Obama Cabinet and Key White House Staff
7. Gary Locke (D) - Secretary of Commerce
Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, Seattle
Former Governor, Washington
Former Chair, Democratic Governor’s Association
Nominated: February 25, 2009
Obama’s comments:
“Gary will be a trusted voice in my cabinet, a tireless advocate for our economic competitiveness, and an influential ambassador for American industry who will help us do everything we can—especially now—to promote it around the world.
“I’m grateful he’s agreed to leave one Washington for another, and I look forward to having him on my team as we continue the work of turning our economy around and bringing about a stronger, more prosperous future for all Americans.”
Others’ comments:
“(Locke) was briefly linked to the scandal over foreign contributions to President Bill Clinton’s 1996 campaign. In July 1998, (Locke) gave a deposition to the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight about his relationships with questioned Clinton donors. But the committee later said the deposition produced no evidence that Locke knowingly accepted illegal campaign donations.
Locke denied any wrongdoing, and he subsequently returned some checks tied to people implicated in the fundraising scandal, including $750 from John Huang. Huang, a former Commerce Department official (and) the Democratic Party’s chief fundraiser for the Asian-American population in the 1996 elections. Huang became one of the central figures in the national Democratic Party fundraising scandal.
“In December 1997, Locke’s political committee was fined a maximum $2,500 by state regulators after it admitted breaking campaign finance laws during two out-of-state fundraisers in 1996.”
—Associated Press
“Chris Vance, (Washington) state Republican Party chairman [in 2003, when Gary Locke announced he would not run for reelection as governor], said that while Mr. Locke, who had served in public office in the state for more than 20 years, was an excellent state legislator, ‘he was a miserable governor.’
“‘He’s famous for never making a decision, never taking a risk—he’s allowed things to drift,’ Mr. Vance said.
“Mr. Locke’s supporters say that while he might have been more reserved early in his tenure, he had evolved into a shrewd executive who, faced with a $2.4 billion budget shortfall [in 2003], wrestled the Legislature into balancing the budget while protecting social services and refusing to raise taxes.
“The son of Chinese immigrants, Mr. Locke grew up in public housing in Seattle and graduated from Yale. He won both of his elections by nearly 20 percentage points.”
—The New York Times
“The Yale-educated lawyer and Eagle Scout built a reputation in Olympia and King County government as a studious, hardworking administrator with a keen mind for numbers and an encyclopedic grasp of state laws.
“Port of Seattle Commission Secretary Lloyd Hara said Locke was an ‘outstanding’ choice due to his long history of working with foreign government and large corporations.
‘Gary has been working hard on promoting international trade, especially in China,’ Hara said. ‘He is well liked in China, knows President Hu Jintao and is with a well-connected law firm: Clearly, this would be a coup for the Pacific Northwest, and it also brings added diversity to the Obama Cabinet.’
“Locke’s appointment would be a ‘positive’ for Washington, said Republican former state Sen. Dino Rossi, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2004 and 2008.
“‘Gov. Locke obviously knows the businesses of Washington state and understands our connection to the Pacific Rim,’ Rossi said. ‘He doesn’t have a tremendous amount of business experience, but he worked with business on behalf of his law firm. ... That would also be helpful.’
“The governor [with] a reputation in Olympia for a bland, robotic style, ‘has close to rock star status in China,’ said Washington State China Relations Council President Joe Borich.
“‘His experience as governor promoting the economic well-being of this state, and not just with China, will stand him in good stead,’ Borich said, noting Locke’s heavy involvement with organizing events for Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Washington and his frequent business missions to China as governor.
“From 1983 to 1993, Locke was a popular legislator from a far-left southeast Seattle district. He advocated civil rights for gays, women and minorities. A former deputy prosecutor and lawyer for Seattle’s human rights office, Locke championed victims’ rights and the interests of the mentally disabled and elderly. But he moved toward the political center during his first campaign for governor.
“As Locke’s second term wound down in early 2005, Association of Washington Business President Don Brunell said he was pleased the governor helped pass unemployment insurance reforms and rollbacks of business tax increases. But [Locke] failed to provide needed civil liability reform, Brunell said then. ‘On average, there are more good things than bad,’ Brunell said.”
—Seattlepi.com
Approved: March 24, 2009
Appointment Impact:
“If confirmed by the Senate, Locke would assume control of a large agency with a broad portfolio that includes overseeing many aspects of international trade, the 2010 national (census) and oceans policy.”
—Associated Press
Former Appointee: Judd Gregg (R)
U.S. Senator, New Hampshire
Senior Republican, Senate Budget Committee
Former Governor, New Hampshire
Nominated: February 2, 2009
Obama’s comments:
“When the book is written about Judd Gregg, it will tell the story of a man with his own proud record of service on behalf of the American people. As a businessman, attorney, state executive councilor, congressman, governor in his own right, and now as a senator, he’ seen from all angles what makes our economy work for communities, businesses, and families—and what keeps it from working better. As former chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Judd has been involved in nearly every facet of public policy. And as Commerce Subcommittee chair on the Senate Appropriations Committee, he's already quite familiar with the department I’ve chosen him to lead.
“Judd is famous—or infamous, depending on your perspective—on Capitol Hill for his strict fiscal discipline. It's not that he enjoys saying “no”—although if it's directed at your bill you might feel that way—it’s that he shares my deep-seated commitment to guaranteeing that our children inherit a future they can afford.
“Clearly, Judd and I don’t agree on every issue—most notably who should have won the election. But we agree on the urgent need to get American businesses and families back on their feet. We see eye to eye on conducting the nation’s business in a responsible, transparent, and accountable manner. And we know the only way to solve the great challenges of our time is to put aside stale ideology and petty partisanship, and embrace what works.
