Presidents typically say they want to be surrounded by strong-willed people who have the courage to disagree with them. President-elect Barack Obama, reaching out to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republicans, actually might mean it.
Obama is considering Clinton for secretary of state or another senior position, meeting John McCain on Monday to see how his Republican presidential rival might help him in the Senate, and sizing up one-time opponents in both parties for potential recruitment. He made one Democratic presidential opponent, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, his running mate.
Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of "Team of Rivals," a book about how President Lincoln brought foes into his fold, says a true team of rivals is exceptionally difficult to make work in these days of hyperpartisanship, scandal-hungry blogs, and raw feelings between parties and factions of the same party from the often nasty campaign.
Still, she said the even-keeled Obama displayed a temperament in the campaign that could help him pull it off, "and I believe the country would respond with great enthusiasm."
TEAM TAKES SHAPE
CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama has chosen a veteran Capitol Hill aide as his top White House representative to Congress.
Philip Schiliro has worked in Congress for more than 25 years, many of which were spent as a top aide to longtime Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and the House Oversight Committee.
Obama's team also announced that Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice President Al Gore, would serve in the same role for Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and longtime Obama friend and supporter Valerie Jarrett will be a senior adviser and assistant to Obama for intergovernmental relations.
The Associated Press
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