them gets shot off. >> reporter: perry has largely steered clear of the scandals and gaffes of fellow cabinet members, avoiding the extravagance of tom price and scott pruitt, or moments like this from ben carson. >> do you know what an reo is? >> an oreo? >> no, not an oreo. an r-e-o. >> reporter: he's had some controversial headlines but nothing that has really stuck. >> rick perry has the benefit that he has an agency that tonight come under a ton of congressional pressure. there hasn't been any epic fights related to the energy department between congress and the white house. so that's a big benefit. >> reporter: it's not that the dancing with the stars alum shuns the limelight, but after hanging up his dancing shoes, he started traveling the world promoting u.s. energy interests. >> it's very important for the world, for the middle east, for