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POLITICS

TrumpLinesUpEstablishment
RepublicanstoVouchforRexTillerson
ByMICHAELD.SHEAR

DEC.13,2016

WASHINGTONPresidentelectDonaldJ.Trumpisenlistingveteranmembersof
theRepublicanforeignpolicyestablishmenttovouchforRexW.Tillerson,thechief
executiveofExxonMobil,ashischoicetobethenationschiefdiplomat.
TowinSenateconfirmation,Mr.Tillersonwillneedtocounterbipartisan
skepticismabouthistiestoPresidentVladimirV.PutinofRussiaoverhislong
careeratthegiantenergycompany.Hearingsareexpectedtofocus,inparticular,on
thepotentialconflictbetweenExxonsoilandgasdealsandAmericansanctionson
Russia.
ButMr.TrumpstransitionteamhaslineduphighprofileendorsementsforMr.
TillersonthatbegantorolloutearlyTuesdaymorningandwereintendedtoaddress
concernsaboutRussiaandMr.Putin,accordingtopeoplefamiliarwiththeplan.
ThetransitionteamsgoalistopressforaswiftconfirmationafterMr.Trumpis
inauguratednextmonth.
Ihavechosenoneofthetrulygreatbusiness
leadersoftheworld,RexTillerson,Chairmanand
CEOofExxonMobil,tobeSecretaryofState.
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Dec. 13,

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

Dec. 13,
2016

RobertM.Gates,whoservedassecretaryofdefenseunderPresidentObama
andPresidentGeorgeW.Bush,stronglyendorsedMr.Tillersoninastatement
Tuesdaymorning,callinghimaglobalchampionofthebestvaluesofourcountry
andsayinghewouldbringvastknowledge,experienceandsuccessindealingwith
dozensofgovernmentsandleadersineverycorneroftheworld.
OthersexpectedtostronglybackMr.Tillersonandtorejectconcernsabout
RussiaaresaidtoincludeformerVicePresidentDickCheneyandformer
SecretariesofStateJamesA.BakerIIIandCondoleezzaRice,amongothers.
SenatorBobCorker,whowasafinalisttobecomeMr.Trumpssecretaryofstate
andwilloverseeconfirmationhearingsaschairmanoftheSenateForeignRelations
Committee,alsoissuedanenthusiasticstatementaboutMr.Tillersonsselectionon
Tuesday.Mr.Tillersonisaveryimpressiveindividualandhasanextraordinary
workingknowledgeoftheworld,Mr.Corkersaid.Icongratulatehimonhis
nominationandlookforwardtomeetingwithhimandchairinghisconfirmation
hearing.
Inthelastseveraldays,RepublicanandDemocraticlawmakerswarnedthatMr.
TillersonwouldfaceintensescrutinyoverhisrelationshipwithRussia,which
awardedhimitsOrderofFriendshipin2013,andwithMr.Putin.
Mr.Tillersonhasbeenpubliclyskepticalaboutthesanctions,whichhavehalted
someofExxonsbiggestprojectsinRussia,includinganagreementwiththestateoil
companytoexploreandpumpundergroundresourcesinSiberiathatcouldbeworth
tensofbillionsofdollars.
InastatementonTuesday,SenatorMarcoRubio,RepublicanofFlorida,
signaledthathemayopposeMr.TillersonsselectiontobethefaceofAmerican
foreignpolicyabroad.
WhileRexTillersonisarespectedbusinessman,Ihaveseriousconcernsabout
hisnomination,saidMr.Rubio,wholostabidfortheRepublicannominationto
Mr.Trump.Thenextsecretaryofstatemustbesomeonewhoviewstheworldwith

moralclarity,isfreeofpotentialconflictsofinterest,hasaclearsenseofAmericas
interests,andwillbeaforcefuladvocateforAmericasforeignpolicygoalstothe
president,withintheadministration,andontheworldstage.
WhileRexTillersonisarespectedbusinessman,I
haveseriousconcernsabouthisnomination...
https://t.co/gnE5xDj012
pic.twitter.com/t37jSy27Iz
Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress)
Dec. 13,
2016

