washington u.s. president donald trump nix elliott abrams position state department learn republican foreign policy veteran criticize 2016 election campaign people familiar matter say friday trump decide nominate abrams lead candidate deputy secretary state meet white house tuesday along secretary state rex tillerson two source tell reuters abrams 69 serve foreign policy roles presidents ronald reagan george w. bush tillerson pick job administration newly instal top diplomat try fail convince president reconsider offer job one source say trump resistance hire former republican critics slow ability fill position administration especially foreign policy national security areas leave former diplomat paula dobriansky potential choice position trump short list official say abrams sign either two highly publicize letter members republican foreign policy establishment campaign pledge back trump criticize write media interview presidential primaries abrams 69 neoconservative long advocate activist u.s. role world last serve government bush white house first middle east expert national security council late global democracy strategy adviser assistant secretary state reagan administration convict 1991 two misdemeanor count withhold information congress iran-contra scandal late pardon president george h.w bush trump nix abrams state department job source