“As one of the Republican Party’s most respected voices and skillful negotiators, Judd is a master of reaching across the aisle to get things done. He’ll be an outstanding addition to the depth and experience of my economic team, a trusted voice in my Cabinet, and an able and persuasive ambassador for industry who makes it known to the world that America is open for business.”
Others’ comments:
“Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said while he congratulates Gregg on his nomination ‘the apparent behind-the-scenes deal-making that went on to determine who will fill Senator Gregg’s vacancy is alarmingly undemocratic. Once again, Americans will be represented in the Senate for nearly two years by someone they had no hand in electing.’”
—USA Today
“Lost in the shuffle is the greater dynamic: Gregg himself and the fact that Obama, while talking a good game about bipartisanship, is draining the Senate of the very talent he needs to achieve this goal.
“To a remarkable degree, Gregg has served as a trusted, behind-the scenes consigliore for every leader since the mid-‘90s, from Mississippi’s Trent Lott to Bill Frist of Tennessee and now Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell. He is that Washington rarity: someone who thinks—often out loud— about issues but can also operate privately in giving advice and respecting the discretion of leaders.
“‘It’s a huge loss for the Senate. His institutional knowledge, political savvy, and financial expertise are irreplaceable,’” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine.) ‘But yes, it would make me feel better to have him there.’”
—Politico
Withdrawal: February 12, 2009
Obama’s comments:
Obama: Gregg’s withdrawal came as “something of a surprise.”
“In a statement issued shortly after the news broke, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs put the onus of the mishap squarely on Gregg’s shoulders, saying the New Hampshire Republican was the one who had ‘a change of heart.’
“‘Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce,’ the statement read. ‘He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways.’”
—The Huffington Post
“[Gregg’s] past record on census matters—and a White House plan to deal directly with the census director—kicked up a political maelstrom around Gregg. And it may have just been the tip of the iceberg.
“The day his nomination was announced last week, the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials raised concerns about Gregg’s fight with Clinton over census funding when he was chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the Commerce Department and his votes in favor of a GOP budget that aimed to abolish the department.
“A senior White House official told Congressional Quarterly the next day that the census director would report to the West Wing—a policy later clarified as a plan for the census director to ‘work closely with’ senior White House aides.
“Republicans cried foul, accusing Democrats of politicizing the national head count by putting it in the hands of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel , an expert in district-level electoral politics.
“At that point, there was no solution to the problem that wouldn’t find either Gregg or Obama ceding valuable partisan political turf, an outcome counter to the bipartisanship demonstrated in Obama’s choice of the Republican Gregg.
“New York Rep. Yvette D. Clarke , a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, indicated that even the White House work-around on the census was not enough to assure her that Gregg’s philosophical differences with Obama would not cause heartburn on numerous other issues.
“She noted that the Commerce Department oversees the International Trade Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency, and said Gregg’s ‘record on inclusiveness was not one that was stellar.’
“A former governor and House member elected to the Senate in 1992, Gregg said he will finish out his term but is unlikely to seek re-election in 2010.
“His brief flirtation with the administration prompted Democratic Gov. John Lynch to announce he would appoint Republican J. Bonnie Newman to succeed Gregg upon his confirmation, but Newman now has to return to the sidelines, since her state’s Senate seat will not be vacated.”
—CQ (Congressional Quarterly) Politics
“In a statement, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said ‘Gregg made a principled decision to return and we’re glad to have him. He is among the smartest, most effective legislators to serve in the Senate—Democrat or Republican—and a key adviser to me and to the Republican Conference. It’s great to have him back.’”
Withdrawal Impact: Nomination of Gary Locke as Secretary of Commerce
Former Appointee: Bill Richardson (D)
Governor, New Mexico
Former Secretary of Energy, Clinton Administration
Former Ambassador to the United Nations
Nominated: December 3, 2008
Obama’s comments:
Bill Richardson is a “leading economic diplomat for America.”
“I know that Bill will be an unyielding advocate for American business and American jobs, at home and around the world. And I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”
Withdrawal: January 5, 2009
Obama’s comments:
“Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office.
“It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time.
“Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson’s decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration.”
Other’s comments:
“Oh sure, Richardson is presumed innocent, and there is every expectation the facts will lead to that conclusion. The puzzle is how a veteran congressman, a former U.N. ambassador, a former energy secretary and sitting governor with credible presidential aspirations drew the eyes of federal investigators.
“Richardson is caught up in a pay to play scandal that only varies from the mess in Illinois in the details. A company specializing in helping governments and nonprofits secure competitive bids from banks and insurance companies made contributions of at least $110,000 to Richardson's political-action committee. The company subsequently received lucrative fees for work on a state bond-financing deal. Was there a connection?
“The governor and his cohorts have the grave misfortune to be in the orbit of a crime that has raised nationwide suspicions of pay to play practices in municipal bond markets.
“News of the federal investigation into Richardson’s relationship with a suspect company was reported by the Albuquerque Journal in August. In 2004, The Associated Press reported that expenses for Richardson and his staff to attend the Democratic National Convention were heavily funded by companies that did business with the state.
“None of this apparently bothered or was known to those vetting Richardson for Obama’s Cabinet. Richardson’s late, abrupt withdrawal is not explained.
Richardson would have been a welcome, experienced addition to Obama’s inner circle of advisers and administrators. The president-elect has too much on his mind and public agenda to humor a political ally through wherever the grand jury investigation leads. Replacements are readily available.
“Richardson’s withdrawal stirs anger and frustration. A political talent on the injured-reserve list—and maybe lost to the team.”
—Seattle Times Op-Ed
Withdrawal Impact:
Nomination of Judd Gregg as Secretary of Commerce
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