Beltway Insider: Obama Announces New Cabinet Nominees

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Category: Beltway Insider

Published on Saturday, 12 January 2013 22:36

Written by Janet Walker

President Barack Obama announced two additional cabinet nominees, over the past week, to succeed the departing Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

According to Gallup, President Obama’s job approval, over the past week, gained a single percentage point, to 53% of those polled approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness remained at 42%.

Obama has several additional positions to fill as his second term cabinet will lose Eric Holder, Attorney general, Department of Justice, Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security, White House Chief of Staff as Jack Lew will be promoted, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, Department of Health and Human services, Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Housing and Urban Affair, Shaun Donovan, and Department of Education Arne Duncan,

Secretary of Treasury

Jacob Joseph “Jack” Lew, the current White House Chief of Staff was nominated this week for the Secretary of Treasury position vacated by the departing Timothy Geithner.  

Lew, has also held the position of Director of Office and Budget, a position he has held throughout the Obama administration Lew, who has held several key positions over his twenty year tenure in politics, had served both the Clinton and Obama administration.  

Born in New York City, Lew graduated from Harvard University and Georgetown Law School. He has also held positions in the private sector.

As secretary of the treasury, Lew’s signature, the source of many jokes including from the President who, when he discovered the swirls, talked of withdrawing his name from consideration as the string of curly q’s will appear, during the length of Lew’s tenure on money issued.

Secretary of Defense

President Obama reached across the aisle and nominated former Nebraska Senator Charles Timothy “Chuck” Hagel to the Secretary of Defense position vacated by exiting Secretary Leon Panetta.

Hagel, a Republican, a Vietnam War Veteran, served his country in active duty from 1967 - 1968 as an Infantry soldier in the Army. He earned Two Purple Hearts, a distinction awarded to those wounded or killed in action. After returning home, he went into Cellular Phone services and made a substantial fortune.

Hagel began his political career with a bid for the 1996 Senate seat and won. He was re-elected in 2002. In 2008, after completion of his second term, he retired from political life and began teaching at Edmund a Walsh School of Foreign service at Georgetown University and was also Co-chairman of the President’s Intelligence advisory Board.

Senator John Kerry has been nominated for Secretary of State replacing the departing Hillary Clinton.

These cabinet choices are considered safe choices for the president and the appointees are expected to move smoothly through confirmation hearings.

For more information on President Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

For more information on President Obama: http://www.barackobama.com/