washington president-elect donald trump name head exxon mobil corp rex tillerson choice u.s. secretary state tuesday back republican foreign policy figure ahead possible senate fight oilman tie russia exxon chief executive potentially face difficulties get confirm republican-controlled senate lawmakers worry link moscow opposition u.s. sanction russia award friendship medal 2013. several republican establishment figure include former secretaries state jam baker condoleezza rice former defense secretary robert gate vouch tillerson 64 spend 40 years oil company rice gate work exxon consultants issue statements support tuesday back could crucial tillerson receive approval need senate republicans slim majority trump take office jan 20 fact condi rice jam baker bob gate recommend tillerson carry considerable weight say republican senator jeff flake member senate foreign relations committee choose tillerson trump add another person cabinet circle advisers may favor soft line toward moscow u.s. sanction 2014 annexation crimea center allegations launch cyber attack disrupt u.s. presidential election republican foreign policy hawk senate like john mccain lindsey graham likely give tillerson rough time confirmation hear early january well know close relationship russian president vladimir putin say mccain republican party 2008 nominee president republicans majority 52-48 senate defections rank would block tillerson every democrat also oppose trump victory tour state back november election tell supporters west allis wisconsin tillerson fierce advocate american interest around world call strong man tough man trump upset u.s. ally campaign call good relationship russia question usefulness north atlantic treaty organization u.s.-led military bloc create world war two counter soviet union trump also pledge confront china trade territorial issue temporarily ban muslims enter unite state anger many islamic countries tillerson foreign experience years cut deal foreign countries company world large energy firm 2012 tillerson sign deal russian state oil giant rosneft jointly develop oil field western siberia chief executive exxon mobil since 2006 like trump never hold public office tillerson say statement share president-elect vision restore credibility unite state exxon mobil say board would meet soon regard transition trump also poise add another figure close tie oil industry cabinet source close transition say trump choose former texas governor rick perry whose state lead oil producer nominee energy secretary announcement expect soon perry meet trump trump tower new york monday part series meet include rapper kanye west tuesday trump also offer position interior secretary montana first-term representative ryan zinke ex-navy seal commander early trump supporter accord media report trump appoint stephen miller top policy aide campaign senior adviser policy miller adviser u.s. senator jeff sessions alabama trump nominate attorney general 2013 putin bestow russian state honor order friendship tillerson cite work strengthen cooperation energy sector also controversy allege russian interference nov. presidential election cia conclude moscow intervene help trump defeat democrat hillary clinton tillerson cozy tie vladimir putin russia would represent untenable conflict state department representative eliot engel rank democrat house representatives committee foreign affairs say statement russian foreign minister sergei lavrov say trump tillerson pragmatic people could help america russia build mutually beneficial relationship group u.s. state attorneys general investigate exxon allegedly mislead public climate change environmental group alarm exxon ceo could america top diplomat exxon say acknowledge reality climate change years tillerson tell congressional hear 2010 think humanity contribute climate change science unclear size contribution extremely complicate tell hear trump election exxon come support paris climate agreement combat climate change also concern among lawmakers former u.n. ambassador john bolton adviser trump transition team say still consideration deputy secretary state role bolton urge washington counter china assertiveness east asia senate fight loom trump tap exxon ceo top u.s. diplomat