Clinton Focuses On Filling Cabinet Posts

WASHINGTON (CNN, Nov. 11) -- Before he heads off to Hawaii on Friday, President Bill Clinton hopes to name new secretaries at the Defense Department and the Department of State.

Heading the list at State are retired Gen. Colin Powell, former Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine), and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright.

Under consideration for the top Defense post is retiring Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) and former CIA head John Deutch.

Another Republican besides Powell, retiring Sen. William Cohen (R-Maine), who is believed to be on President Clinton's list of possible cabinet appointments, said the jobs of secretary of state or defense would be tempting, but he expects other GOP competition for those posts.

Cohen said on CNN's "Late Edition with Frank Sesno" that he would have a hard time rejecting the State or Defense positions if offered. But Cohen said he was not interested in taking charge of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Clinton Focuses On Filling Cabinet Posts

Related Stories: