Obama to appoint new chief of staff
2013-01-25 20:07
Washington - President Barack Obama on Friday will name
Denis McDonough, a deputy national security advisor and member of the
president's inner circle, as White House chief of staff, an official said.
Obama was to announce McDonough's appointment at 12:10
along with those of other senior officials, the White House official said on
condition of anonymity.
McDonough, 43, replaces Jack Lew, who has been nominated
to be Obama's new treasury secretary.
McDonough was a top national security aide during Obama's
first term, ultimately serving as number two to National Security Advisor Tom
Donilon.
"In that capacity, Denis has played a key role in
all of the major national security decisions - from ending the war in Iraq to
winding down the war in Afghanistan; from our response to natural disasters in
Haiti and Japan; to the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell’," the official
said.
"As a veteran of Capitol Hill, Denis understands the
importance of reaching across the aisle to make progress for the American
people - whether it's on jobs and economy, health care or education, reducing
the deficit or addressing climate change," the official said.
McDonough, who has a master's degree from Georgetown
University, has been with Obama since he was elected to the US Senate in 2004.
As a member of the National Security Council he was
closely involved in planning and overseeing the commando raid that killed Osama
bin Laden, and can be seen sitting next to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
in the famous Situation Room photograph taken during the operation.
The White House chief of staff is traditionally the
president's closest collaborator, running the administration from the West Wing
of the White House, the nerve centre of the presidency.
Unlike cabinet posts, the chief of staff's appointment is
not subject to confirmation by the US Senate so McDonough, long considered the
favourite for the job, can be expected to quickly assume his new
responsibilities.
He would be the fourth person to hold the prestigious
position during Obama's presidency, after Rahm Emanuel, William Daley and Lew.
Another close Obama aide, Pete Rouse, filled in as chief
of staff on an interim basis between Emanuel and Daley.
The White House was expected to announce the appointments
of nine other senior aides on Friday, including Jennifer Palmieri as
communications director to replace Dan Pfeiffer, who will be named senior
advisor.
