Former Secretary of State George Shultz is known in the FS world for the test he would give to new U.S.
ambassadors in his office, where he kept a globe of the world. “They’d been through all kinds of exams and so on —
confirmation — and I’d say to them, ‘Well, there’s just one more test
you have to pass.’” They’d usually groan. “‘You have to walk over to
that globe and demonstrate to me that you can identify your country.’
And, inevitably, they would point out the country to which they had been
assigned.”
The correct answer, of course, was in fact the United States — THAT was
their country. And Shultz’s moral was that you never forget what country you’re
representing. It's a story I always enjoy sharing, especially because I believe so strongly in it and our missions abroad.
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