Dem sources: Bill Clinton offers concessions to help Hillary get post John Byrne

Published: Wednesday November 19, 2008





Print This Email This Former president Bill Clinton has proposed several concessions on his current and future activities in an effort to smooth the way for his wife to become Secretary of State, according to reports Wednesday.



Clinton has consented to disclosing the names of major donors to his charitable foundation and will allow the Obama administration to review speeches and foundation activities before they occur.



"They also said that Clinton would step away from day-to-day responsibility for his foundation while his wife serves and would alert the State Department to his speaking schedule and any new sources of income. The Democrats spoke only on grounds of anonymity because of the private nature of the Cabinet-selection process," AP reported.



Even so, Sen. Clinton hasn't yet decided to take the job.



"Sen. Clinton's aides say she hasn't decided to take the secretary of state job even if the vetting hurdles were cleared," the Wall Street Journal said. "She is weighing whether she'd rather stay in the Senate to pass the universal health-care program that has been a centerpiece of her public career. After being "excited" about the prospect raised by Mr. Obama, said one adviser, Sen. Clinton is now grappling with the pros and cons in discussions with her husband, daughter Chelsea and close aides. As the adviser said, she would have to be subordinate to other personalities, rather than having her own voice as New York's senator."



The Clintons have retained a team of lawyers to deal with requests and negotiations from Obama's transition team.



"Aides familiar with the negotiations said the vetting has gone smoothly and both Clintons had been fully cooperative with the process," AP said. "One Clinton adviser noted that former President George H.W. Bush has given paid speeches and participated in international business ventures since his son, George W. Bush, has been president  without stirring public complaints or controversy about a possible conflict of interest."



"Im certain President Clinton will do whatever it takes, which means whatever President-elect Obama wants, to make the nomination acceptable, if he offers and she accepts," said Lanny Davis, former special counsel in the Clinton White House and a family friend, to the New York Times on Wednesday.



"I'll do whatever they want," President Clinton said at a Wednesday appearance. He said the same at a Wednesday ceremony renaming New York's Triborough Bridge after Robert F. Kennedy.





