Rex Tillerson

Rex Tillerson
Rex Tillerson
Born	Rex Wayne Tillerson; March 23, 1952 (age 74); United States
Other names	Wayne Tracker (email pseudonym)
Occupation(s)	Business executive, diplomat
Years active	1975–2018
Known for	Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil; 69th United States Secretary of State

Rex Wayne Tillerson (born March 23, 1952) is an American business leader in the energy sector and former diplomat who held the position of the 69th United States secretary of state from 2017 until 2018 during President Donald Trump's administration. Prior to his government service, he was chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, ranking as the world's sixth-largest company by revenue, from 2006 through 2016.

After earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Tillerson started his professional journey in 1975 as a civil engineer with Exxon. By 1989, he had advanced to general manager of Exxon USA's central production division. His career included executive roles such as president of Exxon Yemen Inc. and Exxon Neftgas Limited. He was named president of Exxon Mobil Corporation in 2004 and ascended to chairman and CEO in 2006, retiring on January 1, 2017.

Tillerson has a long history of involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, having achieved Eagle Scout status and serving as national president between 2010 and 2012. Politically, he supported Republican candidates but did not contribute to Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. Given his leadership over ExxonMobil’s operations in Russia, he opposed sanctions targeting Russia and acted as director for the U.S.-Russia joint oil venture Exxon Neftegas.

He officially took office as secretary of state on February 1, 2017. His term was characterized by lower public visibility than previous secretaries and notable staff turnover, including a halving of Foreign Service applications and resignations among senior diplomatic personnel. Following worsening relations with President Trump, Tillerson was removed from office in March 2018 and replaced by CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

Early life

Tillerson was born to Patty Sue (née Patton) and Bobby Joe Tillerson, named in honor of actors Rex Allen and John Wayne. His upbringing took place across Vernon, Texas; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Huntsville, Texas. He has two sisters: Rae Ann Hamilton, who practices medicine in Abilene, Texas, and Jo Lynn Peters, a high school teacher. The family relocated to Huntsville due to his father's executive role with the Boy Scouts of America. Throughout his youth, Tillerson actively participated in Boy Scouts, ultimately earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

At age 14 while residing in Stillwater, Oklahoma, he worked as a busser at Oklahoma State University and spent weekends picking cotton. In 1968, he took on janitorial duties at one of the university’s engineering facilities.

He graduated from Huntsville High School in 1970 where he led the percussion section of the school band and received all-district and all-region recognition during his senior year. He was awarded a scholarship from the University of Texas Longhorn Band and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin in 1975. During his college years, he joined the Tejas Club—an all-male secret society—and participated in the marching band.

Exxon

Tillerson began working for Exxon Company USA in 1975 as a production engineer. By 1989, he had risen to general manager of Exxon's central production division. In 1995, he assumed presidency over Exxon Yemen Inc. and Esso Exploration and Production Khorat Inc.

In 1998, he was appointed vice president of Exxon Ventures (CIS) and president of Exxon Neftegas Limited, managing Exxon's assets across Russia and the Caspian Sea region. He spearheaded Exxon’s involvement in the Sakhalin-I project alongside Rosneft. After the Exxon-Mobil merger in 1999, Tillerson became executive vice president at ExxonMobil Development Company. In 2004, he was promoted to president and director, positioning him as CEO successor to Lee Raymond. His main contender for the CEO role was Ed Galante. On January 1, 2006, Tillerson assumed the roles of chairman and CEO at ExxonMobil, which employed around 80,000 people worldwide across nearly 200 countries with revenues approaching $400 billion annually.

During his leadership tenure, ExxonMobil solidified alliances with key oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Between 2003 and 2005, its European branch Infineum conducted limited sales within Iran, Sudan, and Syria under compliant legal conditions; these sales were minor relative to the company’s $371 billion revenue at that time. In 2009, ExxonMobil acquired natural gas producer XTO Energy for $31 billion in stock—a transaction regarded as central to Tillerson’s legacy. He also authorized a substantial contract with Iraqi Kurdistan despite objections from both U.S. officials and Iraqi authorities concerned about regional stability.

Tillerson opposed Rule 1504 under the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which mandated disclosure of payments made to foreign governments; this rule was repealed by Congress shortly before his confirmation as secretary of state in early 2017.

