Foreign policy

8 Reasons Exxon's Rex Tillerson Could Succeed As Secretary Of State

Unlike recent top diplomats, Tillerson has no experience in government. The Exxon executive is neither a politician, a career public servant, a general or an academic. There are several reasons, however, why his unique experience would make him an unusually effective Secretary of State.

1. Negotiation: He is an experienced and accomplished negotiator. Historically, the secretary of state need not lead negotiations at the table, as Secretary Kerry appears to have done in the nuclear negotiations with Iran, but he must be in charge of the negotiations. Tillerson has experience running negotiations for everything from land-use rights to labor issues to transportation deals. Under his leadership, Exxon has negotiated with foreign and U.S. governments and major international conglomerates...