Kissinger backs Hillary for SecState

Posted By Blake Hounshell Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 2:25 PM Share

James Lamont and Andrew Ward for the Financial Times:

Speaking at the World Economic Forum's India meeting, [former U.S. Secretary of State Henry] Kissinger said "I believe it would be an outstanding appointment," if Barack Obama, the president-elect, chose [New York Sen. Hillary] Clinton for the foreign affairs portfolio.
"If it is true [that she is in the running], it shows a number of things, including great courage on the part of the President-Elect. To appoint a very strong personality into a prominent cabinet position requires a great deal of courage."

According to some reports, however, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson are still possibilities for State. And it may well be someone we aren't talking about.

In other transition news, here are the latest appointments. They continue the pattern of putting the White House team in place before moving on to cabinet positions:

Gregory Craig as White House counsel
Pete Rouse as a senior White House advisor
Jim Messina and Mona Sutphen as deputy chiefs of staff

EXPLORE:OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

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7:17 PM ET

November 16, 2008

Just a thought...

Why not a professional diplomat? Someone with a lot of time overseas as opposed to a State Department bureaucrat? With Obama owing so few people (though Hillary is one of those few), he has unusual leeway in avoiding political appointments throughout state.

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