Since LBJ, New Jersey's representation in the cabinet has declined
By Wally EdgeThe last Democratic President to name someone from New Jersey to his cabinet was Lyndon B. Johnson, who in 1965 had three New Jerseyans in his twelve-member cabinet: Douglas Dillon who had been the Secretary of the Treasury under John F. Kennedy, Nicholas Katzenbach was Attorney General, and John Connor was the Secretary of Commerce. When Connor left in 1967, Johnson named another New Jerseyan, Alexander Trowbridge, to replace him.
Richard M. Nixon named just one New Jerseyan to his cabinet: William Simon, as Treasury Secretary. Simon held the post through the end of the Ford administration. Ronald Reagan named Raymond Donovan as Secretary of Labor, and Nicholas Brady, who served several months as a U.S. Senator, as Secretary of the Treasury. George W. Bush nominated two New Jerseyans to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security: first Bernard Kerik, and then after Kerik’s withdrawal, Michael Chertoff.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Reports that Lisa Jackson could be headed to Washington as Barack Obama's Environmental Protection Agenecy director means that Gov. Jon ... >
Bob Torricelli
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Michael Patrick Carroll
OK, he didn't say precisely that, but when the Chairman of the Budget Committee informs us that governmental spending is the key to prosperity, ... >
Debbie Holtz
Score one for the Governor’s public relations team. For the last few weeks, they have been working overtime to fuel speculation Corzine was being ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am pleased to report the results from the first national poll conducted by Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
The media, which loves headlines and knows little history, is trying to sell President Elect Obama as another Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But that ... >
Joey Novick
When I was eleven, way back in 1965, my family was invited for Thanksgiving to my cousins’ cousins, a Jewish-Italian family who lived in the ... >
Juan Melli
After the entire Star-Ledger editorial board opted to accept the paper's buyout offer, John Farmer, a 26-year veteran of the paper, was tasked ... >
Carla Katz
A couple of weeks ago, my mother, Angelina Katz, did her second debate on behalf of Barack Obama. A debate? My mother? If you knew her, you’d be ... >
Patricia Quattrocchi
A rained out MusicFest this past September has provided Union County with $275,000 in insurance monies. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders ... >
Murray Sabrin
Today the Asinine Watch begins. With so many illiterate statements made about the economy by elected officials in recent days and weeks, it was ... >
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"The confidential agreement with Riccio completed in September and recently exposed by The Star-Ledger of Newark should spur U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie to assign top staffers to uncover the whole story before Christie leaves office. Corzine's settlement is another attempt to sweep the problems from his overlapping personal and public life under the rug. Christie should pull the rug out, and soon." -- An Asbury Park Press editorial run in this morning's newspaper, apparently unaware that Christie's last day was Monday.
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Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
James R. Lambert: Convicted Felon, Head of Authority― ONLY IN NEW JERSEY...AND PENNSYLVANIA
Why can't we find a role for Christie in Washington? ― MIKE KELLY
Christie Gives Notice, and G.O.P. Gains Hope ― DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI
Christie's legcy― THE BERGEN RECORD
Corzine for Treasury? Don't Bet on It.― WASHINGTON POST
Immigrants still in New Jersey― THE BERGEN RECORD
Syndicate
Whitman???
Hey Wally, Christie Whitman was named to GW Bush's cabinet as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
New Jerseyans
Wally-- did Dillon, Connor, or Trowbridge ever stay involved in NJ politics or run for office after their stint in D.C.??
Cabinet
EPA Administrator is not a cabinet post, although Whitman had cabinet rank -- that's different. The only ex-cabinet member to become involevd in NJ politics was Bill Simon, who played a key role in writing Ray Bateman's tax plan during the 1977 gubernatorial campaign. His son was the '02 GOP candidate for Governor of California against Gray Davis. And John Connor's son, Geoff Connor, ran for Congress against Milicent Fenwick and served in Jim Florio's cabinet.
Now thats the Wally we know
Now thats the Wally we know and love.