John Kerry begins first day as secretary of state

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-- secretary of state John Kerry making himself at home this morning in his first official day on the job the former Massachusetts senator taking some time introduce himself to his -- staff.

And telling them that he is ready for the long road ahead -- some of that but -- Guarantee you that beginning this morning when I report for duty upstairs every thing I do will be focused.

On security and safety of our people -- tough decisions to make but I guarantee -- -- do everything I can.

To live up to a high standards that Secretary Clinton and her team put in place.

Chief Washington correspondent James Rosen live at the State Department.

So James a secretary -- already has a lot of issues already on his plate doesn't it.

He sure does Martha and as he told his former colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently today's world.

As he put it is more complex than anything we have ever known.

The nation's 68 secretary of state was greeted by hundreds of State Department officials and well wishers.

Here at the Harry S Truman building shortly after 9 this morning he began with a few jokes.

Thank god I had a couple of -- DC could get in the building he said.

He also asked whether it's possible after the last eight years from man to run the Department of State and said.

I have big heels to fill.

But if you wanted to know what secretary Kerry himself sees as his most urgent priority and -- need look no further.

That his confirmation hearing.

More than ever foreign policy is economic policy.

The world is competing for resources in global markets and the first priority of business.

Which will affect my credibility as a diplomat and our credibility as a nation.

As some as we as we work to help other countries create order.

The first priority will be that America at last puts its own fiscal house in order.

Now when telling the officials here that he understands the difficulties faced by.

America's foreign service are overseas diplomat secretary Kerry made reference to the four Americans who were killed.

In Ben -- he said he would not let their sacrifices be obscured by politics as he put it and we can also break a bit of news Fox News has confirmed.

Through senior civil service career officer types.

-- secretary Kerry visited some of the wounded Ben Ghazi survivors at Walter Reed medical hospital over this past weekend morning.

-- anxious saying James thank you very much.

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John Kerry begins first day as secretary of state

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