REX TILLERSON

On the surface of it, it seemed like a good idea to get the recently retired (age 65) both Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobile (stock symbol XOM)* to be Secretary Of State (It has become common for one person to hold both positions.).  It is the largest U.S. oil company with a world-wide span so he had a lot of experience of dealing with foreign leaders and had, at least met, many of them.

But what they had not taken into account was that Tillerson retired from being equivalent to a Head Of State whereas the President was maybe wealthier but was head of a "Mom and Pop" real estate company (with no Mom).  In more graphic terms, it was like having a General work for a Sargent.  It wasn't preordained to failure, but it is tricky.  It got off on the wrong foot  Early on there was trouble when Tillerson was not allowed to pick his own Deputy, a position I assume is currently being held by an Acting-Deputy Civil Servant.

Even by October 2017, only one of six Deputy Secretaries is filled (two are listed as vacant, i.e. not even an acting person in the position); only three of six Under Secretaries are occupied: two of the 24 Assistant Secretary positions were filled and both of those by holdovers,** surprisingly.   Only six of 10 positions equivalent to Assistant Secretary have been selected. Because the President wants to downsize the Department of State, I doubt the open positions (acting or vacant) will be filled.  I assume the offices of the positions listed as vacant are actually dissolved, but what happened to the staffs?  Have they been redistributed?

Tillerson is not communicative.  For me to know what is going on in negotiations between countries is not important, but he has also not communicated to the State Department staff about what is going on with the reorganization.  At any rate, reports are that he is unpopular with the staff and some "experts" say he is the worst Secretary of State ever.  It is said he didn't want the job in the first place, but that his wife said it was his patriotic duty.  Others say he is determined to master the job.  So there you have it.

The Secretary of Defense, the Chief of Staff plus Tillerson, however, are said to what is keeping our nation from complete chaos. (e.g. Sen. Corker).  I find it interesting that the National Security Adviser to the President is not included in the group.  I don't know what that means - though it appears he is considered ineffective?

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Tillerson
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Assistant_Secretary_of_State