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Portsmouth's Jake Sullivan vows to 'work relentlessly' for Biden, nation
By Ian Lenahan news@seacoastonline.com Nov 24, 2020
Portsmouth resident Jake Sullivan addressed the nation Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware, vowing as President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to become national security adviser he will “work relentlessly” to advance national interests, keep America safe and defend the country’s values.
Speaking alongside members of the incoming Biden administration’s national security and foreign policy team, Sullivan said, “I pledge to the exceptional national security team you see behind me that, and to the brilliant and diverse career professionals across our government, that I will manage a human and rigorous decision-making process that honors their work.”
Biden called Sullivan a “once-in-a-generation intellect with experience and temperament for one of the toughest jobs in the world.”
Sullivan, who served as national security adviser for more than a year to the then-Vice President Biden in the latter half of President Barack Obama’s administration, was credited by the president-elect for his work on the Iran nuclear deal, brokering the 2012 Gaza ceasefire with Israel, as well as for helping develop Biden’s COVID-19 policy throughout the election campaign.
“Jake understands my vision that economic security is national security,” he said, later adding America needs to “unite the economic might of democracies around the world.”
Sullivan, 43, who will be the youngest national security adviser in decades, said the national security and foreign policy team has been tasked with helping solve the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic and climate crises, technological disruption, threats to democracy, racial injustice and widespread forms of inequality.
He added that the national security and foreign policy team has to “put people at the center of our foreign policy” in order to unite America, setting aside differences and political agendas for the sake of collective welfare.
“My wife Maggie (Goodlander) — the love of my life — the wisest, most principled, most patriotic person I know, served as a senior adviser to (the late Republican) Sen. John McCain. She and I share this commitment to common ground deep in our bones,” Sullivan said.
Biden’s national security and foreign policy team was formally introduced Tuesday after being announced Monday. It includes Antony Blinken, secretary of state; Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of Homeland Security; Avril Haines, director of national intelligence; Linda Thomas-Greenfield, ambassador to the United Nations; and John Kerry, asked to serve as the newly created special presidential envoy for climate.
More:Portsmouth's Jake Sullivan picked as Biden's national security adviser
Biden called upon the Senate to approve his choices, saying, “I hope these outstanding leaders nominees receive a prompt hearing and that we can work across the aisle in good faith to move forward for the country.”
Sullivan, a graduate of Yale Law School and ad hoc senior fellow of the University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy, also formerly served as deputy assistant to Obama, director of the policy planning staff at the U.S. Department of State and as deputy chief of staff to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Biden praised his administration’s appointments, saying, “It’s a team that reflects the fact that America is back. They’re ready to lead the world, not retreat from it ... ready to confront our adversaries and not reject our allies, ready to stand up for our values.”
