News

BUILDING A CABINET

NEDRA PICKLER and LIZ SIDOTI Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama is likely to name Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve, as Treasury Secretary in a time of intense economic turmoil as he rounds out the upper echelon of his Cabinet, a senior Democratic official familiar with the deliberations said Friday.

click image to enlarge

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, right, listens to Timothy Geithner before speaking at the Economic Club of New York in October. Geithner is said to be the new Secretary of the Treasury in the Obama administration.

AP FILE PHOTO

click image to enlarge

Barack Obama is with Hillary Rodham Clinton at a June event in Unity, N.H. Clinton is in line to become Secretary of State.

AP FILE PHOTO

Additional Photos Below

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, in line to become Secretary of State, said through a spokesman that discussions were “very much on track” for her appointment but no final arrangement had been made.

Obama also has selected Eric Holder, a top Justice Department aide in the Clinton administration, as his attorney general.

If nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Geithner, 47, would assume chief responsibility for tackling an economic slowdown and a credit crunch that threaten to create the deepest recession in more than a generation. The president of the New York federal reserve, he has played a key role in the government’s response to the financial crisis and has worked closely with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

Separately, officials said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson had emerged as a likely pick as Commerce Secretary. Like Clinton, he was a rival of Obama’s for the Democratic presidential nomination last winter. He dropped out after the early contests, though, and soon threw his support behind the eventual winner.

It was not clear when Obama intended to make a formal announcement of any of his picks. He has largely stayed out of public view since his election on Nov. 4, preferring to work quietly in a suite of offices in downtown Chicago.

While speculation has been rampant about numerous Cabinet-level appointments, there has been relatively little about Obama’s choice as Defense Secretary. His aides encouraged speculation before the election that Robert Gates, who now holds the position, would remain in office for an interim period.

The officials who discussed Obama’s plans Friday did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to pre-empt any formal announcement.

Obama has repeatedly referred to the economic crisis as the top priority for his new administration.

Geithner held posts in the Treasury Department under three administrations and five secretaries before moving to the New York Fed in 2003. He also held positions at the International Monetary Fund and was employed at the private firm of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

The Dow Jones industrials soared by nearly 500 points late in the day, a sharp rise that coincided with first reports of Geithner’s possible appointment.

Meanwhile, the Clinton saga was proving to be one of the longest-running and more public of the secrecy-shrouded search for an Obama Cabinet.

A week ago, the New York senator flew unannounced to Chicago to meet with the president-elect. That gave way to days of negotiations in which her husband, former President Bill Clinton, agreed to disclose the names of donors to his library and charitable foundation in anticipation of the close scrutiny her nomination would be sure to face.

Obama has moved with unusual speed to select officials for his administration. And one Democrat said John Podesta, a leader of the transition team, had told Senate aides during the day that Obama hopes for speedy confirmation so the new administration can get to work quickly after Jan. 20.

Other Cabinet selections include former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota as secretary of Health and Human Services, and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Napolitano was an early supporter of candidate Obama among the ranks of Democratic governors, as was Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. Sebelius has figured prominently in recent days in speculation as possible secretary of labor.

Filling in the blanks

It’s Washington’s favorite parlor game during a presidential transition: trying to figure out who’ll land a top spot in the new administration. Obama is weighing an array of Washington insiders and outsiders, including some Republicans, for Cabinet and other top positions, according to Democratic officials.

Some of those who are the subject of speculation already have been chosen by Obama to serve as part of his transition team. Some names being floated are surprising, such as former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell for education secretary. Others are high-profile governors or members of Congress. Many are also little known to the general public — and may remain so.

DEFENSE SECRETARY

Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., critic of Iraq war, retiring from Senate.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., member of Senate Armed Services Committee.

John Hamre, former deputy defense secretary, now president of Center for Strategic and International Studies.

TREASURY SECRETARY

Timothy Geithner, president of Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker.

Lawrence Summers, former treasury secretary and one-time Harvard University president.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, former first lady and one-time rival of Obama’s for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., former U.N. ambassador and energy secretary.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., 2004 presidential nominee.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., critic of Iraq war, retiring from Senate.

Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.