Reports indicated that upon assuming office as secretary of state in early 2017, Tillerson would divest from ExxonMobil entirely. The director of the United States Office of Government Ethics commended his ethics agreement as exemplary for preventing financial conflicts.

In September 2023, internal documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal revealed that despite acknowledging fossil fuels’ contribution to climate change since 2006, Tillerson alongside other executives sought to minimize public awareness about climate impacts to reduce concern.

Connections with Russia

During his tenure as ExxonMobil's CEO, Tillerson established notable connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their relationship originated when Tillerson represented Exxon’s interests in Russia under President Boris Yeltsin. He was instrumental in creating a collaboration between Exxon and the state-controlled company Rosneft and sought to acquire a share in Yukos prior to its nationalization. According to John Hamre, CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Tillerson's dealings with Putin are among the most extensive, comparable only to those of figures such as Henry Kissinger.

Tillerson maintained a close association with Igor Sechin, Rosneft’s executive chairman and a prominent member of the Kremlin’s Siloviki faction, often regarded as "the second most powerful person in Russia" after Putin. Exxon possesses a dacha neighboring Sechin’s residence, which Tillerson visited frequently. He also hosted Sechin on a visit to New York City, including dining alongside Putin at Per Se. In 2006, Exxon opposed government demands regarding the Sakhalin-I oil project, contrasting Royal Dutch Shell’s compelled divestiture in Sakhalin-II.

In August 2011, Putin attended an event where Tillerson and Sechin formalized a $300 billion agreement for ExxonMobil and Rosneft to explore the Arctic’s East-Prinovozemelsky field. The contract also provided Rosneft with a 30% interest in Exxon assets located in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Canada, and West Texas. Drilling operations commenced in the Kara Sea in 2014 but were hindered by international sanctions imposed due to the Russo-Ukrainian War. Despite these sanctions, Exxon secured an exemption permitting exploration that revealed an estimated 750 million barrels of oil. In July 2017, the U.S. Treasury Department fined ExxonMobil $2 million for violations related to transactions with Sechin; subsequently, the company initiated legal action against the government.

In 2013, Putin honored Tillerson with the Order of Friendship for his role in enhancing cooperation within the energy sector. By June 2017, Tillerson remarked that President Trump had tasked him with "stabilizing relations (with Russia) and fostering trust."

Remuneration

Tillerson’s earnings were $40.5 million in 2012, followed by $28.1 million in 2013, $33.1 million in 2014, and $27.2 million in 2015. As of late 2016, he owned $54 million worth of Exxon stock and held rights to deferred shares valued at approximately $180 million over the coming decade. His estimated net worth exceeds $300 million. When departing from Exxon, he was four months shy of retirement eligibility that would have entitled him to a retirement package worth $180 million. He owns two ranches in Texas where his wife breeds cutting horses.

On January 3, 2017, ExxonMobil declared it had reached an agreement with Tillerson to terminate all affiliations with the company to meet conflict-of-interest standards associated with his nomination as secretary of state.

Wayne Tracker pseudonym

Throughout his time as CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson utilized the email pseudonym "Wayne Tracker" for eight years, during which he sent thousands of communications. This account facilitated secure and rapid correspondence with senior executives. During an investigation by the New York State Attorney General into Exxon’s climate change disclosures, approximately 60 emails from this alias were produced without initially disclosing Tillerson’s involvement.

The existence of this alias became public knowledge in March 2017 after the Attorney General revealed it had been used for at least seven years. Exxon later acknowledged that emails from September 2014 to September 2015 were missing due to a "unique issue" that caused automatic deletion within that account.

Additional roles

Tillerson holds trustee positions at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the American Petroleum Institute, and is affiliated with the Business Roundtable. In 2013, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering and served on the executive committee of The Business Council from 2011 to 2012.

A dedicated volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for many years, Tillerson served as the national president—the highest non-executive role in the organization—from 2010 until 2012. He earned recognition as a Distinguished Eagle Scout and was honored in 2009 by induction into the Eagle Scout Hall of Fame through the Greater New York Councils. His leadership approach has been significantly shaped by his longstanding involvement in Scouting. After completing his presidency, he continued contributing as a member of BSA’s National Executive Board and played an instrumental role in the 2013 decision to end the ban on openly gay youth members, helping to foster agreement within the group.

