The President as the Chief Diplomat
Sukanya Basu, Joshua Chow, Shawn Huang
What is the role of the "Chief Diplomat"?
As the chief diplomat, the President appoints ambassadors, conducts international negotiations, establishes foreign policy, works as the national spokesperson, and travels abroad to fulfill the aforementioned responsibilities. When the chief diplomat meets with foreign governments, he acknowledges and endorses them in the public's eye.
Gorbachev and Reagan
U.S. President Ronald Reagan (right) shaking hands with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1988 at St Catherine's Hall, Kremlin Place.
Obama and Xi
President Obama receiving Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House with a state dinner and a 21-gun salute.
Churchill, Truman, and Stalin
Winston Churchill (left), U.S. President Harry Truman (center) and Josef Stalin (right) at Potsdam in 1945 conducting international negotiations.
What is its importance with regards to the President's administration?
As the chief diplomat, the President determines the international community's image of the United States through the country's foreign policy. His ability to appoint ambassadors allows him to select those who would carry out his foreign policy stance on the field. The policies and decisions that he chooses to recommend and execute establishes the country's response to international situations and crises within his administration. Additionally, he must also travel abroad to conduct international negotiations in terms of setting the stage for alliances, trade agreements, and global summits. The friends and enemies that he makes has a lasting impact on the country's role in world. Ultimately, the President's duty as the chief diplomat of the United States is reflected in the country's international image and response.