Clinton Keeps Options Open On New Cabinet

Clinton, known to have an eye on his place in history, will be eager to use the opportunity to bring a whiff of excitement into a second term that has been welcomed on a rather flat note.

Secretary of state Warren Christopher became the first cabinet official to formally leave on Thursday. The cause of peace and freedom and decency have never had a more tenacious and tireless advocate, Clinton said in a White House ceremony to announce the resignation.

Christopher, who has logged more than 700,000 miles as the most travelled secretary of state in four years, will visit China to lay the groundwork for a Sino-US summit next year before his resignation becomes effective next January.

 

Defence secretary William Perry, commerce secretary Mickey Kantor, energy secretary Hazel OLeary and transportation secretary Frederico Pena are also expected to to leave in January. Chief of staff Leon Panetta may depart even sooner to help his successor pick the Presidents next team.

The mass exits, although not unusual in a second term, have come with surprising haste. The cabinet officials are leaving for reasons ranging from fatigue (Christopher and Perry), to boredom (Kantor), to being the subject of investigations (OLeary) and because of unsatisfactory performances (Pena). More resignations are expected to follow.

Clinton, who was scheduled to leave for a six-day vacation in Hawaii, has postponed his trip to next week. He President is now concentrating on filling key position, especially the slot of chief of staff.

Although Washington is abuzz with politicos and analysts playing the naming game, the President is not expected to announce replacements until next week.

Accepting Christophers resignation. Clinton hinted that he was keeping all his options open, including the possibility of reaching out to tap a Republican for a senior slot. I want to cast a wide net, he said.

At least one big fish may escape the net. Retired general Colin Powell is reportedly wildly popular within the White House as a possible secretary of state or defence but is unlikely to consider an offer.

Powell, who toyed with the idea to run for the Republican presidential nomination, will probably be reluctant to rule out a bid for the presidency in the year 2000. It would be difficult for him to wage a tough fight against a Democratic rival if he accepted a job in the Clinton administration. Other Republican names being tossed around are Senate foreign relations committee chairman Richard Lugar and retiring Maine Senator William Cohen.

A Republican nominee could help clear the way in the Senate for other Clinton appointees. On the other hand, the Democrats may be wary of completely trusting a Republican in the Cabinet.