Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2009
Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense
Masterfully handling every constituency: Congress, the press, the White House and, most of all, the very complicated building in which he works. Verging on national-treasure status for his efforts to reform Pentagon spending and ably carry out the President's security agenda, just as he did in the previous Administration. Tough but gentle, strong-willed but non-ideological — and destined to stick around for a while.
—By Mark Halperin