Clinton Completes Cabinet Picks

President Clinton completed his second-term Cabinet appointments by nominating Transportation Secretary Federico Pena to take over as energy secretary and White House aide Alexis Herman as labor secretary. Clinton also nominated Federal Highway Administrator Rodney Slater as transportation secretary and Andrew Cuomo, eldest son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, as secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The nominations, announced Friday, completed Clinton's Cabinet appointments for his second term with an emphasis on diversity. Pena was picked for energy after Hispanic groups pressured the White House and Herman, director of the White House office of public liaison, was chosen after civil rights groups lobbied for more blacks in the Cabinet.

Nominees Gets Mixed Reviews

Republican senators gave mixed reviews Friday to President Clinton's latest slate of Cabinet nominees, who must win Senate approval. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici said Federico Pena, the current transportation secretary, may run into some trouble during the confirmation process on his nomination for energy secretary. In a statement, Domenici expressed concern that Pena has little or no apparent experience in the major energy department missions. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Alfonse D'Amato said he would support Andrew Cuomo's nomination for housing secretary. Another Republican on the banking committee, Sen. Lauch Faircloth, was not as quick to endorse Cuomo. Faircloth said: "The last thing HUD needs is a Big City liberal at its helm. I will closely scrutinize his nomination."

Clinton Discusses Arms Dealer

President Clinton is vowing better screening of visitors to the White House in the future after expressing regrets over a Chinese arms dealer's involvement in a campaign fundraising event. Clinton was asked by reporters Friday about why Wang Jun, who heads a weapons trading firm owned by the Chinese government, had been to the White House last February for a small private coffee with the president. The president said Wang's presence was "clearly inappropriate." Wang's presence at the gathering that was designed to give Clinton a chance to meet about a dozen big political donors is the latest in a series of campaign fundraising embarrassments. The controversy has triggered a Justice Department probe.

Clinton Battles Calif. Race Law

Opponents of a California measure that would abolish the state's affirmative action program are welcoming President Clinton's support for their cause. White House spokesman Mike McCurry said Friday that the Justice Department has decided to fight the measure and that the president fully supported that decision. A spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union says Clinton's support is a major development in the campaign to beat the ballot initiative. California voters approved it last month, but a federal judge has temporarily blocked it until a trial on its constitutionality.

GOP: Keep Quiet on Gingrich

House Republican leaders are urging their troops to keep quiet about the ethics investigation involving House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Republican Conference Chairman John Boehner faxed a letter to Republicans around the country asking them to wait for a final report from the House ethics committee. Boehner promised that Gingrich would immediately contact them after the committee issues a statement or report. The warning came after revelations that Gingrich has switched attorneys, which could prolong the case. The House is scheduled to vote next month on whether to re-elect Gingrich as speaker for the new Congress. Many Republicans hope the ethics committee will conclude its probe before the vote.

Herman Wins Tough Fight for Labor

Alexis Herman, a White House official who was strongly backed by African American and women's groups, has been nominated to the post of Labor Secretary after a tough battle among three powerful interest groups within the Democratic Party. While labor unions pushed hard for former Pennsylvania Sen. Harris Wofford to get the job, Hispanics lobbied for Rep. Esteban Torres of California. But Herman, who had served as director of the White House public liaison office since 1993, was strongly backed by the National Organization For Women, and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson personally lobbied on her behalf. She is the only black woman nominated to serve in the Cabinet.

Cuomo Has Passion for Homeless

Andrew Cuomo brings to President Clinton's cabinet a famous political pedigree and a passionate belief in helping the homeless and poor. Cuomo was tapped Friday to head up the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he has been an assistant secretary for community planning and development for more than three years. The 39-year-old Cuomo is a political insider as the son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo and the husband of Kerry Kennedy, a daughter of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy. As assistant secretary, Cuomo has strived to help the poor by championing the Empowerment Zone program, which aims to create jobs and provide work training. He also has worked to increase funding for the homeless.

Pena Moves to Energy

Federico Pena will bring to his new job as Energy Secretary four years of experience in the Clinton cabinet and the support of a key political constituency -- Hispanics. Pena, 49, has a long history of public service as mayor of Denver and Secretary of Transportation. But he has limited hands-on background in some of the complex aspects of energy policy, ranging from utility deregulation to managing the nuclear weapon stockpile. Pena had resigned the Transportation post and put his house up for sale, but officials say Vice President Gore convinced him to stay in Washington.

Dole Visits White House

The Christmas spirit brought together two political rivals Friday. Former Republican Senator Bob Dole showed up at the White House to meet with President Clinton. Dole came bearing a Christmas stocking filled with animal treats for the Clintons' cat, Socks, from his dog, Leader. Dole repeatedly attacked Mr. Clinton's character during his quest for the presidency this year but White House spokesman Mike McCurry said the two had a warm visit during an hour-long meeting in the Oval Office. McCurry said the two compared notes about the November election. The president also gave Dole a gift but McCurry declined to say what it was because Dole "might be the kind of guy who waits until Christmas to open his presents."

Clinton's Holiday Duty

President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton played host to children from Washington area elementary schools Friday as part of the White House holiday festivities. Clinton reveled in his annual duty of reading the poem "T'was the Night Before Christmas." One little boy told the president after the reading: "I saw you on TV." Clinton laughed and replied: "I'd be in big trouble if you never saw me on TV." As much as the children were excited at being with the Clintons, they seemed to be even more delighted when the Clintons' cat, Socks, made an appearance at the gathering in the East Room.

< Back > < Contents >  < Home >