Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held her first "town hall" meeting with department employees yesterday. She fielded questions, and some comments like this:

QUESTION: Secretary Rice, my name is Lee Rainer. I'm in the Bureau of Administration.

There isn't very much that goes on here in the State Department that the Bureau of Administration is not involved in. I don't have a question. I just want to let you know that we've got your back.

(Applause.)

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Thank you very much.

And then an employee asked if Rice, an accomplished pianist, would ever perform for the department. She responded:

...And about halfway through college I went to a very well known music festival and I encountered 12-year-olds who could play from sight what it had taken me all year to learn. And I thought, I'm going to end up playing a piano bar someplace (laughter) or maybe play at Nordstrom, (laughter) but I'm not going to end up playing at Carnegie Hall. (Applause.)

In terms of policy, there wasn't much earth-shattering provided in the session but it appears - for now at least - the rank-and-file is ready to work with her.