The man formerly known as Senator John Kerry is now officially Secretary of State John Kerry.
Kerry became the United States’ 68th Secretary of State on Friday, in a swearing-in ceremony conducted by Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan. He replaced Hillary Rodham Clinton, who stepped down Friday from her State Dept. post after 4 years and 112 visits to foreign countries on behalf of President Obama.
“Just standing here looking out at all of you, the people I have been honored to serve and lead and work with over the last four years is an incredible experience,” Clinton said in a farewell speech to State Dept. employees. “I know that the world we are trying to help bring into being in the 21st century will have many difficult days. But I am more optimistic today than I was when I stood here four years ago because I have seen day after day the many contributions that our diplomats and development experts are making.”
Secretary John Kerry, who is a former Massachusetts senator and the 2004 Democratic nominee for president, is already planning a trip to the volatile Middle East, which will include stops in Israel and Egypt. From his decades on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry has a wealth of knowledge regarding the delicate peace process between Israel and Palestine and intends to make the issue a priority.
“My hope… my prayer is that perhaps this can be a moment where we can renew some kind of effort to get the parties into a discussion,” Kerry said.
