Rex Tillerson is a secretary for our times

Rex Tillerson’s nomination for secretary of state has been criticized by some for his friendly relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and for possible conflicts of interest relating to his employment of 41 years with Exxon Mobil, the global energy giant. These are important areas for the Senate to explore, and it owes a constitutional duty to the American people to do so fully.

{mosads}But, if these and similar questions are answered satisfactorily, Tillerson should be confirmed to the position.

President-elect Trump, like other presidents before him, is entitled to select members of his Cabinet with the good faith advice and consent of the Senate. Moreover, Tillerson’s background and experience is ideally suited to contribute to the work of addressing many of our nation’s most pressing diplomatic and security challenges.  He has the potential to serve as a “made for the moment” secretary of state. I say this as having served as under secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, a former Defense Department official, and as former military officer and combat veteran.

Yes, Putin has consistently pursued policies that are inimical to U.S. national interests. According to the U.S. intelligence community– the best in the business– he personally approved a Russian government effort to hack our election and undermine our democracy, to say nothing of his government’s support for Iran in its quest for regional ascendency, its mischief in Syria, its annexation of Crimea, and its intimidation of our NATO allies in the Baltics. Make no mistake, U.S. policy should be to counter forcefully such policies with the most suitable instruments of our statecraft.

Even so, Tillerson’s relationship with Putin should not, by itself, serve as a bar to his confirmation. The real question is whether his relationship with Putin is inconsistent with pursuing forceful policies to counter Russian revisionism or whether it’s the fruit of Tillerson’s effective advocacy of Exxon’s institutional interests in a tough neighborhood. While this remains to be fully explored by the Senate, initial indications suggest that Tillerson was no Dr. Evil but rather an effective advocate for his shareholders, as was his duty.

The nation also needs to know with conviction that, to the maximum extent possible, its leaders are free in fact and appearance from any conflicts of interest. Under no circumstances should a person in a position of public trust be in a position to choose between the nation’s interest and his own. This is what we expect from rank and file civil servants, leads to better policy decisions, and is a prerequisite for the public trust that our democracy requires. Fortunately, these asserted conflicts of interest can be addressed fairly easily in this case, and the Senate should give him the chance to demonstrate his commitment to take the necessary steps to address any such potential conflicts.

Foggy Bottom and the U.S. interagency are filled with talented people, where government experience matters. However, let’s not discount what Tillerson has accomplished in his long business career, and how his career may have provided the lessons needed to effectively serve as America’s top diplomat. It’s no easy feat to become CEO of Exxon Mobil, which ranks number 2 on the Fortune 500 list. A secretary of state, like a global public company CEO, needs to know when to talk, and when to walk; he needs to know what is a stalking horse, what is a good faith offer, and whether a compromise is really possible under a  given set of circumstances. He needs to gather and synthesize large amounts of disparate information, mobilize his team, and make risk-adjusted decisions on complex, time-sensitive questions. And he needs to command trust and respect: that of a president, of the American public, and of his interlocutors, friend and foe alike. By all accounts, Tillerson shows the promise to be able to do that– if given the chance.

Finally, because energy politics so powerfully intersects with geopolitics, his fingertip familiarity with the global energy markets and its leading players will give him enormous insight and network reach. On issues as disparate as Russia, Iran, the nuclear politics of Asia, Arctic drilling, and climate change, energy politics is central to the policy equation and often shapes what is practically possible or feasible. Though legions of diplomats have access to expertise, no US or other diplomat of global consequence will have as much practical experience and honed intuition as Tillerson will have in his hip pocket, to say nothing of his Rolodex. If it ever became necessary to snap-back sanctions on Iran or refine them against Russia, for example, is there anyone better than Tillerson who would know where to most efficiently apply the pain?

Tillerson’s nomination presents a unique opportunity for our country after many years of drift on the international stage. He deserves a fair hearing from the Senate, and it’s in the national interest that he receive one.

Mario Mancuso (@MancusoOnline) is a senior visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute. He served in senior national security positions in the administration of President George W. Bush.

The views expressed by Contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.