WASHINGTON _ Secretary of State Rex Tillerson marked his first day of work Thursday by acknowledging turmoil in the department he will lead and urging anxious employees "not to let personal convictions overwhelm our work on one team."
He stepped into the grand lobby at the State Department, flanked by dozens of national flags and hundreds of employees, and invoked a folksy humor and calm manner, even though his message was firm.
"Hi. I'm the new guy," he told the crowd in a Texas drawl.
He chose not to dwell on policy, except to say that American security abroad was a "core value."
He said he wanted to focus on the men and women who now work for him, calling them the world's finest public servants and the "brick and mortar" of U.S. diplomacy.
He sought to reassure them that he values their service and their opinions, even when they diverge from administration policy.
But, he said, it was time to put differences aside and get to work.
"We must all remain focused on the mission at hand before us," Tillerson said. "I remind you our undertakings are larger than ourselves or our personal careers."
Acknowledging widespread disappointment over the outcome of the presidential election, he urged the crowd "not to let personal convictions overwhelm our work on one team."
The State Department has been in an uproar in recent days over some of President Donald Trump's early actions overseas.
More than 800 diplomats and Foreign Service employees signed a letter of dissent to register their concern after Trump ordered a suspension of most travel and immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
Tillerson received sustained, polite applause from the crowd, some of whom had waited more than an hour while he attended the National Prayer Breakfast with Trump.
The only cheers came when Tillerson thanked veteran diplomat Thomas Shannon, the undersecretary for political affairs who has been acting secretary of state since John F. Kerry departed on Jan. 20.
Tillerson concluded his comments by noting the list of names inscribed on the lobby wall of U.S. diplomats who were killed in the line of duty. He said he will ensure the list is up to date and will pay homage to them.
That gesture stood in contrast to Trump's visit to the Central Intelligence Agency a day after his inauguration, when he did not mention gold stars engraved in the lobby wall to honor slain CIA officers and analysts.
Aaron David Miller, who served as a Middle East envoy for Democratic and Republican administrations, praised Tillerson's opening day comments.
"He speaks to State employees as if he's going to be State's man at (the White House) not (the White House) man at State," he said.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Tillerson came under fire from Democrats for his international business deals as chief executive of Exxon Mobil, the global oil giant, and his personal friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But at the prayer breakfast on Thursday, Trump said Tillerson's business ties to leaders around the globe were "a good thing."
"I think he's going to go down as one of the great, great secretaries," Trump said.
