U.S. Secretary of State Nominations, Present and Past

Another Republican, Chuck Hagel, is now nominated by a Democratic President Barack Obama to be the Defense Secretary. He is to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. He may have a difficult time going through the confirmation hearings, but another man, up for a higher political office is John Kerry. John Kerry, Democrat from Massachusetts  will replace Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State. Prior to Hilary since 1898, there were 30 prior Secretary's of State...John Kerry will become the 68th Secretary of State when his nomination is confirmed by Congress.

Today, another choice by President Barack Obama for CIA Director is John Brennan who is presently serving as Homeland's National Security Advisor...

68. John Kerry (2013-)

67. Hillary Rodham Clinton (2009-2013) (see also Secretary Clinton's site) 
      President served - Barack Obama
66. Condoleezza Rice (2005-2009) (see also former Secretary Rice's Archive site)
      President Served - George W. Bush
65. Colin Luther Powell (2001-2005) (see also former Secretary Powell's Archive site)
      President Served - George W. Bush
64. Madeleine Korbel Albright (1997-2001) (see also former Secretary Albright's Archive site)
      President Served - Bill Clinton
63. Warren Minor Christopher (1993-1997)
      President Served - Bill Clinton
62. Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger (1992-1993)
      President Served - George H.W. Bush
61. James Addison Baker (1989-1992)
      President Served - George H.W. Bush   
60. George Pratt Shultz (1982-1989)
      President Served - Ronald Reagan
59. Alexander Meigs Haig (1981-1982)
      President Served - Ronald Reagan
58. Edmund Sixtus Muskie (1980-1981)
      President Served - Jimmy Carter
57. Cyrus Roberts Vance (1977-1980)
      President Served - Jimmy Carter
56. Dr. Henry Kissinger - (1973-1977)
      Presidents Served - Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford
55. William Pierce Rogers (1969-1973)
      President Served - Richard Nixon
54. David Dean Rusk (1961-1969)
      Presidents Served - John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson
53. Christian Archibald Herter (1959-1961)
      President Served - Dwight Eisenhower
52. John Foster Dulles (1953-1959)
      President Served - Dwight Eisenhower
51. Dean Acheson (1949-1953)
      President Served  Harry S. Truman
50. George Catlett Marshall (1947-1949)
      President Served - Harry S. Truman
49. James Francis Byrnes (1945-1947)
48. Edward Reilly Stettinius (1944-1945)
47. Cordell Hull (1933-1944)
46. Henry Lewis Stimson (1929-1933)
45. Frank Billings Kellogg (1925-1929)
44. Charles Evans Hughes (1921-1925)
43. Bainbridge Colby (1920-1921)
42. Robert Lansing (1915-1920)
41. William Jennings Bryan (1913-1915)
40. Philander Chase Knox (1909-1913)
39. Robert Bacon (1909-1909)
38. Elihu Root (1905-1909)
37. John Milton Hay (1898-1905)

 So what does the Secretary of State do on the job? The Secretary of State travels to all corners of the world to perform the job. The duties as Secretary include acting as the President's representative at all international forums; negotiating treaties and other international agreements, and conducting everyday, face-to-face diplomacy.

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Hilary Clinton expected to Step down in January 2013

With the Bush tax cuts expiring at the end of the year, it's as if the President doesn't have enough on his plate. In another event that should happen at the same time that the Bush tax expire, there should be a change in command when it comes to the position of Secretary of State.
Yes, Hilary Clinton is now expected to retire in January. So now a political guessing game will take place in trying to decide who President Obama will nominate for the position to replace her. Do you think this is precedence to a bid for the White House for Hilary Clinton in 2016? Personally, I do not believe that Hilary will run, especially since she ran against Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2012 and is already at age 65, which means she would have to endure a presidential run in just 3 years at age 68 and fulfill her first term in office as President at age 73. Three candidates that may be considered for the position is Democratic Senator John Kerry, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, and National Security adviser  Tom Donilon. Personally, I believe that President Obama will nominate Susan Rice. As for John Kerry, that would mean a potential loss of a democratic Senate seat for Massachusetts.
So what else is in store for Obama's core national security team? How about speculation that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will step down in mid-2013. Two possible successors for him include his deputy, Ashton Carter, and former Pentagon Security Chief Michele Flournoy, whom if elected to that position would be the very first female defense secretary.

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