Completing The Team -- Dec. 20, 1996
Bowles Makes His Mark On White House Staff -- Dec. 18, 1996
More Cabinet Choices Could Come This Week -- Dec. 16, 1996
The White House Virtual Library
Clinton Drafts Low-Key Centrists To Lead Second Term
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Dec. 21) -- As President Clinton gears up for a second term, the spotlight is on his new cabinet. But the real driving force in the White House will come from less- known but highly influential senior White House staff.
Consider Bruce Reed, the new director of the domestic policy council.
"No one has had a greater impact on the thinking of the administration or the president," said President Clinton.
Clinton describes Reed as the "intellectual core of the vital center," the moderate "New Democrat" philosophy that helped him win a second term. Clinton now calls this approach his guiding star for the next four years.
"I hope your domestic policy team can serve as a source of new ideas based on old values, and a force for bold action in a new era," Reed said.
Administration sources describe Reed as a key player in a "strategic group" of aides whose influence was felt during the campaign.
Now, having gotten new and more influential jobs, they've moved into some positions that had been held by liberals.
Replacing senior adviser George Stephanopoulos, for instance, is Rahm Emanuel, architect of a more moderate White House agenda on welfare reform, crime, drug policy -- even school uniforms.
Aides say look for more of the same in the second four years. Here are some initiatives the president is likely to make:
- Reforming education, including Republican-friendly ideas like school choice
- Balancing the budget, even opening the door a crack to the possibility of a capital gains tax cut
- Carrying out welfare reform by offering tax benefits to companies that hire welfare recipients
- "Limited" health care reform
- Anti-crime programs
- Family friendly initiatives, attractive to moderates and conservatives, like "V-chips" and TV ratings
During the last election campaign, Republicans often warned that Clinton -- given a second term -- would be a no-holds-barred liberal.
But judging by his new team -- and his own recent statements -- liberals may be in short supply at the Clinton White House.