Hillary Clinton joins Obama team as secretary of state

CHICAGO – President-elect Barack Obama on Monday announced Sen. Hillary Clinton as his pick for secretary of state, calling her an “American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence.”

Mrs Clinton pledged to give the job “her all”. “The American people have demanded not just a new direction at home, but a new effort to renew America’s standing in the world as a force for positive change,” she said.

“Hillary’s appointment is a sign to friend and foe of the seriousness of my commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances,” Obama said at a news conference in Chicago, Illinois. “I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton is the right person to lead our State Department and to work with me in tackling this ambitious foreign policy agenda,” he further said.

The current secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, praised Mrs Clinton as an “inspiration” who would “bring enormous energy and intellect” to the role. “And most important I know her to be somebody who has what you need most in this job: which is a deep love of the United States of America.”

Obama also confirmed that he is keeping Defense Secretary Robert Gates in his current post. Rounding out his Monday announcements, Obama named retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones as his national security adviser, Eric Holder as attorney general, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as homeland security secretary and Susan Rice as ambassador to the United Nations.

Those close to Clinton said earlier that the New York senator is “excited” about the job and is taking on the position out of a sense of duty. In assuming this new post, Clinton will have some control of her staffing, like picking the assistant secretaries, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

Clinton, Obama’s former rival for the Democratic nomination, also has been told by the Obama team that they will help her fundraise in the next 60 days to help clear her campaign debt, which is about $6.5 million, the sources said.