The Foreign Service Journal, March 2019

20 MARCH 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL I n this Fiftieth Anniversary issue, articles by a number of distinguished contributors perhaps will impress some readers as being extensions of that rash of analysis and self-analysis which has been a favorite pastime of the Foreign Service in recent years. If so, that was our aim, for we believe a most useful purpose is served by a running discourse on where the Foreign Service has been, where it is going and how it will get there. This belief, of course, was not always in evidence; indeed, an “epic poem” in these pages reminds us that the Journal was allowed to be born fifty years ago only on the condition that it exclude “tendentious talk” from its contents. More- over, recalls James Barclay Young, every page had to be read and approved by Assistant Secretary of StateWilbur Carr. We trust this issue, then, like the Association and the profession it represents, demonstrates progress away from these limited beginnings. … The challenge was inherent in remarks made by the President [Richard M. Nixon] when, early in his Administration, he visited the Depart- ment and addressed a large gathering of officers. He used the occasion to express his high regard for their professional merits and emphasized his full recognition of the importance of their task. At the same time, he reiterated a plea for independent thinking, for the expression of dissenting and divergent views, and for the articulation of constructive criticism. … We, therefore, heartily welcome the challenge issued by the President and the Secretary [William P. Rogers] for a more creative and imaginative Foreign Service. We hope- fully predict, at this mid-century mark, that the pages of the Journal during the coming years will contain more “tenden- tious talk” than in the past fifty. Such expressions will be the reflection of a healthy but responsible ferment in the foreign affairs community. —From an editorial in the March 1969 FSJ . 50 Years Ago Go Ahead and Plan ing our unified mission of advancing America’s foreign policy.” On the opening day of the conference, Vice President Mike Pence gave what many viewed as a campaign-style speech to the chiefs of mission gathered at the State Department. He did not mention the shutdown directly. “The United States of America is once again standing tall and standing proud, not just at home, but around the world,” the vice president said. “You know, it would be helpful for all of you to recount, when you return to your duties, what the president noted earlier today, that … there are today 77 major or significant walls built around the world,” Pence said. “Rest assured each of you have a role to play as we take the battle forward on Capitol Hill to secure our border.” The vice president also told the assembled chiefs of mission that “ISIS has been defeated.”This remark raised some eyebrows, given that four Americans had been killed by the group just hours before he gave those remarks. Pence closed with an entreaty to the COMs to go back to their posts and “deliver a message” that “America is back!” You can view the speech on YouTube at bit.ly/2G9FYR4. Best Places to Work? Not State. W hen the Partnership for Public Service released its annual “Best Places to Work in the Federal Govern- ment” rankings on Dec. 12, the State Department had fallen into the lowest quartile in the rankings, to 14th place out of 17 large agencies. The Best Places to Work index score is derived from three questions in the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, sixth from left, and assembled chiefs of mission listen to the vice president’s address on Jan. 16 at the State Department.