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Career as a foreign service officer?

What was the background of Lawrence Eagleburger becoming the first (and so far only) career Foreign Service Officer to serve as US Secretary of State?

  • Answer:

    Secretaries of State are politically appointed jobs, as are all other Cabinet offices. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Eagleburger was a short-term, recess appointment to the position during the last days of the GHW Bush administration. He held the job for five months -- far too short a period to interest any serious political appointee -- in recognition of the high quality of work throughout his career. While it might be possible to find a political appointee interested in being Sec. State or ambassador for just a few months, the government doesn't really need that sort of person -- a title-seeker. Far better to break with tradition and appoint a career diplomat.

John Burgess at Quora Visit the source

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He was a brilliant FSO who became "Deputy" Secretary and then eased into the full position after Jim Baker left, but his health was not good and he did not last long.

Stephen Wickman

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