Glickman Chosen for Agriculture Dept. : Cabinet: Kansan is nominated to run huge agency under pressure to downsize and reduce farm subsidies. He hints that he’ll resist some changes.

President Clinton on Wednesday nominated Rep. Dan Glickman to head the Department of Agriculture, thrusting the Kansas Democrat into the center of a debate over how much to cut an agency that distributes huge farm subsidies but has powerful congressional protectors.

Introduced by Clinton in a Rose Garden ceremony, Glickman acknowledged the pressure for further budget reductions at the 130-year-old department, calling it “a challenge I welcome.”

“Agriculture is not, and should not, be immune to change,” he said.

At the same time, he hinted he would resist some changes, saying: “It is important that we not overlook agriculture’s many, many successes, its unique contributions to our economy and our culture.”

Glickman, 50, who was defeated for reelection in November after 18 years in the House, will replace Mike Espy, who resigned amid an independent counsel’s investigation of gifts and other benefits he received from USDA-regulated companies. Espy has insisted that he did nothing wrong.

The fourth-largest federal agency, the Agriculture Department is in the throes of a reorganization that is supposed to close one-third of its field offices and could trim as much as $3.6 billion from its annual budget. But amid general calls for more aggressive government downsizing, many in Congress are pushing for a more radical restructuring. Reductions in the agency’s $10-billion annual farm subsidy program are under serious consideration.

The nomination, expected to win easy congressional approval, will place Glickman squarely between budget-minded reformers and powerful lawmakers who want to protect long-sacred farm entitlements. Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.), is expected to face resistance in his effort to bring about reform--especially from Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) and, to some extent, Rep. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), the new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

The fight will be joined when Congress goes to work on a five-year reauthorization of omnibus farm legislation that will set federal policy on farm subsidies, nutrition and environmental programs.

The political challenge for Glickman, according to several congressional aides, will be to find a way to take part in the reform drive while remaining positioned to challenge the Republicans’ dedication to reform if--as many expect--the subsidy-cutting effort stalls. Glickman “has a chance to score some points for the Administration,” one aide said.

In his Rose Garden remarks, Clinton said that Glickman, who had high hopes of winning the post two years ago, had been a “leading spokesman” for the industry in his long service with the House Agriculture Committee and a “key architect” of the last four farm bills.

“I am confident that Congressman Glickman will not only carry on the innovations begun by Secretary Espy, but break new ground in our efforts to increase farm exports and bridge the differences between rural and urban members of Congress,” he said.

But the pressures on Glickman also were clear, as Lugar told reporters that he would press the new secretary for a re-examination of the subsidy program, as well as costly federal disaster-relief programs. Lugar said he would press for completion of the Agriculture Department reorganization.

Lugar said he would ask Glickman to explain in his confirmation hearings why the subsidy programs are worthwhile. His own views, Lugar added, “are that we should be probably doing much less government subsidy.”

Lugar contended that much remained undone in the Agriculture Department downsizing, which is supposed to close 1,274 of the agency’s 3,000 field offices. “Not much downsizing has occurred, even though large claims have been made for savings,” he said.

While the Clinton Administration has taken credit for savings, Lugar said, it has yet to explain how it would downsize the 125,000-employee agency from 43 to 29 departments.

Some congressional aides said it was still unclear how far Glickman would push for agency reform, noting that over the years the Kansan has pushed for some changes but resisted others. In 1985, for example, he backed a new approach--but not a dismantling--of the farm supports system. In 1990, he promoted a bill to consolidate the Agriculture Department’s field offices, and cut its paperwork requirements for farmers.

Dole’s support for Glickman was also important in his selection for the post, aides noted.

Glickman, who has chaired the House Intelligence Committee for the past two years, is a Wichita native whose grandfather immigrated from Russia to run a scrap metal business. His upset election defeat was caused in large measure, he has acknowledged, by the strong anti-Clinton feeling in his home state.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Daniel Robert Glickman

* BIRTH DATE: Nov. 24, 1944.

* EDUCATION: Bachelor of arts, University of Michigan, 1966; law degree, George Washington University, 1969.

* EXPERIENCE: Trial lawyer, Securities and Exchange Commission, 1969-70; member, Wichita, Kan., School Board, 1973-76; elected to House of Representatives in 1976; chairman, House Intelligence Committee, 1992-94; lost bid for reelection to 10th term, 1994.

* FAMILY: Wife, Rhoda, is executive director of Congressional Arts Caucus; two children, 25-year-old Jon and 22-year-old Amy.