On July 9, 2017, Tillerson was awarded the Dewhurst Award by the World Petroleum Council in recognition of his "exceptional contribution to the oil and gas sector" over his 41-year career at Exxon Mobil.

Nomination and confirmation

In November 2016, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recommended Tillerson to president-elect Trump as a candidate for secretary of state, with backing from ex-defense secretary Robert Gates. By early December, media speculation intensified, and by December 9, Tillerson had become the frontrunner over contenders such as Mitt Romney and David Petraeus. His nomination reportedly enjoyed support from Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner.

Trump officially nominated Tillerson on January 20, 2017. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved his nomination on January 23, 2017, with a narrow party-line vote of 11–10. The full Senate confirmed him on February 1, 2017, by a tally of 56–43, including all Republicans, three Democrats, and one independent. Vice President Mike Pence administered his oath that same day.

The opposition to Tillerson’s confirmation was historically significant; with 43 senators voting against him, it set a new record for opposition to a secretary of state nominee, surpassing the previous high of fourteen dissenting votes.

Confirmation process
Voting body	Vote date	Vote results
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations	January 23, 2017	11–10
Full Senate	February 1, 2017	56–43

Service period

Tillerson commenced his role as secretary of state on February 15, 2017, beginning with an international trip to Bonn, Germany for a G20 foreign ministers meeting. During this visit, he engaged with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, and counterparts from Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE. He pressed Russia to withdraw its forces from eastern Ukraine and reiterated U.S. commitments to allies South Korea and Japan.

His initial visit to Mexico on February 23 involved talks with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray Caso regarding border security, migration issues, and arms trafficking. Tillerson recused himself from decisions related to TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline permit.

Prior to his inauguration, Tillerson had chosen Elliott Abrams as deputy secretary of state but later withdrew this nomination amid controversy. In March 2017, he toured Asia—including Japan, South Korea, and China—stating that diplomatic attempts to curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions had failed and warning that preemptive measures remained an option.

On March 30, Tillerson met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during heightened tensions over U.S. support for Syrian Kurdish forces. After an altercation involving Erdoğan’s bodyguards in Washington D.C., Tillerson condemned the incident and awaited investigation findings.

In April 2017, Tillerson made his first official trip to Russia as secretary of state where he met with Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin. He characterized U.S.-Russia relations as being at a "low point" and cautioned Russia against risking marginalization in Middle Eastern affairs by continuing support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Tillerson accompanied President Trump on his inaugural overseas visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2017. The following month, he controversially omitted Myanmar, Iraq, and Afghanistan from the Trafficking in Persons Report’s list of countries employing child soldiers—contradicting staff recommendations—which caused internal dissent.

Confronted with a proposed 31% budget reduction for the Department of State under Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget plan, Tillerson implemented a hiring freeze and offered voluntary buyouts aimed at reducing career diplomatic staff by approximately 2,000 positions. Initially rescinding job offers extended to foreign service fellowship graduates sparked congressional pushback leading him to reverse that decision. Applications for the Foreign Service entrance examination declined by half during that period.

Tillerson dismissed career diplomats Patrick F. Kennedy and Kristie Kenney from their posts and sought to remove Linda Thomas-Greenfield before her planned retirement. He appointed Margaret Peterlin as chief of staff and depended heavily on her along with policy director Brian Hook. His management approach concentrated decision-making within the Policy Planning Staff.

He launched the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review aimed at reorganizing the State Department’s structure; Deloitte and Insigniam were contracted for consulting services including management assessments and surveys. Despite some praise for setting a new tone among U.S. diplomats, this reorganization faced criticism for fostering dysfunction, micromanagement tendencies, and diminished morale among foreign service officers.

In November 2017, Tillerson publicly condemned Myanmar’s actions against the Rohingya population as ethnic cleansing. He also addressed a significant backlog in Freedom of Information Act requests by deploying mid-level diplomats alongside interns for document processing.

By late 2017, only ten out of forty-four senior political appointments within the State Department were filled. Resignations surged among Senior Foreign Service members; career ambassadors decreased from thirty-nine to nineteen while minister-counselor ranks fell by eighteen percent to three hundred sixty-nine.

On March 13, 2018, Tillerson denounced the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom as a "particularly egregious act" clearly attributed to Russia.

