Hello, everybody. We had a very constructive meeting with the House members, members of the Republican Caucus. I'm a little bit late for my Senate colleagues -- former Senate colleagues.
And the main message I have is that the statistics every day underscore the urgency of the economic situation. The American people expect action. They want us to put together a recovery package that puts people back to work, that creates investments that assure our long-term energy independence, an effective health care system, an education system that works; they want our infrastructure rebuilt, and they want it done wisely, so that we're not wasting taxpayer money.
As I explained to the Republican House Caucus, and I'll explain to my former Senate colleagues, the recovery package that we have proposed and is moving its way through Congress is just one leg in a multi-legged stool. We're still going to have to have much better financial regulation, we've got to get credit flowing again, we're going to have to deal with the troubled assets that many banks are still carrying and that make the -- that have locked up the credit system. We're going to have to coordinate with other countries, because we now have a global problem.
I am absolutely confident that we can deal with these issues, but the key right now is to make sure that we keep politics to a minimum. There are some legitimate philosophical differences with parts of my plan that the Republicans have, and I respect that. In some cases they may just not be as familiar with what's in the package as I would like. I don't expect a hundred percent agreement from my Republican colleagues, but I do hope that we can all put politics aside and do the American people's business right now. All right.
Immediately following his election, Obama began naming and meeting with advisers who will help guide him on these tough issues. These primary presidential advisers, most of whom carry the title “secretary,” will oversee some of the most important departments of the U.S. government, including the departments of State, Defense and Treasury.
Most of these advisers, including all Cabinet members, will have to be formally nominated by Obama once he becomes president and confirmed by the Senate. Obama has announced his selections much sooner than did most of his predecessors.
To help new Cabinet members familiarize themselves with their respective government agencies, the Obama transition team has established agency review teams that will complete a thorough review of more than a hundred departments and agencies. (See “Dozens of Advisers Will Guide Next U.S. President.”)
ECONOMIC TEAM
With the economy to be a top concern early in his presidency, Obama’s first post-election announcements focused on members of his economic team. Among them will be Timothy Geithner as secretary of the treasury, pending confirmation.
In turning to Geithner to oversee the financial security of the United States in a time of turmoil, Obama chose a treasury secretary who has already been closely involved with many of the key decisions in the Bush administration’s response to the crisis. As head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Geithner has been the Federal Reserve’s main liaison with Wall Street. The Federal Reserve is the U.S. central bank. (See “President-elect Obama Announces Top Economic Advisers.”)
Calling for fresh ideas and perspectives on the U.S. economic situation, President-elect Obama also created the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board to provide outside expertise and advice. The board will be chaired by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, and its chief economist and staff director will be Austan Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago. (See “President-elect Obama Forms New Economic Advisory Board.”)
As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is the United States' top diplomat.
NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM
Obama’s national security team will feature some familiar faces, among them Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton.
Obama asked current Secretary of Defense Gates, who helped shape U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, to remain in his post. Obama said Gates and the U.S. military will be asked to responsibly end the war in Iraq “through a successful transition to Iraqi control,” and to “ensure that we have the strategy — and resources — to succeed against al-Qaida and the Taliban.”
New York Senator Clinton was Obama’s principal rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, then campaigned on his behalf after he became the party’s nominee. She was first lady of the United States between 1993 and 2001.
If confirmed, Clinton would be Obama’s chief foreign policy adviser as well as the top diplomat representing the United States on the world stage. Clinton would manage the 260 embassies, consulates and other U.S. posts in 188 countries as well as oversee U.S. international assistance programs.
“Hillary’s appointment is a sign to friend and foe of the seriousness of my commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances,” Obama said. “There is much to do — from preventing the spread of nuclear weapons to Iran and North Korea, to seeking a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, to strengthening international institutions.”
Obama also announced Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as his choice for secretary of homeland security, former Marine Corps General James Jones as his national security adviser and Susan Rice as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. (See “National Security Team Announced by Obama.”)
OTHER ADVISERS
During the transition, Obama has stressed his commitment to science, technology and curbing climate change.
Among those who will lead the way on scientific and climate issues is Secretary of Energy-designate Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. Other scientists will play a role in numerous Obama administration offices. (See “Obama Announces Science and Technology Team.”)
The President’s Cabinet picks are diverse. They include two Republicans, five women, three Hispanics, three African Americans, two Asian Americans and an Arab American.