In The Crosshairs

By Text By Mitch Frank Sunday, Jan. 07, 2001
    • $ DEMOCRATS WON'T PUT UP A FIGHT
    ^ GET READY FOR A SHOWDOWN
    * NOT A FORMAL CABINET LEVEL POSITION

    Moderate
    Norman Mineta
    TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY
    The former Congressman and Clinton Commerce Secretary is Bush's token Democrat. He's liberal but pragmatic

    Colin Powell
    SECRETARY OF STATE
    Moderate and cautious on foreign issues, an advocate for children and minorities at home, he could be the Cabinet's social conscience

    Christine Todd Whitman
    EPA ADMINISTRATOR
    She has had some success protecting public land and cleaning the water, but puts business interests first. The moderate face of Bush environmentalism

    Condoleezza Rice*
    NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
    A Republican ever since President Carter mishandled Afghanistan, Rice is conservative on foreign policy issues, moderate on domestic concerns

    Rod Paige
    EDUCATION SECRETARY
    Like his new boss, he believes in accountability, local control and charter schools. Unlike Bush, he's cautious about school vouchers

    Mel Martinez
    HOUSING SECRETARY
    As a Florida county chairman, Martinez cut property taxes and helped low-income families find housing. He axed the fire chief for not diversifying his staff

    Ann Veneman
    AGRICULTURE SECRETARY
    A strong consumer advocate, Veneman spent her term as California's agriculture secretary stressing free trade

    Paul O'Neill
    TREASURY SECRETARY
    Open-minded and pragmatic, Alcoa's former chairman is not a devout supply-sider. He once supported higher gas taxes, and has good relations with labor

    Conservative
    Anthony Principi
    SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    A Vietnam vet and acting VA Secretary in the first Bush Administration, Principi wants to strengthen veterans' benefits

    Donald Evans
    COMMERCE SECRETARY
    Evans is practical and down to earth. The oil executive will be pro-business. Dems are worried he'll repay all those contributors

    Donald Rumsfeld
    DEFENSE SECRETARY
    Cheney's mentor, he will push hard for missile defense. Will he always see eye to eye with that hero over at the State Department?

    Spencer Abraham
    ENERGY SECRETARY
    He has no energy experience, but he did sponsor a bill to abolish the department. Also opposed tougher fuel-efficiency standards for SUVs

    Tommy Thompson
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
    Wisconsin's pro-life Governor passed strong welfare reform but matched it with better child care and health insurance for poor families

    Gale Norton
    INTERIOR SECRETARY
    A fierce critic of Clinton's drive to protect national monuments, she has called for new drilling in Alaska. The conservative face of Bush environmentalism

    Linda Chavez
    LABOR SECRETARY
    She has criticized minimum-wage hikes, bilingual education, affirmative action and many labor rules. Unions and civil-rights groups are taking aim

    John Ashcroft
    ATTORNEY GENERAL
    He led the fight against a respected black nominee to the federal bench. He's staunchly pro-life. That honorary degree from Bob Jones University isn't going to help