Keith Krach's Farewell to the U.S. State Department E-Team

Today marks my last day as Under Secretary of State. It's been the honor of a lifetime! Prior to joining the government, I've had the good fortune of living the American dream as an entrepreneur and a business leader as the E, my goal was to serve as the ambassador for that American dream, to spread that beacon of light around the world through good old fashioned diplomacy and to secure its promise for future generations of Americans. In today's world, economic statecraft is the tool of choice, and economic diplomacy has turned out to be the most crucial element of the State Department's mission. When I was asked in my Senate confirmation hearing what would be my strategy with regard to the China challenge, I said I would harness U.S. is three big areas of comparative advantage: Further strengthen our relationship with our allies and our friends would be the first one; leverage the innovation and resources of the private sector; and amplify American values, democratic values, that moral high ground. It is those three elements that builds the rapidly growing Clean Network Alliance of Democracies, which now includes 60 countries representing two thirds of the world's global GDP, over two hundred telcos and dozens of the world's leading companies. It's no wonder The Wall Street Journal wrote that the Clean Network will perhaps be the most enduring foreign policy legacy of the last four years. The E- family has also made history through our diplomatic breakthroughs with Taiwan. We've made years’ worth of diplomatic advances in months, and in Taiwan we led the largest onshoreing in history to the US with Taiwan Semiconductor's 12 billion dollar semiconductor plant. You know, this last September, I had the honor of becoming the highest ranking State Department official to visit Taiwan since 1979. I have to admit I was touched to be dubbed as Taiwan's number one friend. In reality, all of the E is Taiwan's number one friend. And we've also proven our economic prowess by expanding our embassy deal teams and launching the D.C. Central Deal team. As a business leader, I can tell you this is a thing of beauty and power. Deal teams channel the entire U.S. interagency -- 15 federal agencies in all -- each with countless financing tools and resources around that mission of helping U.S. businesses succeed abroad. E-Team, I could go on about what we've achieved together for a long time. We've made the largest investment in the blue economy. We've promoted clean innovation to protect our environment and our climate. We've brought about a national reckoning on human rights abuses by sending letters to every university board and every CEO in America, we have proven the power of economic diplomacy. And all of you have proven certainly to me and to the world that service isn't just a job, it's a calling. And the highest calling there is. And that's why I tell my friends in Silicon Valley, just like when you see a military person who's serving in the military, when you see a career foreign or civil service officer, you thank them for their service. For me, taking the job of Under Secretary wasn't a career move. It was about giving back to this country that has given so much to my family and to me. It was personal. And this reminds me of one of my favorite poems of all time. It's called The Man in the Glass. When you get what you want in your struggle for self and the world makes you king for a day, just go to the mirror and look at yourself and see what that person has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or spouse whose judgment upon you must pass. The person whose verdict counts most in your life is the one staring back from the glass. They're the one to please, never mind the rest. For they're with you clear up to the end and you've passed your most dangerous, difficult task. If the man in the glass is your friend, you may fool the whole world down the pathway of years and get pats on the back as you pass. But your final reward will be heartaches and tears if you cheated the person in the glass. I've loved that poem ever since I first heard it when I was 18, because The Man in the Glass has always reminded me to stay true to myself and always do what is noblest and best. And now that poem, it reminds me of the E-family and what a great force for good you are in this world. And as we say, if it is to be, it's up to the E. And through your service and your sacrifice for our great democracy, I know that when you go down that dark river of death and its chill waters dampen your feet, you will be able to say, looking back on your past life, "I fought the good fight. I finished my work. Our democracy has gained new luster by my life." Bidding you Godspeed, my brothers and sisters. I greet you forever in the sacred bonds of the E.