Rex Tillerson this week was forced to take time away from the presumed blissfulness of retirement to address the unsolicited distraction stemming from a new book written by a former employee of the Trump Administration.
The secret was out long ago that the relationship between secretary of state and president had deteriorated beyond repair – as they seemingly all do with the president – leading to a parting.
But, no, the former secretary of state said, he never played any role or had any part in any conspiracy to undermine the president or the implementation of this foreign policy to “save the country,” as alleged by Nikki Haley, the former UN ambassador turned tell-all author.
He was furthermore, he told the Washington Post, “proud of my service as our country’s 69th Secretary of State.”
The statement contained all the pertinent touches of elder statesman.
Secretaries of state and presidents parting ways because of personal and/or philosophical differences the figurative length of the Palo Duro Canyon isn’t new.
The timing of all this fuss, however, was unique, at least to this writer, who ran into Tillerson at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth about a month ago. He stood beaming with pride in the John Justin Arena, as proud as a papa seeing for the first time his firstborn.
As I soon found out, Tillerson and his wife, Renda, were the very proud owners of “Gus,” the non-pro champion of the Rodear America Cowdog Association National Championships. It’s held in conjunction with the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s Snaffle Bit Futurity.
This is the where the best cowdogs – herding or working dogs, who are trained to act on the command of a whistle or word of command — in the country assemble and compete. The timed competition centers around the dog, rider and horse working as a team to maneuver a small group of cattle through an obstacle course.
If it’s fast-paced action you like in your sporting events, this isn’t for you.
Clint McDaniel, the resident cutting horse trainer at Tillerson’s Bar RR Ranch in Bartonville – just north of Fort Worth – worked Gus and the cattle through the course.
It’s this, not cutting Middle East peace or keeping peace in Korea or dealing with a boss or rumors in a book, that Tillerson wants to do these days.
He said that in addition to Gus, he also has a female and some pups.
“I’ll probably start doing it myself, now that I’m home,” said Tillerson, 67. “That’s my horse – my favorite ranch gelding — that’s my dog … so I figured I should start showing.”
“This is our first dog to get to the national finals. We’ve only been showing him for about a year.”
Tillerson was an amateur cutter before being called to Washington as Thomas Jefferson’s 68th successor
“I’m not doing cutting anymore,” Tillerson said. “My knees have gotten real bad. I work cattle at the ranch all the time. I do OK with that, but cutting is so much stress on your knees, the back and forth. My knee doctor says he can’t do anything. Can’t inject it.
“I need something to replace that.”
Tillerson had been out of town the week of the national tournament, but he watched closely to the streamed webcasts.
“I told [McDaniel], I get home at 4 o’clock. If y’all are in the finals, I’ll be there,” Tillerson said.
They were, of course. Gus also finished fifth in the open division.
Trying to transition into another, juicier topic without interrupting the conversation, I asked the secretary, “Well, since I have you here, I need to ask you … .”
Tillerson, it goes without saying, anticipated the question about the other dog and pony show with Larry Bird-type senses.
“I’m just here for Gus,” he said with a big smile while pulling out his smart phone for a picture. “And Clint.”
Washington is a thing of the past for him.
Gus is his future.
(Photos courtesy of Rodear America Cowdog Association)
