by way of, so have a look[…]

LEAVE A REPLY