Clinton Wants Army Secretary for Veterans Post
President Clinton has chosen Army Secretary Togo West to be secretary of veterans affairs, though he wants approval from key lawmakers and interest groups before nominating him.
West would be Clinton’s second pick to replace Jesse Brown at the helm of an agency that serves 25 million Americans. Longtime Clinton friend Hershel Gober, nominated in July, withdrew his name last month amid allegations of sexual misconduct and questions about the agency’s internal review of the accusations.
Brown left office July 1.
A congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House was running the choice past members of Congress and veterans affairs groups to make sure there were no serious objections to West. Two administration officials, also asking not to be identified, confirmed that Clinton had settled on West pending the consultations.
The White House does not expect anything to block the nomination, which could be sent to Congress in the next few days.
West would become the third black member of Clinton’s Cabinet; Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater and Labor Secretary Alexis Herman are black, as is Brown.
West was a longtime Pentagon lawyer and top lobbyist for the Northrop Corp. when Clinton tapped him for Army secretary in 1993.
West holds engineering and law degrees from Washington’s Howard University.
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