Tillerson's View of Trump

In October 2017, reports surfaced highlighting tension between Tillerson and Trump. During a meeting on July 20, Trump reportedly suggested increasing the U.S. nuclear stockpile by a factor of ten, a plan estimated to cost trillions and take centuries to implement—claims that were refuted by both White House officials and Trump himself. Subsequently, insiders revealed that Tillerson allegedly referred to Trump as a "moron" or even a "fucking moron." There were also claims that Tillerson had offered his resignation but was persuaded to stay by Vice President Pence; these assertions were officially denied.

On October 1, Trump publicly contradicted Tillerson’s diplomatic stance on North Korea through Twitter, undermining his efforts to negotiate—a move widely criticized for weakening the role of America's leading diplomat. After the revelation of the "moron" remark, Trump responded by challenging Tillerson to take "IQ tests." Shortly thereafter, Senator Bob Corker condemned Trump for what he described as "publicly castrating" Tillerson.

Tillerson reportedly found Trump's political address at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree upsetting. After departing from the administration, he characterized working under Trump as difficult due to the president’s undisciplined nature and reluctance to review briefing materials.

In testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in May 2019, Tillerson acknowledged that although he and Trump aimed to enhance America’s global standing, they did not share the same values. When pressed to define Trump's values, Tillerson declined to elaborate.

He also voiced frustration over senior advisor Jared Kushner engaging in foreign diplomacy without informing the State Department. On one occasion, Tillerson only became aware of a private meeting between Kushner and Mexico’s foreign minister when he walked into the restaurant where they were dining.

Removal from Office

On March 9, 2018, President Trump informed Rex Tillerson that he would be replaced as Secretary of State. Tillerson cut short his trip to Africa and returned to the United States on March 12. The next day, Trump announced via Twitter that Mike Pompeo would be his successor. According to Steve Goldstein, then under secretary for public diplomacy who was later dismissed for disputing the official account, Tillerson learned about his termination through Trump's tweet. A senior administration official cited forthcoming negotiations with North Korea and trade talks as motivating factors behind the decision. Trump attributed the change to personal dynamics and policy disagreements, emphasizing that he and Pompeo shared similar perspectives.

Reports suggested that Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates advocated for Tillerson’s ouster due to his opposition to their blockade against Qatar during the 2017–19 diplomatic crisis. Lebanese-American businessman George Nader reportedly influenced influential White House fundraisers pushing this agenda. Former Obama adviser Robert Malley observed that Tillerson’s attempts to prevent a Saudi-UAE military strike on Qatar may have contributed to his dismissal.

John Sullivan assumed the role of acting secretary until Tillerson officially left office on March 31, 2018. Pompeo was confirmed as Secretary of State shortly thereafter, and Gina Haspel became the first woman appointed as CIA director in May 2018. With a tenure lasting 423 days, Tillerson was the shortest-serving Secretary of State since 1992 and uniquely was fired rather than resigning since at least World War II.

In December 2018 and again in May 2019, Trump publicly disparaged Tillerson following comments in which Tillerson described him as "pretty undisciplined" and suggested that Putin outmaneuvered him. This contrasted with earlier praise from Trump who had called Tillerson “one of the truly great business leaders of the world” and a “world class player and dealmaker.”

Evaluations of Tenure

In March 2017, Robert Jervis from Columbia University observed that Tillerson had "minimal influence within the Trump administration up to that point" and anticipated a further decrease in his impact. In the same month, William Inboden of the University of Texas at Austin contended that Tillerson warranted additional time to demonstrate effectiveness. Conversely, Daniel W. Drezner from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University harshly criticized Tillerson, branding him an "unmitigated disaster" and "the most inept secretary of state in recent U.S. history." Elliot Cohen of Johns Hopkins University characterized him as potentially among the weakest secretaries of state in American history. Elizabeth Saunders of George Washington University argued that Tillerson's leadership caused long-lasting harm to the Department of State, undermining America's ability to respond to crises for an extended period.

Political Stances

An October 2017 report by Politico outlined Tillerson's principal foreign policy positions, which included support for U.S. involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership and endorsing the Paris climate accord. He advocated a firm approach toward Russia, encouraged diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions with North Korea, favored continued compliance with the Iran nuclear agreement, maintained a neutral position regarding the Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict, and aimed to reassure allies such as South Korea, Japan, and NATO members about America's steadfast commitment.

