At long last! International Man of Mystery, Mike Hammer, is finally
officially sworn in! It is a most entertaining event, and he is a great sport! You
may remember Mike from
more than a year ago, Congratulations! Good luck in your new post, Secretary Hammer. No more
Swearing-in Ceremony for Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Mike Hammer
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Capricia Penavic Marshall
Chief of Protocol
Michael A. Hammer
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs
Benjamin Franklin Room
Washington, DC
June 21, 2012
AMBASSADOR MARSHALL:
Well, good morning. Good morning distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen. I’m Capricia Penavic Marshall, the Chief of Protocol, and it
is my pleasure to welcome you today to the Benjamin Franklin Room for
the swearing in of Michael Hammer to be the next Assistant Secretary of
State for Public Affairs. (Applause and cheering.)
We are very
privileged today to have the Secretary of State, the Honorable Hillary
Rodham Clinton, officiating our ceremony this morning. We are also very
pleased to welcome Mr. Hammer’s family: his wife Margret, his daughters
Monika, Brynja, and their son Mike Thor, and his mother Magdalena.
Please join me in welcoming them as well. (Applause.)
We’ll begin
our ceremony with remarks by the Secretary of State. That will be
followed by the administration of the oath of office and the signing of
the appointment papers, followed with remarks by our new Assistant
Secretary. It’s now my pleasure to introduce the Secretary of State.
(Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you so much.
Well, I have been waiting for this day – (laughter) – a long time
because we are here finally, officially to swear in our Assistant
Secretary for Public Affairs Mike Hammer. Now we’re also here to
celebrate the color purple. (Laughter.) And, Mike, I was in a real
dilemma. I have pantsuits in nearly every color – (laughter) – except
purple. (Laughter.) And so I’ve got to get appropriately attired. As you
can see, the entire family is appropriately attired. And thanks to the
good work of the PA staff – (laughter and applause) – and then of course
the piece de resistance – (laughter and applause) – okay.
So let
me formally welcome – (laughter) – Mike’s family – (laughter) – the
people in purple – (laughter) – of course his wonderful mother, who has
come all the way from Madrid, his wonderful wife Margret and children,
Monika, Mike Thor, and Brynja and the rest of the extended Hammer
family.
And of course, it is appropriate that we’re swearing Mike
in during what he will surely tell you is one of soccer’s biggest
months. Now, you may have wondered why we rescheduled this event. It has
nothing to do with my trip to Rio. Mike was worried about missing this
afternoon’s Euro Cup quarterfinal matches. (Laughter.) Now here at the
State Department – (laughter) – when I wanted to put together my own
power team, I couldn’t find a better all-star than Mike. We enticed him
away from the White House – after they had taken him from us, so it was
only fair – and this time we’re not letting him go.
He brings deep
experience to the role of Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. He
understands the imperative to engage in a global dialogue 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, in all corners of the earth, in all languages.
And what he doesn’t quite understand is he doesn’t have to actually be
awake 24 hours a day – (laughter) – seven days a week, emailing with
everybody around the world.
Now, there’s a debate, but he may have
one of the messiest offices in Public Affairs, but he has an
unprecedented attention to detail, follow-through, and execution. The
minute after I host an event – probably this one included – he will
engage with social media, and his team will be hard at work measuring
results and effectiveness. We’ve come up with a lot of new ideas that,
thanks to Mike and his team, have been implemented. He understands the
importance of what we’re trying to do, not just government-to-government
diplomacy, but people to people.
He’s hosted the State
Department’s first-ever briefings in Spanish, traveled with Under
Secretary Wendy Sherman for our P-5+1 discussions on Iran, accompanied
Deputy Secretary Nides to Mexico to strengthen our relations, and he’s
been all over our country talking about what the State Department does,
from North Dakota to Miami, engaging with local and regional press,
which I think is so important.
And with information rocketing
around the globe faster and in more varied ways, we have to be
exercising smart power in how we communicate. And that’s why Mike has
led Public Affairs to become a collaborative, comprehensive, one-stop
shop for all State Department bureaus.
And I thank you, Mike. I
thank you for your creativity, your collaboration. I can’t think of
anyone better suited to lead our efforts at this time. You have served
our country with honor and distinction over so many years, and your
warmth, your humor, your energy, and your friendship are added bonuses
to your professionalism.
So, if we’re finally ready, I will once
again put on these glasses. (Laughter.) Okay. (Laughter.) So repeat
after me – (laughter) – I, state your name.
(The oath was administered.)