Mr.TrumpsselectionofMr.Tillersonquicklygeneratedoppositionfrom
Democratsandliberalactivists,whoexpresseddeepconcernaboutthepotential
impactthathisappointmentcouldhaveonclimatechangeandotherissues.
HeandothercompanyexecutivesledExxonMobilinfundingoutsidegroups
tocreateanillusionofscientificuncertaintyaroundtheoverwhelmingscientific
consensusonclimatechange,NeeraTanden,thepresidentoftheCenterfor
AmericanProgress,saidinastatement.
Ms.Tanden,whohasbeenalongtimeconfidanteofHillaryClinton,added,
Thisdecadeslongmisinformationcampaigndirectlynarrowedtheworldswindow
ofopportunitytocutemissionsandavertthecatastrophiceffectsofclimatechange.
AmnestyInternationalsaidinastatementthatRexTillersonsnominationis
deeplytroublingandcouldunderminehumanrightsintheU.S.andabroad.
Thenominationalsodrewcriticismfromsomesocialconservatives.In
condemningMr.Tillerson,theysaidhehadplayedacentralroleinreversingthe
BoyScoutslongstandingpolicyofexcludinggaypeople,anissuethatbecamea
culturalflashpointforthereligiousright.
AformernationalpresidentfortheBoyScouts,Mr.Tillersonwasinvolvedin
openingtheScoutsuptogayscoutsandleaders.TonyPerkins,presidentofthe
FamilyResearchCouncil,wroteonhisorganizationswebsitethatMr.Tillerson

cavedtothepressureofthefarleft,irreparablysplittingtheScoutsanddestroyinga
proudandhonorableAmericantradition.
Mr.PerkinsalsocitedExxonsfinancialdonationstoPlannedParenthood,
callingthemupsettingatbest.
Mr.TrumpappearedunfazedbythepotentialroadblockstoMr.Tillersons
confirmation.InhisstatementmakingofficialhisdecisiontonominateMr.
Tillerson,thepresidentelectlavishedpraiseontheExxonexecutiveforhisbusiness
acumenandknowledgeoftheworld.
Histenacity,broadexperienceanddeepunderstandingofgeopoliticsmake
himanexcellentchoiceforsecretaryofstate,Mr.Trumpsaid.Rexknowshowto
manageaglobalenterprise,whichiscrucialtorunningasuccessfulState
Department,andhisrelationshipswithleadersallovertheworldaresecondto
none.
Mr.TillersonsaidinthestatementthathesharedMr.Trumpsvisionfor
restoringthecredibilityoftheUnitedStatesforeignrelations,andhevowedto
focusonstrengtheningouralliances,pursuingsharednationalinterestsand
enhancingthestrength,securityandsovereigntyoftheUnitedStates.
OnTwitteronTuesdaymorning,Mr.TrumpemphasizedhisStateDepartment
picksexperience.
ThethingIlikebestaboutRexTillersonisthathe
hasvastexperienceatdealingsuccessfullywithall
typesofforeigngovernments.
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Dec. 13,
2016

ReincePriebus,theincomingWhiteHousechiefofstaff,saidonMSNBCthat
Mr.TrumpschoiceofMr.Tillersoncamedowntochemistryandasharedvision
betweenthemenabouthowtoconductdiplomacyandconfrontdifficultissues
overseas.

Mr.PriebusrejectedtheideathatMr.TillersonsrelationshipwithMr.Putin
shouldbedisqualifying.Hesaidthatignoringpeopleandactingasifpeopledont
existisntgoingtogetthingsdone.
Mr.PriebussaidthatdespiteMr.Tillersonscriticismofsanctionsagainst
Russia,hebelievesthattheyareanimportantpartofdiplomacybutonlyifthey
areadequatelyenforced.Hesnotagainstsanctions,Mr.Priebussaidonthe
networksMorningJoeprogram.
JeremyPeterscontributedreportingfromWashington
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