When the Ben Franklin Room feels more like a Living Room

The Benjamin Franklin Room in the Department of State is one of the most lovely rooms in Washington.  It surprises you with its Americana regality, fine furnishings and art, perched on top of the brutalist block that is the State complex on 21st and C.  It’s the place where Washington goes “diplomatic fancy” and has seen some of the most important moments of history in our foreign policy history.

Oh, and yes, it is also the place where all those swearing-in ceremonies take place.

This week I was invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of a work contact whom I’ve known for about two years.  He is one of those guys that everybody roots for, and who is genuinely on everybody’s team.  His name is Kris Balderston and his swearing-in has got to be one of the best ones I’ve had the chance to see.  At my count, I’ve seen at least 50+.  This one was special.

Secretary Clinton talked about her long history working with Kris and everyone in the room immediately started shaking their heads.  I was standing in the back of the room with a former colleague from the Millennium Challenge Corporation.  From where we were standing, it was great to watch people nod with approval at each of the things the Secretary of State was talking about.  Fond memories of early days, professional challenges, and character traits of her new chief of Global Partnerships at the State Department.   The place filled with some friendly hoots and hollers at some of the memories she recounted.  The room, all at once, was less of a ceremonial room and became more of a living room.  It’s remarkable when personal connections infuse a ceremony like this with a sense of family and community.  It’s one of those reminders of what makes America – and Americans – unique.  We like to work hard, but we also like to work with people we like.

So congrats Kris, and thank you Madame Secretary, for the reminder that even the most formal of rooms can be family rooms when you’ve with the right people.