âused to express mild disappointment, gentle entreaty, or real or mock sympathy or sentiment.
The Secretary carries out the President's foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development. On February 1, 2013, John Kerry was sworn in as the 68th Secretary of State of the United States.
Most of the domestic duties were eventually turned over to other federal departments and agencies during the 19th century, putting the State Department primarily in charge of foreign affairs. The nationâs first Secretary of State was Thomas Jefferson, appointed by President Washington on September 29, 1789.