OPINION

Ol' Rex never had a chance

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson insists that he's staying at Foggy Bottom following reports that, after one humiliation on top of another from President Donald Trump, he threatened to quit.

Despite Tillerson's ineptitude as secretary, his departure wouldn't be altogether welcome. He is part of the Trump administration's "sane caucus" led by Defense Secretary James Mattis, bringing rational judgment to decisions on explosive foreign-policy issues involving North Korea, Iran, Russia and the Persian Gulf. The counter caucus is led by Trump himself.

Still, it's impossible to defend Tillerson's tenure. He has ignored or alienated much of the foreign service, and mid-career diplomats are leaving in droves. U.S. foreign policy will pay a price for this brain drain well after Trump is gone. He's obsessed with reorganizing the department.

Tillerson is politically tone-deaf. He doesn't appreciate the importance of public diplomacy, he has a weak staff--his communications chief was press secretary for Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign--and he hasn't cultivated good relations with Congress nor consulted much with past secretaries.

As a result of his rift with Trump, Tillerson has limited credibility with foreign leaders.

Mattis has been more successful. For one thing, he's better versed in the ways of Washington. He also appeals to Trump on a visceral level, though for the wrong reason; the president, who fancies himself a tough guy, loves that Mattis' Marine nickname was "Mad Dog." He may not know that it's an ill-chosen label that Mattis doesn't like.

Many Washington observers expect Tillerson to be replaced by United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. A former governor of South Carolina, Haley has displayed a good sense of public diplomacy, is politically skillful and excels at one key magic trick: She knows how to flatter Trump without seeming foolish.

Editorial on 10/08/2017

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