It’s unusual for even a political appointee ambassador to use the role as a springboard to first-time elected office. Overall, the idea of a career diplomat being tapped as vice president is “preposterous,” Reeker said. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters, echoed the befuddlement, noting: “Non-partisanship is more or less baked into us from the get-go.” Can she inspire the masses? Can she hold her own on a camera-laden debate stage?Ī current U.S. She’s pragmatic about what can be done, but pragmatism doesn’t always translate to political savvy. As a career diplomat, she’s trained to implement the policies of whoever is in the White House, so in theory she has no partisan bona fides. Wyler has no legislative voting record, no base of support, no political ambitions. THE REALITY To win elections, presidents need running mates who attract key constituencies, especially from certain parts of the country. But most career diplomats - even many who are ambassadors - barely can get access to the secretary of State, much less the president. The VP storyline helps explain a bit why a career diplomat is given such unusual access to the U.S. That said, if the president wants to keep her for a second term - and the show indicates that’s the goal - one would expect politics to still trump on-the-ground experience, as often happens in Washington. When Kate learns of this, she’s told that although she may have no campaign experience, she’d be good at something called “governing” and that the president would prefer a deputy who isn’t obsessed with her political future. 2 than the current vice president, who’s expected to resign. One reason Wyler is sent to Britain is for the president to see how she holds up in a high-profile post and whether she’d make a better No. president looks to a career diplomat to serve as his vice president. Nana Mensah as Billie Appiah (left), Michael McKean as William Rayburn (right) in episode 103. An ambassador immediately jumped in to say, ‘It happens more than you’d think!’” It involves everything from vetting by the executive branch before a person is nominated to a hearing in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hoping that some senator won’t block your nomination over an issue that has nothing to do with you.Ĭahn said that, after a screening in Washington, she “gave the caveat that this is the television version of what they do, with less paperwork, shorter Senate confirmation timelines, and an ambassador rerouted from Kabul to London, which would never happen. “I loved the scene where someone asked if they are shipping their private art collection and are told ‘We’re career diplomats, we don’t have one,’” Lukens said.īut such an ambassadorship requires Senate confirmation, and that can take many months. political dynamic a key part of the plot. The people involved in crafting “The Diplomat” made the career vs. “There are no stylists at the embassy, although the residence staff did make sure my wardrobe was immaculately pressed every day (and so were the sheets!).” Embassy in London on an acting basis, wrote in an email. That said, “the plot line about the ambassador’s clothes is far-fetched,” Phil Reeker, a former career diplomat who previously led the U.S. ambassador to the U.K., Jane Hartley, is only the second woman to hold the high-profile post - a rarity that the show notes. The political appointees don’t necessarily lack foreign policy acumen, but they are viewed with skepticism by many career diplomats who’ve spent their lives immersed in international policy and worked hard to climb the ranks. The latter tend to be rich campaign donors, and they tend to land in posh posts in Europe. ambassadors: Career diplomats and political appointees. The nominees have almost always been men. role nearly always goes to a wealthy campaign backer of whoever is the U.S. She was supposed to head to Afghanistan, then suddenly - as in within hours - gets sent to the United Kingdom instead as a terrible tragedy threatens war.Īt the post in London, her staff fusses a great deal about policy, politics, and … her clothes and make-up. Kate Wyler isn’t just a career member of the Foreign Service - she’s a very good diplomat who’s used to working in crisis zones. THE SHOW The United States sends a female career diplomat to serve as its ambassador to Britain - without Senate confirmation. Ato Essandoh as Stuart Heyford (left), Keri Russell as Kate Wyler (right) in episode 107 of "The Diplomat."
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