Last July, I was tasked by the Huffington Post with speculating on whom Barack Obama would select for his new Cabinet. Some of my choices reflected personal preferences; others, the realities of his stated goal: to put together a Lincoln-esque "team of rivals". He's already filled the most significant one, putting the stellar Joe Biden into the Veep's role. Meanwhile, Hank Paulson appears destined to remain on in a transitional role at Treasury. But what of the other slots?
I'm sure the transition team has got its own laundry list, possibly including some of these names, and that it plans to include more women than this admittedly incomplete listing does. We are left to marvel at our new President-Elect, and at the delicious opportunities before him to reverse the failures of the last eight years. Here, then, are some of the choices I originally made:
Secretary of State: Bill Richardson. The current governor of New Mexico did a lot more than help deliver his state to the President-elect on Tuesday night; he's also been, at various times, a U.S. Representative, Ambassador to the United Nations, and as the U.S. Secretary of Energy. This would also make him the highest-ranking Hispanic ever to serve in our federal government.
Secretary of Defense: General Wesley Clark. Rhodes scholar at Oxford, West Point valedictorian, winner of numerous military honors (including a Purple Heart, Bronze and Silver Stars, and the Legion of Merit), the only general I know who won a war (Kosovo) without losing a single man - if you can find someone more qualified than Clark to repair our badly battered and demoralized military, I'm all ears. If Obama really wants to get a bipartisan line on this, of course, he need look no further than my choice to head up Veterans's Affairs, below.
Attorney General: Jonathan Turley. Even as Bush's "Just-Us Department" laid siege to the Constitution, this distinguished law professor at George Washington University eloquently defended the great document: speaking out against the Military Commissions Act, arguing for Bill Clinton's impeachment, strengthening environmental legislation, and, oh yeah, restoring habeus corpus. His wit and warmth would restore much lost humanity to the Department, too.
Secretary of the Interior: Brian Schweitzer. Montana's governor enjoys steep approval ratings, in part for his demonstrated ability to cross partisan boundaries (as when he ran on a two-party ticket with his Republican Lt. Governor, John Bohlinger). With a master's degree in soil science, and experience irrigating Third World countries, he seems poised to address the challenges faced by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service. Of course, in making this choice, the President would be putting a moderate Republican into the governor's mansion in Helena.
Secretary of Agriculture: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. He brings more than just that storied last name and family history to the table. His law career has dealt extensively with environmental issues, pertaining to water and soil pollution, as well as food purity, all issues falling under the rubric of this department. Seems safe to say his Uncle Ted would have few qualms about supporting him at confirmation time!
Secretary of Commerce: Indra K. Nooyi. Born in India, Yale-educated Nooyi rose to become CEO of Pepsi, inspiring Fortune magazine to dub her the "Most Powerful Woman In Business" two years running. Despite this, she donated to John Kerry's 2004 presidential bid - obviously, a good woman to have on the team.
Secretary of Labor: David Obey. The Wisconsin congressman chairs the House Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on labor issues, and worked to create a new House Code of Ethics. He is reliably liberal, without being unacceptably so for confirmation purposes.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Well, my original choice, last summer, for this was none other than John Edwards. His personal troubles may have tarnished him beyond repair (which would be a tremendous shame). Today, in fact, I'd like to see a woman in this post.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Peter Calthorpe. This urban planner and architect, praised for his innovative "New Urbanism" approach to regional design, has done yeoman service to this department's Empowerment Zone and Consolidated Planning Programs, and received a presidential appointment to the Council for Sustainable Development. His new approach to city design should appeal to Obama, who has some new ideas of his own...!
Secretary of Transportation: Dan Lipinski. The new President should have no quarrel with this one: Chicago native Lipinski, a Duke University alum who taught at Notre Dame, represents the 3rd Congressional district of Illinois - serving on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Secretary of Education: Rubén Hinojosa. His background on the Texas State Board of Education, combined with his history of fighting for better educational opportunities for the poor, make this congressman from Texas a pleasing choice for this role.
Secretary of Veterans' Affairs: Chuck Hagel. The retiring Republican Senator (and Vietnam War vet) would make a formidable presence here, whether it's repairing the shameful conditions recently discovered at Walter Reed Hospital, or promoting a more ameliorating pubic attitude towards those who have served our country in harm's way.
Secretary of Homeland Security: Richard A. Clarke. Because it's poetic justice, really; the former counter-terrorism czar might like working for a President who actually heeds his warnings - and this time, he'd have an entire Cabinet department to implement his suggestions.