Interview with Ambassador Robert Wood Johnson

6 July 2018

 

You’ve had a long and successful career in business. How has that prepared you for the diplomatic service?

That’s an interesting question, being in business and being in diplomacy there are so many similarities between the two. I’ve been talking to high school kids around the country about what those similarities are and really it’s all about setting a mission, it’s about putting a team together or getting a team to agree to that mission and subscribe to the mission. And, thinking long term, not being distracted by the bumps in the road or the things that go poorly for maybe one day, two days or three days but stay on mission and keeping everybody going. Those similarities are both in diplomacy, business and sport quite frankly.

You have changed career and moved country at a time of life when most people are spending their days on the golf course. What made you want to take on the challenge?

Well, I look at my 97 year old mother who works every day. She’s running a farm, she’s involved in politics and philanthropy and all over so, she has incredible energy and I hope I’m as good as she is.

You’ve been filmed for a new documentary series on Channel 4. What made you agree to the project?

I think the idea of filming what happens behind the scenes at an embassy is very important because people don’t know what goes on in these buildings and it’s very complex, it’s very interesting. The building is filled with smart people looking at these complicated issues and we’re working for the American people to try to get on the ground knowledge and experience, in this case in the UK, that can add to our ability to do diplomacy and do what the president really wants us to do, which is prosperity and security, working on those two issues.

How did you find being followed by cameras 24/7?

Being part of the filming of these episodes has been very, very interesting because you’re always aware of what we’re trying to get across to the public and give them an understanding of what being a diplomate is and what our mission is. I always found the crews to be extremely professional and unobtrusive. They’re trying to do the same thing; they’re trying to make something interesting and entertaining as well as being very insightful.

What would you say have been the key challenges you’ve faced so far in your term?

It’s always a challenge to deliver in anything that one is doing, whether it’s business, sports or diplomacy. We’ve set our broad agendas of security and prosperity so how do we maximize our impact? I’m here for 1000 days, you know plus or minus, I want to measure myself on how I bring what the president wants me to do, his objectives, that are our objectives so how can I deliver on those two things.

You have overseen the US embassy’s move to the new site. How do you feel about the new building and its location?

I started out In Grosvenor Square, and you can imagine John Adams and Benjamin Franklin walking across that square 200 years ago. I watched the flag go down for the last time. It’s a great sight, and it was emotional for me, and I was a newcomer to watch that flag go down for the last time. But when the flag raised here – we have a big flagpole with a big flag – and all of us were out on the lawn watching this, it was also a very important sign of a new chapter of what’s going to happen. This building, in this great location on the Thames, I think will serve us well for many, many decades to come. It’s bigger, it’s much more advanced electronically and security-wise, than what we’ve had and I think it’s going to serve us well in terms of accomplishing America’s interests in diplomacy.

You are good friends with Donald Trump. How long have you known him?

I met him in the early 80s, on almost my first day arriving in New York. It was hard not to meet Donald Trump in those days. I’d moved up from Florida having run a cable TV company, and meeting Donald Trump. He was pretty much the same person he is today. But I’ve known his kids, my girls went to school with Ivanka and the boys. We knew them and watched them grow up and turn into the impressive people they are today.

Do you ever feel that his somewhat visceral approach to politics and international diplomacy makes your job more difficult?

No, in a word. Actually, the easiest part of my job is trying to explain Donald Trump and what he does in his tweets, and his communication style. And what I usually point to is what’s happened. The proof is in the pudding, and I think the British people are starting to realise what’s going on in the US. And it’s being reported: 5 % growth last quarter, and the kind of acceleration in all of the equity markets; the unemployment numbers are just off the charts; consumer confidence; business confidence; investors’ confidence. It’s booming, and that’s what I would look at if I were over here: What can I do to do what those guys are doing?

He has something of an image problem with a lot of people in the UK.

