Appointments and Resignations
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Who is Kathleen Sebelius?
Kathleen Sebelius, President Barack Obama’s second choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, is a political moderate who works well with Republicans and possesses wonkish understanding of health policy. But she did little during her time ... read more
Secretary of Commerce: Who is Gary Locke?
If the third time is indeed the charm for President Barack Obama’s latest choice for Secretary of Commerce, then the administration will be getting one of the Democratic Party’s biggest advocates for free trade—and someone whose political career a... read more
Director of Drug Control Policy: Who is R. Gil Kerlikowske?
President Obama’s apparent nominee to be the nation’s new “drug czar,” Robert Gil Kerlikowske, has spent nearly 30 years in law enforcement, including a stint as a narcotics officer and eight years as Seattle’s police chief, during which he downpl... read more
Secretary of Commerce: Who WAS Judd Gregg?
Judd Gregg’s withdrawal as nominee to be Secretary of Commerce does not come as a great surprise. The Republican Senator had blasted the president as “Obama spend-o-rama” when he unveiled his legislative agenda, and once voted to eliminate the Com... read more
National Labor Relations Board: Who is Wilma Liebman?
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was created in 1935 to strengthen the rights of employees to bargain collectively. Its mission shifted dramatically in favor of employers during the presidency of Ronald Reagan and again during the preside... read more
Secretary of Commerce: Who is Judd Gregg?
In selecting Republican Senator Judd Gregg as his second choice for Secretary of Commerce, Barack Obama chose not only a fiscal conservative, but also someone who blasted the president as “Obama spend-o-rama” when he unveiled his legislative agend... read more
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Who WAS Tom Daschle?
On February 3, 2009, Tom Daschle, a 26-year veteran of Capitol Hill, withdrew as Barack Obama’s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services due to revelations regarding unpaid taxes.
Born on December 9, 1947, in Aberdeen, South Dakota,... read more
Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships: Who is Joshua DuBois?
President Barack Obama’s choice for taking over the reconfigured Office of Faith-Based Initiatives (now known as the Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships) is a 26-year-old Pentecostal associate pastor named Joshua DuBois.
Born... read more
Millionaires Step Down to Join Obama Administration
Even at six-figures, some of the members in President Obama’s Cabinet are taking a pay cut when accepting their new jobs. Tuesday, the government released financial reports presenting the assets and salaries of the new appointees, some of whom mad... read more
Geithner Chooses Wall Street Lobbyist as Top Treasury Aide
Tuesday, newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner issued new rules restricting contacts with lobbyists--and then hired one to be his top aide. Mark Patterson, a former lobbyist for Goldman Sachs, will serve as chief of staff to Geithner... read more
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Who is Stuart Ishimaru?
If there is one thing Stuart J. Ishimaru, President Obama’s choice as acting chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is familiar with, it is being in the middle of partisan battles involving federal offices that oversee civil righ... read more
Department of Justice, National Security Division: Who is David Kris?
Created by the reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act in 2006, the National Security Division of the Department of Justice is supposed to coordinate the department’s counterterrorism, counterespionage and intelligence functions. However, it has been e... read more
Export-Import Bank of the United States: Who is Fred Hochberg?
In the wake of Bill Richardson backing out as Secretary of Commerce, gay activists lobbied Barack Obama to select Fred P. Hochberg as a replacement for the post—in the hope of finally having an openly gay member of a presidential cabinet. Instead,... read more
Chairman of the FCC: Who is Julius Genachowski?
A longtime friend of Barack Obama, venture capitalist Julius Genachowski is expected to give the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a direct line to the White House, something the agency has not had in many years. It is also expected that Gen... read more
Director of the CIA: Who is Leon Panetta?
Leon E. Panetta has been many things during his long career. Congressman. President’s right-hand man. Think tank founder. Professor. But none of his roles has ever taken him deep into the realm of intelligence work, which is why many inside and ou... read more
Vice President of the United States: Joe Biden
Joe Biden is a prime example of perseverance. Having endured personal tragedy, survived a near-death episode, and overcome more than a few political mistakes, Biden’s four-decade career as a US senator has now brought him to the White House as vic... read more