Embassy of the United States

The Presidential Transition | Forming the next government

President-elect Barack Obama will not take office until January 2009, but his work already has begun.  The inauguration ceremony will take place on January 20, 2009 in Washington D.C

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton    Secretary Clinton delivers welcome address at U.S. Department of State Remarks Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton Washington, DC [view video] January 22, 2009   SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you all so much. Well, I am absolutely honored and thrilled beyond words to be here with you as our nation's 67th Secretary of State. And I believe, with all of my heart, that this is a new era for America...more

Hillary Clinton appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee January 13.   Hillary Clinton Seeks to Renew U.S. Leadership Through Diplomacy Secretary of state nominee cites Obama administration foreign policy goals By Michelle Austein Brooks Staff Writer January 13, 2009 Washington — Hillary Clinton says that as secretary of state she would work to “renew America’s leadership through diplomacy that enhances our security, advances our interests and reflects our values.”...more

• Sen. Clinton’s Opening Statement at Senate Confirmation Hearing

Barack Obama’s Cabinet Selections Complete   Obama has made his Cabinet selections more quickly than did many of his predecessors.   By Michelle Austein Brooks Staff Writer December 30, 2008 President-elect Obama chose his Cabinet quicker than many of his predecessors. On December 1, Obama named Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, as well as his picks for attorney general, homeland security secretary, defense secretary and national security adviser...more

Bill Richardson Selected as Obama’s Commerce Secretary     President-elect Obama says Governor Bill Richardson will be “a leading economic diplomat” as secretary of commerce.   New Mexico governor would promote increased U.S. international trade By Stephen Kaufman Staff Writer December 3, 2008 President-elect Obama’s choice for secretary of commerce, a job Obama describes as being “a leading economic diplomat for America.” Speaking in Chicago December 3, Obama said that, along with active commerce among U.S. states, America’s robust participation in the global economy is key to its economic recovery, and Richardson “understands that the success of today's business, in Detroit or Columbus, often depends on whether it can sell products in places like Santiago or Shanghai.”...more

Obama Announces His Choice for U.S. Attorney General     Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, foreground, and President-elect Obama   Holder would be the first African American to hold highest U.S. legal job By Stephen Kaufman Staff Writer December 1, 2008 Washington — President-elect Barack Obama has selected Eric Holder for the job of U.S. attorney general. “Eric Holder has the talent and commitment to succeed as attorney general from his first day on the job, which is even more important in a transition that demands vigilance,” Obama said in a December 1 press conference in Chicago. “He has distinguished himself as a prosecutor, a judge and a senior official, and he is deeply familiar with the law enforcement challenges we face — from terrorism to counterintelligence; from white collar crime to public corruption.”...more

National Security Team Announced by Obama     Obama and Clinton, former Democratic primary rivals, will now be working closely together to advance U.S. foreign policy interests.   Clinton picked for secretary of state, Gates to stay on at Pentagon By Stephen Kaufman Staff Writer December 1, 2008 Washington — President-elect Obama has announced choices for his national security team, calling for “a new dawn of American leadership.” Speaking in Chicago on December 1 with Vice President-elect Biden, Obama named Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as his choice for secretary of state, asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay on and chose former Marine General James Jones as his national security adviser...more

President-elect Obama Forms New Economic Advisory Board     Paul Volcker was chairman of the Federal Reserve under Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.   Volcker and Goolsbee to lead experts in assessing financial policies By Stephen Kaufman Staff Writer November 26, 2008 Washington — Calling for fresh ideas and perspectives on how to respond to the U.S. economic situation, President-elect Barack Obama created the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board to provide outside expertise and advice on federal economic policies. The board will be chaired by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, and its chief economist and staff director will be Austan Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago...more

President-elect Obama Selects Federal Budget Director     President-elect Obama says Peter Orszag, left, and Robert Nabors, right, will be closely reviewing how tax dollars are spent.   President-elect says budget review essential to funding economic recovery By Stephen Kaufman Staff Writer November 25, 2008 Washington — President-elect Barack Obama announced his choices to run the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), selecting Peter Orszag as director and Robert Nabors as deputy director, and said his administration would be closely reviewing the federal budget to make it “more efficient and more effective at serving the American people.”...more

President-elect Obama Announces Top Economic Advisers   President-elect Obama says his economic team will offer “sound judgment and fresh thinking” to respond to the financial crisis.   Treasury Secretary-designate Geithner would oversee U.S. financial system By Stephen Kaufman Staff Writer November 24, 2008 Washington — Responding to what he describes as “an economic crisis of historic proportions,” President-elect Barack Obama announced key members of his economic team, including Timothy Geithner as secretary of the treasury, his first official Cabinet nomination...more

The Future Cabinet Key posts and the president-elect’s choices to fill them

State Learn More Treasury Learn More Defense Learn More Justice Learn More Interior Learn More Agriculture Learn More Commerce Learn More Labor Learn More Health and Human Services Learn More Housing, Urban Development Learn More Transportation Learn More Energy Learn More Education Learn More Veterans Affairs Learn More Homeland Security Learn More White House Chief of Staff Learn More Environmental Protection Learn More Management and Budget Learn More National Drug Control Policy Learn More U.S. Trade Representative Learn More National Security Learn More

Next Administration's Biographies           Barack Obama Democrat Biography    Joe Biden Democrat Biography    Michelle Obama Potential First Lady Biography

Photo Galleries

Barack Obama Barack Obama will be the United States’ first African-American president. See more of his personal story.     Barack Obama: The Early Years The future president’s early years exposed him to different lands and peoples.     Barack Obama: On the Campaign Trail A powerful address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and subsequent election to the United States Senate launched Barack Obama's national career.

Multimedia

Podcast

The Next Presidency The Obama transition team is beginning its work to prepare for the administration of the 44th president of the United States. Download Now (MP3 - 2MB)   Transcript

Videos

Election 2008, Election Day 1:46   2008 Elections, Witnessing History 2:36

Publication

Barack Obama: 44th President of the United States Barack Obama, elected the 44th President of the United States, has lived a truly American life, and has opened a new chapter in American politics. This publication tells the story of Obama’s life, describes how he captured the presidency, and portrays his vision for the future. It also introduces readers to the Obama family and to the new Vice President, Joseph Biden. View PDF (774 KB) | Get Adobe Acrobat Reader Enlarge Cover

The Presidential Inauguration     Presidential Inaugural Committee Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies  Presidential Inaugurations: "I Do Solemnly Swear…" (Library of Congress)

Useful Links     - Change.gov: Official Website of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team - America.gov: Transition – Forming the Next Government - Senator Website on Presidential Transition