Today, President-elect Barack Obama is scheduled to officially name New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as his secretary of commerce, a post that has often gone to business executives. The current secretary, Carlos Gutierrez, is a former Kellogg CEO, and William Daley, who held the spot during part of the Clinton administration, was previously the president and chief operating officer of the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago.
Meanwhile, Richardson, a Tufts alum (A '70, F '71), has a very different background: The former congressman held stints as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as energy secretary under Clinton. These experiences have earned him widespread fame in the energy and foreign policy circles, but he has left less of a footprint in the economic arena.
Especially in the current climate, when cries for energy independence are reaching a fever pitch, and when the turbulent economy demands surgical precision, the expected nomination comes as a bit of a surprise. Richardson, after all, would seem to be the ideal energy secretary. Even a secretary of state offer would not be at all unreasonable.
Still, there's something to be said for political maneuvering. Tapping Clinton for the secretary of state post could go a long way in healing the rifts created by the hard-fought primary battles. And it only makes sense for Obama to put Richardson someplace on the cabinet. The governor's endorsement was very significant for the Obama camp and could have been responsible for a good portion of the Latino votes that the president-elect received, particularly in swing states like Colorado and Virginia.
We also have confidence in Richardson's ability to serve as a steward of American businesses. His economic record in New Mexico is impressive, and in his presidential campaign, he correctly emphasized investments in technology and the protection of the domestic workforce. Whereas the commerce secretary once had the luxury of the focusing largely on domestic affairs, globalization has left American businesses increasingly linked to their foreign counterparts. Richardson has a long track record of negotiating with foreign leaders -- both through the United Nations and during his tenure as governor -- and these skills will be welcome as he works to ensure the security of the American workforce.
At the same time, Obama needs to find a strong pick to lead the charge to energy independence. The volatility of gas prices and the failing auto industry are only two of the visible reminders that the current system is broken and badly in need of repair. While the shallow "drill, baby, drill" mantra rose to the forefront of presidential debates and distracted attention from the substance of energy policy, there is a widespread consensus that the job demands a qualified candidate.
Ultimately, we are happy to see a Jumbo in a cabinet post and have confidence that he will execute his job well. But one question still lingers: Is it the right job? When the political dust clears, time will tell.
