Today's "Photo of the Week" comes from the Department of State's official photographer, Michael Gross, and shows Secretary Kerry visiting the gift shop in the basement (fondly nicknamed "Foggy Bottom") of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on February 15, 2013.
Today's "Photo of the Week" is not just one, but several photos we selected highlighting Secretary Kerry's first week at the State Department. Since the warm welcome he received from hundreds of colleagues when he walked through the doors of the State Department for the first time as Secretary of State, Mr. Kerry wasted no time getting to work, meeting his new colleagues, and getting acquainted with the Harry S Truman building. Pictures tell the story better than words as Secretary Kerry assumed his responsibilities as America's top diplomat. more »
Our "Photo of the Week" comes to us from the Secretary of State's official photographer, Michael Gross, and shows Secretary Clinton hosting the State Department's first-ever Global Town Hall at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. At the 80 minute-long event, Secretary Clinton took questions from live audiences on all seven continents, as well as social media from across the globe.
Yesterday, Secretary Clinton delivered remarks on American Leadership at the Council on Foreign Relations. The Secretary said, "Today, the world remains a dangerous and complicated place, and of course, we still face many difficult challenges. But a lot has changed in the last four years. Under President Obama's leadership, we've ended… more »
Our "Photo of the Week" comes to us from Laurens Vermeire, a public affairs colleague accompanying a State Department and USAID delegation to Turkey and Jordan. The delegation includes U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford; Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne Richard; and USAID Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance Nancy Lindborg.
The photograph shows the delegation's visit to the Islahiye Refugee Camp for Syrians near the Syrian-Turkish border in Turkey on January 24, 2013. During the visit, the delegation members spent several hours talking with camp residents… more »
On January 17, 2013, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Washington, D.C., and announced that the United States is recognizing the Government of Somalia for the first time since 1991. Secretary Clinton said, "Today is a milestone. It's not the end of the journey but it's an important milestone to that end."
"Somalia's transformation was achieved first and foremost by the people and leaders of Somalia, backed by strong, African-led support. We also want to thank the African Union, which deserves a great deal of credit for Somalia's success," Secretary Clinton said. "The United States was proud to support this effort."
President Hassan Sheikh said, "Somalia is very grateful for the unwavering support from the United… more »
Our "Photo of the Week" comes to us from Nick Merrill, who serves on the Secretary of State's strategic communications team and captured a moment during her senior staff meeting on Monday, January 7. During this staff meeting, the Secretary was greeted by a standing ovation from the 75 people assembled, including all of her deputies, under secretaries, assistant secretaries, and special envoys. Then, Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides presented the Secretary with a gift box, which included a football helmet with the State Department seal and a football jersey with the number 112, which symbolizes the number of countries that she's visited as Secretary of State.
"...[The Secretary] loved it. She thought it was cool," State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said. "But then,… more »
I have to agree with Karen in Turkey -- I too, was shocked at how invisible the State Department, the White House and President Obama were regarding the…
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I was shocked at how invisible the State Department and White House were with this event -- the single largest coordinated event in the history of the world.…
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Withdrawal from Afghanistan is an overwhelming sentiment of Americans. That President has to respond to it is understandable. But so long as US has not relinquished…
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On February 19, the State Department will host a conference on "Food Security and Minimizing Postharvest Loss: Markets, Applied Research, and Innovation." more »
Secretary Kerry (Feb. 15): "We need to understand the connection of all of these things to our security, to our business opportunities, to our economic future, to America's leadership role in the world." more »
![Secretary Kerry visits the gift shop in the basement of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on February 15, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20130216135305im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0215_potw_kerry_gift_shop_m.jpg)
![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton participates in a Global Town Hall at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20130216135305im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0129_clinton_newseum_m.jpg)
![USAID Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance Nancy Lindborg interacts with Syrian refugees at Islahiye Refugee Camp in Turkey on January 24, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20130216135305im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0125_lindborg_turkey_syria_m.jpg)
![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on January 17, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20130216135305im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0118_clinton_somalia_m.jpg)
![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is presented with a football helmet by the State Department’s senior leadership on her return to the office in Washington, D.C., January 7, 2013. Deputy Secretary Nides told Secretary Clinton: As you know, Washington is a contact sport. [State Department photo by Nick Merrill/ Public Domain]](https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/oilspill/20130216135305im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0107_s_staff_meeting_m.jpg)
