Watch John Kerry Get Emotional Talking About Public Servants

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., President Obama's nominee to succeed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, got chocked up in his confirmation hearing Thursday when he spoke about the State Department's employees and the value of the service they provide to the country. Indeed, he had to take a moment to collect himself before talking in detail about his view of the members of the Foreign Service and the contributions they provide to the country.

Watch:

Here's what Kerry had to say:

If you confirm me, I would take office as Secretary proud that the Senate is in my blood, but equally proud that so, too, is the Foreign Service. My father's work under presidents both Democrat and Republican took me and my siblings around the world for a personal journey that brought home the sacrifices and the commitment the men and women of the Foreign Service make every day on behalf of America. I wish everyone in the country could see and understand firsthand the devotion, loyalty, amazingly hard, often dangerous work that the diplomats on the front lines do for our nation. Theirs is a service that earns our country an enormous return on investment. I will be proud and honored to represent them and I will work hard to augment our public diplomacy so that the story is told at home and abroad.

(Hat tip: Unedited Politics )