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Ambassador Jacobson and the Passing Baton


By David Jones, Embassy
June 17, 2009

ARLINGTON, Virginia—Announced on June 4, the day President Barack Obama delivered his seminal speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, the appointment of David Jacobson as ambassador-designate to Canada understandably didn't get marquee media billing—even in Canada.

Of course, rumors of the Jacobson nomination had been bruited about since April; the Washington word, however, was that the announcement was being delayed so a suitable package of "political" and "career" diplomatic appointments could be delivered simultaneously. In the end, the Jacobson nomination was embedded in a group of eight that included three active duty diplomats and one retired former ambassador.

The balance between political appointees and career diplomats as ambassadors is always delicate. Although appreciating the persistent historical reality of these appointments, career diplomats grit, if not gnash, their teeth over each political nomination. Invariably, these are to the larger "first world" and/or more dynamic posts (you will not find a "David Jacobson" in Mongolia, Chad or Bolivia), and residual resentment remains that diplomatic expertise is hardly primary in presidential appointments. In effect, diplomatic political appointees prominently illustrate the United States' patronage/spoils system (Canadians send such worthies to the Senate).

The obverse of the coin, arguably, is that the president deems these appointments so important that he wants them filled with individuals personally connected to him. Bearing that thought in mind, it has been 20 years and six ambassadors since the last career professional (Tom Niles from 1985-89) was the U.S. rep in Ottawa. Since then, the position has been filled with individuals who could indeed pick up the phone and call the president—and expect an answer. Too many career ambassadors cannot expect to reach anyone more senior than the assistant secretary in their geographic bureau. Ambassador-designate Jacobson will have maximum access within the U.S. government when he requires it.

And this is what Canadians should desire in a U.S. ambassador—an individual who, when giving a speech or conveying a private demarche, is clearly appreciated as a "connected" member of the administration and not speaking "personally." Canadians may not have cared for some of the messages delivered by recent U.S. ambassadors, but they could be sure that these were approved communications in content and tone, if not every last comma. Likewise, Canadians want a U.S. representative they can be confident will convey responses and observations at a level commensurate with the importance of the topic—and that they won't be lost in the in-boxes of lower ranking officials.

But this does not mean that the American ambassador "sells" Canada's views to Washington. That is the job of the Canadian ambassador in Washington. The U.S. ambassador and his embassy team will be appreciative of and receptive to Canadian views on the proximate issue of the day, but their objective remains to obtain Canadian acceptance for any U.S. position.

In many respects, ambassador-designate Jacobson is ideal for the position. His resumé has high-value background for a first world, industrial state such as Canada: 30 years as a partner in the law firm Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal focusing on complex commercial, class action, securities, insurance and business litigation; founder of Atom Works, an organization bringing together corporate, civic and academic leaders to promote nanotechnology in the Midwest; and a member of "CEOs for Cities," an alliance to advance the economic competitiveness of cities.

His relationship with President Obama derives from political fundraising (think but don't say "bag man"), and he was deputy national finance chairman for the campaign. And in his current White House capacity as special assistant for presidential personnel, he has the thankless but highly influential role of vetting candidates for vacant presidential appointments.

And while proximity to Canada doesn't mean familiarity (I recall a visit to O'Hare airport where the newspaper kiosk had the Jerusalem Post but not a single Canadian paper), there is a reasonable chance he has more direct personal familiarity with Canada than a nominee from Georgia or South Carolina.

Having been formally announced, Jacobson is now having official meetings with U.S. interagency officials affecting our bilateral relations—virtually every agency in the government. There will be many sessions with the "Canada Desk" as well as briefings on every outstanding issue, from mad cow disease to missile defence; there really is no problem affecting Canada that does not have resonance in the United States (and vice versa).

Former U.S. ambassador James Blanchard noted 75 files that he encountered during his 1993 briefings; while some of the issues have changed, the expectation that half will be trade-related probably has not. Jacobson is also doubtless battling with the "mountain of paperwork" concerning personal finances, noted by ambassador Blanchard as "the worst part of the entire job."

Still ahead is the official hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—yet to be scheduled—which, while pro forma for an uncontroversial appointee such as ambassador-designate Jacobson, is never taken for granted. And given the extraordinary demands on the Senate's limited time prior to summer adjournment, (e.g., health care, energy policy), finding a moment for even non-controversial appointment hearings is difficult. This delay means that it is highly unlikely that Jacobson will be confirmed prior to the annual July 4 Independence Day holiday/reception at the residence.

It is fortuitous that there is no current bilateral crisis. President Obama's first foreign travel was to Canada; he clearly enjoyed the experience—right down to the "Beaver Tail" cuisine at the ByWard Market. There was no strained body language (a friendly back pat, but no nickname for Prime Minister Harper); ultimately Canadians can anticipate a formal visit with the ritual address to Parliament and ceremonial trappings.

More personally, Jacobson has been characterized as a "snappy dresser" and a fine golf player; his wife is also a lawyer, and they have two children. If he follows his predecessors' recommendations, he will soon be travelling throughout Canada, introducing himself and gathering "in the flesh" impressions to fill out the skeleton of his briefing papers.

David Jones is a former political counsellor who worked at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa from 1992 to 1996.

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