âused to express mild disappointment, gentle entreaty, or real or mock sympathy or sentiment.
The Secretary carries out the President's foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development. On February 1, 2013, John Kerry was sworn in as the 68th Secretary of State of the United States.
Quick Answer. According to the U.S. Department of State, the main duties of the Secretary of State are to serve as the president's adviser on foreign policy and to conduct negotiations related to foreign affairs. The office of the Secretary of State was created by Congress in 1789, and the first Secretary of State was Thomas Jefferson.