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Washington » Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has gone back to school.
For the third time in his life, Huntsman has attended the State Department's Ambassador School, a fast-paced training for the nation's incoming envoys. He has also met with several Cabinet officials, key senators and experts on Asian affairs.
In gearing up for his confirmation hearing to be U.S. ambassador to China and preparing to serve abroad as one of America's key overseas officials, Huntsman is boosting his knowledge of critical issues and bracing for the hot seat at the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
"Those things are what I call spring training," says Tom Korologos, a former Utahn who served as U.S. ambassador to Belgium under President George W. Bush.
Korologos has shepherded several nominees through the Senate confirmation process. He says Huntsman is likely spending most of his time getting up to speed on bilateral issues facing the U.S. and China, as well as prepping for any questions that may come during the confirmation process.
The White House has yet to formally submit Huntsman's name to the Senate for consideration, although that official paperwork is expected to come soon. Once in the Senate's hands, Huntsman is not likely to face much of a battle.
Twice confirmed by voice votes to other ambassador roles, Huntsman knows the ropes of surviving a Senate confirmation. Korologos, who now works
"No. 1, your role is like being a bridegroom at a wedding. Stay out of the way, be on time and keep your mouth shut," Korologos says.
Huntsman already has made the rounds in Washington to meet with several Cabinet members and State Department officials, and likely will meet with outside groups and experts as well.
Huntsman's spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley says the governor is spending time in Utah and Washington, and beefing up on key issues. The fact the governor already speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and is well versed in the culture of the country helps, she says. But there's still a lot to read.
"He's kind of getting up to speed with all the information that he'll need when he arrives in Beijing," Roskelley says.
Huntsman recently completed his third stint at the so-called Ambassador School, which Korologos says lasts two weeks. There a group of nominees learns everything from ethical responsibilities to management issues to cultural affairs to how to budget.
"Also, traditionally, a briefing book is prepared by the State Department for ambassadors-designate," says former Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, who served as undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs under President George W. Bush.
"The briefing book would address a full range of political, economic and security issues that would prepare an ambassador-designate for types of questions and issues that may come up in the confirmation hearing."
Huntsman isn't likely to face a tough confirmation. Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican who is the ranking member of the committee, said recently that he hasn't heard of anyone who has any concerns with Huntsman's appointment.
But, that doesn't mean Huntsman may not hear a long list of comments from the senators on big issues facing U.S. interests in China.
"China is a country that many senators have traveled to and consequently, will have issues that they are keenly interested in sharing with Ambassador-designate Huntsman," says Dobriansky, now a senior fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