Congratulations. (Laughter and applause.) So now we’re going to go down and sign –
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HAMMER: Now that is one tough act to follow. (Laughter.) Can I borrow the glasses?
SECRETARY CLINTON: You got ’em, babe.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HAMMER:
Absolutely. (Laughter.) You guys are so cool. Madam Secretary, I am
deeply grateful for the confidence, although you may wonder now –
(laughter) – that you and President Obama have shown in me with giving
me this position.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yeah. You can take them off now. (Laughter.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HAMMER: I think so. There are cameras rolling. (Laughter.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: This is going to be so hard to explain. (Laughter.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HAMMER:
It has been just an incredible experience to work these past three
years for a man and a woman who are the force at the White House and at
the State Department. And of course, I mean Denis McDonough and Cheryl
Mills. (Laughter.) I must admit it was really hard to meet their
expectations. I still really quite haven’t mastered the art of no sleep.
(Laughter.) But seriously, they’re wonderful people – passionate,
sharp, and always looking to see how we can advance the interests of our
country. And I thank them both for the great opportunities they’ve
given me.
A special thanks goes to Dave Adams and his leg team for
the remarkable job they did finally getting me confirmed. Also to Wendy
Sherman; boy, is she one tough negotiator. We were in Moscow, as you
know, and even if the Iranians offered us the best deal ending all their
nuclear program, no – she said, “No, we’re not staying here any longer.
We got to get you back. You’ve got to get sworn in.” (Laughter.) So
thank you very much, Wendy. You rock. (Laughter.)
I’ve had a great
career – opportunities, fantastic mentors. Glyn Davies, who I see
there, Marc Grossman, they’re just class acts who have given me
opportunities. There are several others who I so much look up to: Bill
Burns, Pat Kennedy, Anne Patterson, I see Bob Blake there, a former
boss. There are a lot of former bosses, but really, you guys set such an
incredible standard, such professional integrity, intellectual rigor,
and courage, and I just hope to try to meet those standards as I try to
carry on my day job, sometimes at night. (Laughter.)
Madam
Secretary, you inspire, you motivate, you empower us. In PA, our job is
to promote U.S. foreign policy, to communicate accurately, effectively,
and quickly to the American people and the world. We watch how you do
it. We are in awe. You do it every day, you do it powerfully, and
tirelessly. As you have laid out, Public Affairs is busy advancing a
robust agenda using, as you say, smart power, 21st century
statecraft, and innovation. We amplify priorities which you have laid
out: elevating diplomacy and development, pushing forward the QDDR,
stepping up our game in Asia, managing challenges and opportunities in
the Arab Spring, empowering women and girls. And as Tom Nides likes to
say, we are focused like a laser beam on advancing economic statecraft.
In
fact, as I travel the country and speak at universities and at Chambers
of Commerce, the American people get that if we do our job right here
at the State Department, at USAID, if we execute diplomacy and
development effectively, we will actually prevent conflicts and save
expending blood and treasure. Simply put, Madam Secretary, you are a
visionary. You have made the State Department more relevant. You have
fought to provide us tools and resources to carry out our mission and
succeed. Frankly, it is fun to be a diplomat under your watch.
Let
me turn to the folks that really make everything happen, the leadership
team who is transforming Public Affairs into the flagship bureau we
want to it to be: my Principal Deputy Dana Shell Smith, who I think had
something to do with the glasses. (Laughter.) Our ace pitcher on the
podium – and I hope she’s not prepping, I hope she’s here, Toria – and
then her reliever, who is actually on leave, Mark Toner. Our Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Outreach Cheryl Benton – I hope she’s here. Our
Digital DAS Victoria Esser, who is actually traveling. Our Historian,
Steve Randolph. And of course, our vital Executive Director Hattie
Jones. And our secret weapon, our designated hitter, Philippe. If you’ve
all noticed, he’s certainly a real slugger.
We have a dedicated
corps of Civil Service and Foreign Service who are the backbone of the
Bureau, who make the magic happen: our techs, our press officers, our
social media pioneers, transcribers, and the best photographer in the
business – (laughter) – at least the best-dressed photographer in the
business, Michael Gross. (Laughter.) But look out, Michael. I think Ben
Chang’s around and he’s an aspiring paparazzi, so – (laughter). I am
proud of how PA has stepped up its game – (laughter) – save a little for
later – (laughter) – to sort of – to meet the challenges of the dynamic
warp-speed media environment.
