Bill Richardson A Front-Runner for Secretary Of Energy Post
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, May 8) -- Bill Richardson, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is the leading candidate to be President Clinton's new energy secretary, sources tell CNN.
If that happens, sources say, possible successors at the United Nations include former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, Clinton's point man in the recent Northern Ireland peace initiative, veteran diplomat Richard Holbrooke and U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana, ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Richardson, 50, a Democratic ex-congressman who represented a key energy-producing state, New Mexico, and served on the House Commerce Committee, would replace Federico Pena, who has announced he is stepping down this summer.
A source familiar with the situation described reports of Richardson's resignation from the U.N. ambassadorship as "premature." Other sources also say no final decision has been made. Richardson's spokesman, Calvin Mitchell, says the ambassador has not resigned.
If Richardson were to change jobs, he would be free to participate in domestic politics. The U.N. ambassador, attorney general, CIA director and defense secretary are prohibited by law from engaging in such matters.
Barry Toiv, a White House deputy press secretary, says the reports "are at least premature and could turn out to be wrong." Toiv did acknowledge that Richardson "would make a very strong candidate," given his experience in New Mexico, where energy issues play a crucial role in politics.
Sources say Richardson may be considering the Energy post in case he decides to run for governor of New Mexico one day or is chosen as a vice presidential candidate in 2000.
U.N. job a bit restrictive for Richardson
Richardson might be feeling restricted in his role at the United Nations, where he is given little leeway by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. He generally sticks to talking points dictated from Washington.
The restrictive nature of the job at the United Nations is sharply different from what Richardson is used to. Before President Clinton chose him to fill Madeleine Albright's position at the United Nations, Richardson was busy building a reputation as a globe-trotting cowboy, flying from crisis to crisis and securing the freedom of prisoners and hostages.
In 1994 he won the release of a U.S. helicopter pilot shot down by North Korea. A year later, he persuaded Saddam Hussein to turn over two American engineers who took a wrong turn out of Kuwait and ended up in Iraq. He also secured the release of an American missionary who wandered into North Korea from China.
Last October, Richardson traveled to Africa and to get assurances from Laurent Kabila, the new president of Congo, that his government would cooperate with a U.N. inspection team investigating the suspected mass murder of Hutu refugees from Rwanda.
Richardson is seen as more of a free spirit than a buttoned-down diplomat. He has been reprimanded by State Department officials for missing some important U.N. Security Council meeting.
The energy secretary post would let Richardson help shape domestic policy. It would also allow Clinton to replace Pena with another Hispanic.
CNN Correspondent Brian Jenkins and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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