Above photo: Julie Kavanagh, a Diplomat in Residence at the LBJ School, participated in an exclusive visit prior to the scheduled remarks.
On February 1, The University of Texas at Austin hosted U.S. Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson to address U.S. engagement in the Western Hemisphere.
REGISTER NOW: U.S. Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson to speak @UTAustin this Thurs 2/1 at 1PM at the Blanton Auditorium: https://t.co/K6keigI15T #TillersonatUT
Sec. Tillerson's talk is co-hosted by the @StraussCenter & @ClementsCenter w/ @TheLBJSchool & @LBJLibrary as co-spons pic.twitter.com/tTOX02K3OQ— Strauss Center (@StraussCenter) Jan. 29, 2018
Secretary Tillerson’s visit came at the one-year anniversary of being sworn in as Secretary of State. During his remarks, Secretary Tillerson touched on three pillars of U.S. engagement with the region: economic growth, security and democratic governance. He also discussed NAFTA and touted U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan officials, delivering a pledge to crackdown on corruption and authoritarian governments in Latin America.
Tillerson says he wants to focus on 3 pillars: economic growth, security, and democratic governance @KVUE #TillersonatUT @UTAustin pic.twitter.com/E43l1DYscD
— Christy Millweard (@ChristyM_KVUE) Feb. 1, 2018
LBJ School students were given priority seating during the event and had the opportunity to ask Secretary Tillerson questions.
Above photo: LBJ Student Allie Swatek poses a question to Secretary Rex Tillerson.
Senior Fellow @StraussCenter Patricia Zavala asks @StateDept Sec. Tillerson about how to combat corruption in the Western Hemisphere. Tillerson responds: strengthen the judicial systems and protecting judges #TillersonAtUT pic.twitter.com/DzO7YCE1oq
— Clements Center (@ClementsCenter) Feb. 1, 2018
The event was co-hosted by the Clements Center for National Security and the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law. Principal co-sponsors include the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the LBJ Presidential Library.
Will Inboden, Clements Center Director and an associate professor of public affairs at the LBJ School, conducted the question and answer session with Secretary Tillerson.
Will Inboden always giving thoughtful context, asking #TillersonatUT about anniversary of Monroe Doctrine and joking casually about ol’ John Quincy Adams. @ClementsCenter @StraussCenter @TheLBJSchool @LBJLibrary pic.twitter.com/WEWbmGgH0d
— Gary Susswein (@garysusswein) Feb. 1, 2018
@TheLBJSchool Prof/@ClementsCenter Exec. Dir. Inboden to @StateDept Sec. Tillerson What are your strategic objectives towards Cuba? #TillersonAtUT
— Katherine Whitton (@Kat_Whit) Feb. 1, 2018
To bid Secretary Tillerson, an alum of UT Austin, a Texas farewell, the Longhorn Band closed the event with “The Eyes of Texas.”
Full video of @StateDept Sec. Rex Tillerson, Pres. @gregfenves, and CC Executive Director Will Inboden putting their horns up and singing “The Eyes of Texas” with the @LonghornBand #HookEm #TillersonAtUT pic.twitter.com/Ba4HCFIVeP
— Clements Center (@ClementsCenter) Feb. 1, 2018
The event was co-hosted by the Clements Center for National Security and the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law. Principal co-sponsors include the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the LBJ Presidential Library.