We have to be the ones telling our
narrative. We can’t cede the ground to the Al Jazeeras and Xinhuas of
this world. We have increased the numbers of briefings, empowered our
six regional media hubs, launched 10 foreign-language Twitter feeds,
briefed in Spanish, pushed out video statements in multiple languages,
and gone virtual with our domestic Hometown Diplomats Program.
We
certainly appreciate the tremendous support of our dynamic Under
Secretary Tara Sonenshine, and we leverage our cooperation with Dawn’s
and Maureen’s IIP, with Anne and Stock’s ECA, as we together work to
support our seventh floor principals, special envoys, regional and
functional bureaus, and amplify our policies and reach new, broader
audiences around the globe.
I want to also recognize my NSC
communications brethren/family – Ben Rhodes, Tommy Vietor, and two of
our own State rising stars, Caitlin Hayden and Erin Pelton, as well as
DOD’s Tanya Bradsher. And of course, the person who makes it all happen,
the magic over at the NSC, Natalie Wozniak. I hope she made it over.
Excellent, Natalie. Thanks for everything. You’re awesome.
Let me
talk for a moment – this is the hard part for me, so – about my home
team, the family that has allowed me to pursue my dream. My dream to be a
Foreign Service officer was inspired by my dad. I grew up in Latin
America. He instilled in me the public service and advancing America’s
interests abroad was an honorable pursuit. He sacrificed his life for
our great country and rests across the way in Arlington. Today would
have been his birthday. And today, I honor him and I thank my mami, who
is here from Madrid. Y mi mami, gracias por tu apoyo, lo has hecho todo
muy bien.
My three awesome kids – they’re dreading this part of
this – (laughter) – who have served in their own way as junior diplomats
– Monika, whose life I’ve ruined at least twice. (Laughter.) You may
remember when we left from seventh grade down to go to Bolivia. You
didn’t want to leave Washington, then we’re down in La Paz coming back
to Washington, didn’t want to leave La Paz. (Laughter.) But I’m sure
you’re now at least looking forward to your next adventure at Syracuse
at Newhouse to study broadcast journalism. We are so very proud of you.
(Applause.) Our son Mike Thor, who hadn’t realized how cool his name was
until the movie Thor came out. (Laughter.) Oh, and by the way, you
don’t have to call me Old Man anymore; you can call me Mr. Assistant
Secretary Daddy. (Laughter.) Keep up the good work. We’ve still got to
get you to college. (Laughter.) And our cutie, Brynja. You don’t have to
worry about college, not quite yet. And that’s a good thing for our
wallets.
Margret, what can I say? You have been my partner, best
friend, and staunchest supporter for over two decades. Wow, that’s a
long time. When we were in grad school, we did a course on human rights
in Strasbourg while Margaret was working in the Council of Europe. I was
applying to the Foreign Service and she typed out my application on
that goofy A4 European paper. I thought I’d never get in. But somehow,
it happened. Years later, when Glyn was kind enough – or crazy enough –
to offer me a job in the NSC doing press, I was really unsure, but
Margaret, you said, “Go do it,” and it’s worked out pretty well. Thanks,
Sandy, who may be here, and Jim Steinberg and Glyn for giving me that
opportunity.
Let me just say a word about our press colleagues,
some of which I see are here today. We admire the work that you do. You
keep us honest, accountable, and you make sure that our democracy
remains vibrant. You’re under tremendous pressure to produce. Perhaps we
do not always make it easy for you, but we have a shared common goal:
to inform the American people and the world. Our government will always
stand up for freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and now
internet freedom, as the Secretary has eloquently said.
Thank you
all for sharing this special occasion with my family and me. I may have
been a bit – gone a little bit too long; I probably should have spoken
in Spanish. I’m told by our transcribers that when I speak in Spanish, I
speak much faster. (Laughter.) And so I could have gotten a lot more in
more quickly, but thanks for bearing with me.
Finally, let’s go
out there and promote America’s interests, and as the Secretary says,
let’s always be looking to see how we can do better. I assure you, Madam
Secretary that PA will try. We are even considering adding more PA
purple days. Right now, we only have PA purple Fridays. We may do more.
So thank you all very much, go team, and thank you for coming and sharing this with us. (Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yay. All right, nice job. Really nice. You have a lot of friends and fans out there. (Inaudible.)
MODERATOR:
On behalf of our Assistant Secretary and his entire family, we thank
you for joining us for this very special ceremony. Please join him now
in a receiving line in front of the podium to offer your own personal
congratulations.
Congratulations again, Assistant Secretary.
