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| | Perhaps the most famous Secretary of State in American history was William Jennings Bryan, who resigned from his position in protest about how his President Woodrow Wilson was pushing the United States into World War I. About ten years later Bryan, who was a skilled attorney and orator, won the Scopes Trial to prohibit the teaching in Tennessee of the theory of human evolution. | | Perhaps the most famous Secretary of State in American history was William Jennings Bryan, who resigned from his position in protest about how his President Woodrow Wilson was pushing the United States into World War I. About ten years later Bryan, who was a skilled attorney and orator, won the Scopes Trial to prohibit the teaching in Tennessee of the theory of human evolution. |
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| − | There are thousands of employees in the State Department to research and analyze what is going on around the world, in order to inform the Secretary of State, who can then then give advice to the president. People who are skilled at foreign languages and knowledgeable about foreign cultures and government are wanted as employees by the State Department. Many State Department employees work in D.C., but some would also work at the United Nations, based in Manhattan, and in embassies around the world. Georgetown University, located in D.C., is a college that has a program specializing in training future diplomats and employees of the State Department. | + | There are thousands of employees in the State Department to research and analyze what is going on around the world, in order to inform the Secretary of State, who can then give advice to the president. People who are skilled at foreign languages and knowledgeable about foreign cultures and government are wanted as employees by the State Department. Many State Department employees work in D.C., but some would also work at the United Nations, based in Manhattan, and in embassies around the world. Georgetown University, located in D.C., is a college that has a program specializing in training future diplomats and employees of the State Department. |
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| | === Defense Department === | | === Defense Department === |
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| | The Department of Labor handles issues relating to the labor force in America, such as announcing the unemployment rate at 8:30 am Eastern Time on the first Friday morning of each month. This created enormous attention last Friday, October 5th, because the number decreased unexpectedly from 8.1% to 7.8%. | | The Department of Labor handles issues relating to the labor force in America, such as announcing the unemployment rate at 8:30 am Eastern Time on the first Friday morning of each month. This created enormous attention last Friday, October 5th, because the number decreased unexpectedly from 8.1% to 7.8%. |
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| − | Why was that significant? Because the lower the unemployment rate, the easier it is for the incumbent (President Obama) to win reelection. Mitt Romney and his supporters were not pleased by Friday'a announcement. | + | Why was that significant? Because the lower the unemployment rate, the easier it is for the incumbent (President Obama) to win reelection. Mitt Romney and his supporters were not pleased by Friday's announcement. |
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| | There is a federal minimum wage, which the Department of Labor publicizes and requires compliance with by employers. | | There is a federal minimum wage, which the Department of Labor publicizes and requires compliance with by employers. |