NYT profile of designated USA ambassador to UN, Gov. Nikki Haley

Interesting profile of designated USA ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Nikki Haley’s Path: From Daughter of Immigrants to Trump’s Pick for U.N., http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/us/nikki-haley-donald-trump-un-ambassador.html, Nov. 23rd 2016

Ravi: As an Indian, I find this to be a very interesting development. When she does become USA ambassador to the UN I think it will be the most influential position in USA government a person of Indian origin would have held in USA history. [She is born in the USA. Her  parents are Indian immigrants to the USA from the North Indian state of Punjab.] And, since it is the UN, her role will influence the world, to some significant extent.

As the article notes, she came into international spotlight with her pivotal role in getting the South Carolina government to remove the confederate battle flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State House, in the wake of the horrific killings of African-American churchgoers in a famous Charleston, South Carolina church, by a young white supremacist who had posed in pictures with the confederate battle flag. For me too, it was that leadership role of hers that made me pay more attention to her.

She was earlier not in favour of removal of the confederate flag. But after the massacre at the Charleston church whose pastor and state senator, also killed in the massacre, was a friend of hers, she had a change of heart. She said, "I couldn’t look my son or daughter in the face and justify that flag flying anymore".
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Donald Trump's statement from https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/posts/10158175434475725, dated Nov. 23rd 2016:

President-Elect Donald J. Trump Intends to Nominate South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

(New York, NY) – President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate Governor Nikki Haley (R-SC) as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a cabinet-level position in the Trump-Pence Administration.

Governor Haley is one of the most universally respected governors in the country. After working at her family's business, Governor Haley turned her focus to economic development and has traveled abroad to negotiate with international companies on behalf of South Carolina. As governor, she has led seven overseas trade missions and successfully attracted jobs and investment through negotiations with foreign companies.

“Governor Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our country,” said President-elect Trump. “She is also a proven dealmaker, and we look to be making plenty of deals. She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage.”

“Our country faces enormous challenges here at home and internationally, and I am honored that the President-elect has asked me to join his team and serve the country we love as the next Ambassador to the United Nations,” said Governor Haley.

Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, the daughter of Indian immigrants, Governor Haley became the first female governor of her home state in 2011 and is currently the youngest governor in the country. Prior to becoming governor, she represented Lexington County in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011.

A true fiscal conservative and savvy businesswoman, Governor Haley’s leadership drove down South Carolina’s unemployment to a 15 year low by adding more than 82,000 jobs in each of South Carolina’s 46 counties.

Prior to dedicating her life to public service, Governor Haley worked at her family business. In 1998, Governor Haley was named to the board of directors of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce and named to the board of directors of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce in 2003. She also became treasurer of the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2003 and president in 2004.

Governor Haley is a proud graduate of Clemson University where she earned a degree in accounting. Governor Haley and her husband, Michael, a Captain in the Army National Guard and combat veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, have two children, Rena, 18, and Nalin, 15.

---end contents of Donald Trump Facebook post ---

Nikki Haley's statement from https://www.facebook.com/NikkiHaley/posts/10154143592028226, dated Nov. 23rd 2016:

Six years ago, South Carolinians bestowed upon me the greatest honor of my life. They took a chance on a little-known, 38-year old, minority, female governor – something our state had never done before. I will be forever grateful, and I expect I will never again receive a higher honor.

In the six years that followed, our state has reached incredible heights. We made South Carolina's economic development the envy of the nation and brought new jobs to every county. We cut our unemployment rate by more than half, employing more South Carolinians than ever before. We reformed how we fund education, moving more resources to communities in greatest need. We passed landmark ethics reforms that make state government more accountable to our people.

Our state has also persevered through some of the most difficult times. Nature damaged many of us with the thousand-year flood and Hurricane Matthew. Our hearts were broken for those we lost when tragedy struck Walter Scott's family, Mother Emanuel, and Townville Elementary School. Yet through it all, the greatness of our people overcame those tragedies, even coming together to heal the old wounds represented by the Confederate Flag on the Statehouse grounds.

This month’s elections have brought exciting changes to America. Our country faces enormous challenges here at home and internationally. Last week, President-elect Trump asked if I would meet with him to discuss those challenges, which I was happy to do. He has asked that I serve our country as our next Ambassador to the United Nations. Pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate, I have agreed.

I always expected to finish the remaining two years of my second term as governor. Not doing so is difficult because I love serving South Carolina more than anything. I was moved to accept this new assignment for two reasons. The first is a sense of duty. When the President believes you have a major contribution to make to the welfare of our nation, and to our nation’s standing in the world, that is a calling that is important to heed. The second is a satisfaction with all that we have achieved in our state in the last six years and the knowledge that we are on a very strong footing.

I will remain as governor until the U.S. Senate acts affirmatively on my nomination. We still have much to do in South Carolina, and my commitment to the people of our state will always remain unbreakable, both while I continue to hold this office, and thereafter.

In this holiday season, we all have much to be thankful for. Michael and I wish every South Carolinian a joyous Thanksgiving.
--- end Facebook post contents of Nikki Haley ---

An interesting related article, In a career filled with political diplomacy, U.N. is a natural step for Nikki Haley, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-a-career-filled-with-political-diplomacy-un-is-a-natural-step-for-nikki-haley/2016/11/23/b9e2e810-b1cb-11e6-8616-52b15787add0_story.html, Nov. 23rd 2016.

[I thank Mr. Donald Trump and Ms. Nikki Haley, and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]

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