Official: Clinton Nomination Coming Monday

Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama will nominate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his secretary of state on Monday.

Obama plans to announce the New York senator and former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination as part of his national security team at a press conference in Chicago, the officials said Saturday. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly for the transition team.

To clear the way for his wife's nomination, former President Bill Clinton has agreed to disclose the names of every contributor to his foundation. He'll also refuse contributions from foreign governments to the Clinton Global Initiative, his annual charitable conference, and will cease holding CGI meetings overseas.

Bill Clinton's business deals and global charitable endeavors had been expected to create problems for the former first lady's nomination. But in negotiations with the Obama transition team, the former president agreed to several measures designed to bring transparency to his post-presidential work.

The Clinton pick was an extraordinary gesture of goodwill after a year in which Clinton and Obama competed for the Democratic nomination in a long, bitter primary battle.

CBS News confirmed last week that Clinton had decided to accept the Secretary of State job.

"In many ways this pairing would seem the most unlikely of the new administration, especially given the often bitter primary battle between the two," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "But the President-elect has emphasized his desire to bring former opponents into his administration and there’s not a better example of this 'team of rivals' approach than this. Whether it works out in the long run is the $64,000 question."

Some Democrats and government insiders have questioned whether Clinton is too independent and politically ambitious to be an effective secretary of state. But Mr. Obama is said to admire her talents and experience, as do many other Democrats.

But a senior adviser to Mr. Obama said the president-elect believes Clinton would bring instant stature and credibility to U.S. diplomatic relations and that the advantages to her serving far outweighed potential downsides.

Print Page

Email This Page

Funeral For Slain Officer Is Today

Retail Sales Rise In February

AP: Woods Likely to Return at Masters

NYC Reaches Deal in Sept. 11 Health Claims

Sen. Reid's Wife, Daughter Injured In Highway Accident

Highway Deaths Drop to Lowest Level Since 1950s

>>> More Headlines

Recent Podcasts

World News Roundup: 03/12/10
Proposed settlement for 9-11 rescuers.Health benefits of the PillDoes artificial turf cause more football injuries?CBS News correspondent Nick Young has today's "World News Roundup."

Great Lakes IT Report- 03/12
Bags are packed and Matt Roush is about to set out on his Spring Tech Tour.

Automotive Insight-A 03/12
Trying to find a place to build electric cars? John McElroy says it's a no brainer.

Automotive Insight-B 03/12
John McElroy says there is a possibility that run-away cars may be a problem better addressed to the foot than to the wiring.

>>> More Podcasts