David Rank served in the U.S. Foreign Service from 1990 to 2017. This month, I resigned from the State Department’s Foreign Service, stepping down as the senior U.S. diplomat in China and ending a 27-year career. I served five presidents — three Republicans and two Democrats — and, like my colleagues throughout the Foreign Service, took pride in the tradition of loyal, nonpartisan service. I also took seriously my oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and the obligations that came with representing the American people. Such false characterizations drive talented Americans away from public service or discourage them from entering it in the first place.

Source: Washington Post June 24, 2017 00:11 UTC