American Ambassadors : A Guide for Aspiring Diplomats and Foreign Service Officers

"If you ever wondered who becomes an American ambassador and why, this is the book for you. It describes how Foreign Service officers become ambassadors by rising up through the ranks, and why they typically make up about 70 percent of the total number of ambassadors. It also covers where the other 30 percent come from the political appointees who get the job because they helped elect the president by supporting him as a campaign contributor, a political ally, or a personal friend. It explains why, despite being illegal and a threat to national security, selling the title of ambassador remains a common practice that is also unique to the United States. It considers why some suggestions for reform are misguided, what might be done, and why who the president is matters so much in determining how well the United States will be represented abroad. This updated and revised edition of Jett's classic book not only provides a timely overview of American ambassadorship for Foreign Service Officers, aspiring diplomats, and interested citizens, but also calls for much-needed reform, describing the dire implications of failing to change our ambassadorial appointments process for the future of American diplomatic practice and foreign policy. Dennis C. Jett is Professor of International Affairs at Penn State University, USA. As a career diplomat, he served as Ambassador to Peru and Mozambique and in four other countries. He has a Ph. D. in International Relations from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa"--Publisher's description ADST-DACOR Diplomats and Diplomacy Series 5 Praise for the First Edition 7 Praise for the Second Edition 8 Preface to the Second Edition 11 Acknowledgments 18 My Introduction to Diplomatic Life 21 Contents 34 List of Figures 35 List of Tables 36 1 A Brief History of the Title 37 The Early years—The Sometimes-Able Amateurs of a Third-Rate Power 38 The Middle Years—A Player on the World Stage Recognizes the Need for Better Diplomats 52 The Past 60 Years—Professionalization Hits Its Limit 55 2 Becoming an Ambassador—The Foreign Service Route 67 The Foreign Service Route 71 The First Steps for a Career Ambassador 72 Getting to the Top 84 And Getting to the Top Is Not Enough 88 Grabbing the Brass Ring 89 3 Becoming an Ambassador—The Political Route 108 4 The Last Steps—Clearance and Confirmation 165 5 What an Ambassador Does 201 Woody Was Right—Showing Up Matters 226 Don’t Beat the Staff 228 Really—Don’t Beat the Staff 230 The Job Is Not What You Make It 233 You Can Do Too Much as Well as Too Little 235 You’re Not in the Army Now ... or the Air Force 237 Planning Counts, Even When It Isn’t Easy 239 6 Where Ambassadors Go 248 Women 257 Race and Ethnicity 261 Sexual Orientation 266 Religion 272 Personal Preference 279 7 Why It Matters and How It Might Be Changed 289 Resources and Efficiency 293 Public Diplomacy 295 American Exceptionalism 296 Globalization 299 Tax Treaties 301 Law of the Sea 302 Rights of the Disabled 303 Rights of Children 304 The Disadvantage of Globalization 305 Reforming the State Department 306 The Case Against Trump 315 How It Might Be Changed 321 Why It Might Not Get Much Better 329 Appendices 338 Appendix A: Questionnaire for Presidential Appointees, Obama Administration, November 2008, Trump Research Questionnaire 2020 339 I. Professional Background 339 II. Publications, Writings, and Speeches 340 III. Relationships and Affiliations 340 IV. Financial Information 342 V. Tax Information 343 VI. Legal and Administrative Proceedings 344 VII. Domestic Help 346 VIII. Miscellaneous 346 2020 Trump RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE 347 Appendix B: AFSA Guidelines for Successful Performance as a Chief of Mission 349 Introduction 350 Role of the Chief of Mission 351 Constitutional and Legislative Authority 351 Work of the COM 351 Challenges 353 Recommended Guidelines for Successful Performance as a COM 353 Working Group 355 Appendix C: Treaties Pending Before the Senate as of 2014 and 2019 355 Treaties Pending as of October 22, 2019 360 Appendix D: Provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 365 SEC. 207. 15 CHIEF OF MISSION— 365 SEC. 304. APPOINTMENT OF CHIEFS OF MISSION— 365 Appendix E: Presidential Letters of Instruction to Chiefs of Mission 367 President Trump’s Letter 367 President Obama’s Letter of Instruction to Chiefs of Mission 372 President George W. Bush’s Letter of Instruction to Chiefs of Mission 375 Detailed Instructions 376 President Clinton’s Letter of Instruction to Chiefs of Mission 378 President George H. W. Bush’s Letter of Instruction to Chiefs of Mission 382 Appendix F: Countries with Danger Pay Allowance 385 Appendix G: Countries with Hardship Differentials 386 Appendix H: Inspector General’s Personal Questionnaire for Inspections 390 PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE 390 Workplace and Quality of Life Questionnaire 395 Appendix I: Reform Reports and Their Recommendations 400 Appendix J: Foreign Service Promotion Statistics 2020 431 Index 456