First appointment.
Obama Reaches Out to Emanuel in First Step Toward Building Transition TeamSources tell FOX News that Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel has accepted the job of White House Chief of Staff in the Obama administration.
FOXNews.com
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
With nearly two years of campaigning for the White House now behind him, President-elect Barack Obama has only 11 weeks to build an administration that will be ready to govern when he is sworn in on January 20.
It's an arduous task that will define Obama's presidency, and it will require a smooth transition with the Bush administration.
Obama took his first step in building his team on Wednesday when he offered Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel the job of White House Chief of Staff, a role that Emanuel accepted, sources tell FOX News.
Among the challenges Obama's team will confront are the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and the $1.5 trillion budget deficit he will inherit from the current administration. For this reason, his nominee for Treasury Secretary will be viewed with greater scrutiny than usual, and will likely require a person with wide name recognition and credibility in business.
Former Deputy Treasury Secretary and president of Harvard University Larry Summers has been mentioned as a possible contender for the Treasury job.
But first, Obama must create the transition team that will help him build his administration. Former Bill Clinton chief of staff John D. Podesta, Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett and Obama's Senate chief of staff, Pete Rouse were named as his team's leaders Wednesday.
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http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/05/president-elect-obama-faces-difficult-transition-period/
