Albright at State

Reactions to President Clinton's appointment of U.N. Ambassador Madeleine Albright to be Secretary of State:

Cokie Roberts: "It would be unfair to ascribe her appointment to the fact that she's a woman. ... But really, when you go down the list, ... she was also the most obvious person of either sex" ("GMA," ABC, 12/6). Feminist Majority's Eleanor Smeal: "This is the first president that has been elected by a gender gap and we're hopeful, very hopeful, that this will be a real cracking of the glass ceiling all up and down the line" ("Nightline", ABC, 12/5).

Brookings' Richard Haas, discounting gender: "When you looked at all the candidates whose names had been trotted out, each of the others had real political problems of one sort of another. At the end of the day, she was the only one left standing" ("Today," NBC, 12/6).

ABC's Hume: "The president makes history without making waves. She is an experienced foreign policy hand with a compelling life story (12/5). A "bold stroke of history" (Mitchell, N.Y. TIMES, 12/6).

"A great big thank-you to women voters who gave Clinton a second term" (Rauber/Foerstel, N.Y. POST, 12/6). NWPC pres. Anita Perez Ferguson: "We are absolutely delighted. A is for Albright. She was at the top of our list, and we give the president an A on his choice" (L.I. NEWSDAY, 12/6). EMILY's List pres. Ellen Malcolm: "I'm so happy, I'm like a cheshire cat. It's fabulous" (W. POST, 12/6).

Sen. Helms called Albright "a very tough and courageous lady" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/6). Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "She's a good choice ... I've had specific disagreements, but she has earned the respect of ... those of us in Congress, and I'm look forward to working with her" ("Newshour," PBS, 12/5). Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX): "She has credibility and I think she's qualified for the job" ("Crossfire, CNN, 12/5).

"MAIN COMPLAINT": The "main complaint" about her as U.N. ambassador -- "that she turns a deaf ear to the pleas of other nations while she tries to ram through approval of the views of Washington -- surely has enhanced her image in the eyes of President Clinton" (Meisler, L.A. TIMES, 12/5).

It is her "ability to communicate, not her gender" that sets her apart (Matthews, Balto. SUN, 12/6). NPR's Clark: "Albright will have to overcome some obstacles if confirmed ... she's identified with the liberal wing of the Democratic party, and she may have trouble winning the allegiance of conservative Democrats. ... Perhaps, the most frequent criticism of Albright has been that she lacks a strategic vision of foreign policy" (12/5).

SUCCESSOR AT THE U.N.: CNN's Roth noted the "leading contenders" to replace Albright are Rep. Bill Richardson (D-NM) and ex-Asst. Sec/State Richard Holbrooke (12/5). N.Y. TIMES' Mitchell reported Richardson and Holbrooke are "under consideration" for the UN (12/6). W.S. JOURNAL's "Wash. Wire" reports Holbrooke "could get the UN post if he wants it" (12/6). S.F. CHRONICLE's Sandalow writes Holbrooke "emerged" 12/5 as "the leading prospect" for U.N. (12/6).