Civilian National Security Infrastructure - U.s. Department Of States

The Department of State was created in 1789. Its first secretary was Thomas Jefferson, who went on to become the third president of the United States. The State Department represents the interests of the United States and its citizens in relations with foreign countries and also serves as a principal source of advice to the president on aspects of national security and foreign affairs.

The secretary of state faces the task of managing a huge bureaucracy. (See Figure 8.2.) For the most part, the U.S. Department of State is organized by function, such as counterterrorism, intelligence and research, protocol, and public affairs. However, under the undersecretary for political affairs, it is organized regionally, by foreign "desks," a classic structure found in many departments and agencies involved in foreign affairs, including the CIA. Throughout the department, there are distinct areas of functional or regional responsibility. Functional units naturally cut across regional lines, and within the foreign bureaus are special functional "desks." Sometimes analysis of an issue or problem by a foreign desk contradicts analysis from a functional bureau.

The secretary of state is the president's principal advisor on foreign policy, but history shows that the secretary's power has been weaker or stronger depending on a particular president's own interests and activities in foreign affairs. President Nixon appointed William Rogers as secretary of state in 1969 but bypassed him systematically to take matters into his own hands. Other presidents, such as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, relied more heavily on their secretaries.

In addition to its national security objectives, the State Department remains responsible for the official day-to-day presence of the U.S. government in foreign countries. The department follows the "country team" concept. The American ambassador, who is a representative of the American government, oversees all U.S. programs and personnel within a country, with the exception of American military forces in the country that may be in the field or in combat roles.