Positions on Russia and Saudi Arabia

In 2014, Tillerson opposed imposing sanctions on Russia following its annexation of Crimea, expressing at an Exxon shareholder meeting that sanctions tend to be ineffective unless applied comprehensively. By 2016, he supported a more assertive U.S. military presence near Russian borders. In 2017, he recognized Russia's seizure of Crimea as unlawful and likened China's island construction in the South China Sea to Russian actions.

During his Senate confirmation hearings, Tillerson refrained from categorizing Saudi Arabia as a "human rights violator," questioning whether such labels facilitate meaningful progress. He endorsed the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, aligning with U.S. strategic objectives in the area.

Climate Change and Carbon Tax Policy

In 2009, Tillerson declared that ExxonMobil endorsed a carbon tax as "the most effective method to incorporate carbon costs into all economic decisions—from corporate investments to consumer choices." Shortly before his Secretary of State nomination in October 2016, he reiterated ExxonMobil's belief that a revenue-neutral carbon tax would supplant ineffective regulations, ensure consistent carbon pricing, promote market-based solutions, enhance transparency, simplify complexity, encourage global cooperation, and remain adaptable to evolving climate science.

An article in The New York Times suggested ExxonMobil’s 2009 support for a carbon tax was intended to preempt cap-and-trade legislation being considered by Congress. Meanwhile, a 2016 Time magazine piece noted that despite this official position, ExxonMobil did not prioritize advocating for a carbon tax in its lobbying activities and backed political candidates opposing climate change policies.

Tillerson acknowledged human contributions to climate change in 2010 but questioned both its magnitude and appropriate policy responses. At the 2020 Argus Americas Crude Summit, he expressed doubt about humanity’s capacity to significantly impact climate change due to uncertainties in complex climate models.

In 2012, he emphasized other global challenges as more pressing than climate change, advocating for expanded fossil fuel access to improve living standards worldwide and framing climate issues as engineering problems with eventual solutions.

By 2016, Tillerson stated plainly: "The world is going to have to continue using fossil fuels, whether they like it or not."

Advocacy for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

In 2013, Tillerson voiced his endorsement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), underscoring the initiative by 11 countries aimed at reducing trade barriers and eliminating protectionist measures. He highlighted that these varied economies view open markets as essential drivers of growth and advancement.

International Trade

During a 2007 Council on Foreign Relations gathering, Tillerson championed global engagement over pursuing energy independence, arguing that an international free energy market most effectively secures U.S. energy interests by encouraging resource development, diversification of supplies, efficient use, and innovation.

Regulatory Environment

In a 2012 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Tillerson expressed his dissatisfaction with the complexity of regulatory processes, remarking that "there are a thousand ways you can be told 'no' in this country."

Education Policy

In September 2013, Tillerson penned an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal supporting Common Core educational standards.

Contributions to Republican Campaigns

Data from OpenSecrets reveals that between 2000 and 2016, Tillerson donated nearly $469,000 to Republican candidates and committees. His financial support included politicians such as George W. Bush, Mitt Romney during the 2012 election cycle, and Mitch McConnell. While he did not contribute to Donald Trump's campaign, Tillerson backed Jeb Bush in the 2016 Republican primaries.

Personal Background

Tillerson has been married twice. He divorced his first wife, Jamie Lee Henry; together they have twin sons who are engineers holding degrees from the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1986, he married Renda St. Clair, with whom he has a son born in 1988. In 2006, Tillerson was honored as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate.

He currently lives in Bartonville, Texas, and after becoming secretary of state, acquired a residence in Washington, D.C.'s Kalorama district.

As a member of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, Tillerson and his wife contributed between $5,000 and $10,000 to the denomination’s The Congregationalist Magazine in 2012.

In 2014, Tillerson and his wife joined former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey in opposing a proposed water tower associated with fracking traffic near their homes. They eventually withdrew their legal challenge after a judge dismissed their case.

In 2015, Forbes listed Tillerson as the 25th most influential person worldwide.

On May 16, 2018, Tillerson addressed graduates at Virginia Military Institute, cautioning about "a growing crisis in ethics and integrity" among American leaders and stressing the risks involved when factual truth is replaced by alternative narratives.

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