Nomination and Confirmation Process

Mr. Gray and Mr. Hamilton discussed the stages in the executive appointment process and its advantages and disadvantages. They also took audience questions, faxes and electronic mail. Mr. Gray was White House counsel 1988-1993 and Mr. Hamilton counsel for nominations and confirmations for the Clinton/Gore transition team. They spoke on the more challenging nominations such as Supreme Court Justice Thomas end the failed Attorney General nominations of Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood. Other issues included the background process to selecting a nominee, selecting the number of staff in the government, who needs Senate confirmation, who worked on the transition team and the whole process of when a nominee is selected to confirmation. Callers spoke on reputations of nominees and how they are scrutinized. close