I look at President Trump as somebody who has really had the views that he has as president ever since I’ve known him 30 years ago, in his business career. I’ve watched him, and frankly I’ve been so impressed by the things he’s been able to accomplish… I think that as the British public gets to know not how he does it but what he does, and what he’s accomplished – and let’s look at what direction the president’s taking the world at this point – I think most people would say “Yeah, it’s pretty good!”

Do you feel that the UK and the US still have a special relationship? What is it that makes it special?

It’s many things. The special relationship has been talked about a lot. The special relationship, even though people have heard it over and over and it’s lost some of its allure since the man behind me [the Churchill portrait behind the ambassador’s desk] talked about it first, it’s alive and well. Because we have over a hundred years of working closely together through good times and bad times. We share a language – kind of – but we share a belief in law and order and precedent and so many other things. Our histories are so intertwined. The relationship is based on trust. Our objectives in the US and the objectives here, of prosperity and security, are pretty much the same.

How do you see Brexit as affecting the relationship?

Brexit is a big challenge for the UK, to try and figure out all of the moving parts, and try to respond to the public referendum that was held on Brexit. Do I think that this is going to affect the relationship long-term between the US and the UK? The answer is no. No matter what way it goes, I think it’s going to be great for both of us. We’ve managed to get through these things before, and we’ll manage to get through this one.

How have you found living in this country? Has anything surprised you about life over here?

One of the things that I guess was a little bit of a surprise was when my wife and I moved over here on August 24th, before school started. We were wondering what the reception would be to our two young boys, 11 and 8 at that point, in a British school. We were surprised to see how warm and welcoming the British students were to the boys. And the boys responded – they’re playing cricket now, and rugby, and your football, not our football, and learning the language and just kind of blending right in. So that’s been pretty gratifying.

What would you say are the characteristics of the British people?

The characteristic that I think surprises Americans is their calm, understated demeanour. Americans are much more gung-ho and out there in terms of expressing themselves. I have a pretty nice garden at the house I’m living in [the ambassador’s residence in Regent’s Park has a 12-acre garden, the second-biggest private garden in London after Buckingham Palace]. If I ask a Brit how it looks, they’ll say “£It looks fine!” An American would say “It’s the most spectacular garden I have ever seen, bar none.”

What do you miss about the US?

I’m not the ‘missing’ kind of person. I’m a typical American, I’m looking forward. I’m loving being here, learning about you guys, learning about the Brits, meeting the politicians, meeting the people, going around the country and seeing the different points of view in Wales and Northern Ireland and all over Scotland, visiting military bases and talking to cops and figuring out all that. So you don’t really have time to look back too much.

You own the New York Jets, and are also a huge basketball fan. Have you made sure you get your regular fix of those sports while you’re here?

I’m not going to American Football games, but I have spent a lot of time at soccer games – you’re right, you do have to have your fix every week. I look forward to cricket. When you go to the parks here – Regent’s Park is the closest one to me – these big circles in the middle of the park, and people dressed in white, playing cricket. And we’re wondering “What is going on here?” But it seems very dignified. There are a lot of matches going on, and so learning about that and going to Lord’s and going with some real experts to see how the bowlers confuse you…

There’s the small matter of the World Cup. Will you be following England’s fortunes through the tournament?

Absolutely! I’m going to be following the World Cup – who wouldn’t be?

What are the best and worst aspects of being an ambassador?

There’s no really worst aspects of being the Ambassador, it’s a great honour and a privilege. The best aspects are getting to work on issues that I really care about – security (for your country and our country and the world at large) and prosperity, to make sure everybody has a job, and the jobs are good jobs, the jobs that people want, so they can live the lives they want to live. If I can push that forward, that’s a pleasure for me.

How do you relax?

You don’t relax in this job. I have two young kids. When I leave here, I deal with them. It’s a lot of fun!

People who have occupied your current position have often gone on to occupy the highest office. Do you harbour any political ambitions beyond this position?

No! No, this is the best job you could possibly have.

Episode 3, Inside the American Embassy: Guns, Diplomacy and Chlorinated Chicken will air on Monday 9 July at 10pm