Big Fat Story
Perhaps the best way to think about Obama's potential cabinet is as "team of rivals." The phrase refers to Abraham Lincoln and his disparate, often warring, advisers, and to the Doris Kearns Goodwin book of the same name. Obama is a known Lincoln admirer, and talks about the book "all the time," according to an aide. He told Joe Klein, "I have an interest in casting a wide net, seeking out people with a wide range of expertise, including Republicans." Could that mean extending an offer to outgoing Sen. Chuck Hagel? Retired Gen. James Jones? An Obama administration figures to be more diverse than Bush’s, which relegated Democrats to obscure posts.
Photo: AP
Meet the masochists who could take Hank Paulson's job.
After a series of unprecedented federal interventions in the market, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson suddenly finds himself one of the most powerful men in America. But he has said he plans to step down in January, posing a key question for the candidates, whose choice of Paulson's successor may well make or break the economy. Warren Buffett, the Yoda of the financial world, even suggested that their pick for the Treasury is more important than their pick for vice president. Obama, for his part, seems likely to choose from an all-star team of Clintonite economists who have been advising him throughout the campaign. Check out our photo gallery see Obama's probable short-listers, complete with speculative horserace odds.
Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty
Bush's defense secretary may get another crack at the job.
Sens. Chuck Hagel and Jack Reed have both been floated as candidates to head up the Pentagon next year. But the Obama campaign has also expressed interest in hanging on to Robert Gates, the sitting defense secretary who has been charged with mopping up Donald Rumsfeld's mess. Gates has received good reviews for his pragmatic approach, particularly his role in rescuing Iraq from collapse. Then again, he doesn't share Obama's enthusiasm for a firm timetable for withdrawal from the country. Nancy Soderberg, a former American ambassador to the U.N., and Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, explain the case for keeping him on board.
Photo: Virginia Mayo/AP
The (Likely) Next Administration
Yes, there's still a week left until the presidential election. But the polls indicate that Obama is cruising toward victory. The question, then, is who a senator who has spent less than four years in Washington will tap to be his braintrust—the team that guides him through what’s sure to be a rocky transition. From John Kerry to Oprah, here’s a look at what the campaign is floating and where the current betting is.
The Queen of Talk could join the executive branch.
Oprah's steadfast support of Obama got renewed attention after she offered to produce his half-hour TV special. Now some are wondering whether he might return the favor with a position in his administration. Not that it's likely, and not that she'd take it; government paychecks can't look too attractive next to a $385 million worth of yearly earnings. Still, for a president who prioritizes building international goodwill, a figure like Oprah could come in handy. Handy enough, even, to merit a custom-made post.
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/AP
Four years after Sen. John Kerry lost the presidential election, he may get another shot at correcting Bush's foreign policy—this time, as Obama's secretary of state. Kerry, a Vietnam vet with a seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is one of Obama's closest allies. Kerry tapped Obama to give the keynote speech at the Democratic convention in 2004, effectively launching his career; he was also one of Obama’s earliest high-profile supporters. Could Kerry be ready to ankle the Senate and kibbitz with foreign leaders?
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Is this an explosive scoop or a crude forgery? Experts disagree.
Susan Rice, Obama's senior foreign policy expert, seems a likely choice to serve as his national security adviser or possibly secretary of state. No, she's not related to Condoleezza Rice, who played both those roles in the Bush administration. The two Rices hold starkly different views—Susan has long shared Obama's critical view of the war in Iraq and his nuanced view of projecting American power. Still, observers can't help but note that both advisers are African-American women breaking ground in a field dominated by white men.
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