Bush Makes 4 More Cabinet Picks
'I Knew This Day Would Come ...'
Gov. Thompson: "It's A Humbling Honor"
Sen. Feingold: "It's A Proud Moment For Wisconsin
Madison Magazine Editor Brian Howell On McCallum: 'We Just Don't Know Much About Him'
Thompson Retrospective: Remember Dr. No?
Thompson File: Achievements, History
INTERACTIVE: Cabinet Candidates
Nov. 20: President-elect George W. Bush named Gov. Tommy Thompson to the post of Secretary of Health and Human Services, after weeks of speculation that he'd be part of the Bush Cabinet, as either the HHS secretary or the Secretary of Transportation.
Bush made the announcement Friday morning at a press conference in Washington.
He also nominated Gale Norton, Colorado's former attorney general, as secretary of the interior; Rod Paige, superintendent of schools in Houston, Texas, as secretary of education; and Anthony Principi as secretary of veterans affairs. All nominations must be confirmed by the Senate.
"Tommy has been a creative, conservative, compassionate governor," Bush said. "He's a leader and an innovator ... And he will bring conviction to Washington D.C."
Bush touted Thompson's work in welfare reform and education in his nomination speech.
"Real welfare reform started in Wisconsin and has been duplicated in other states," Bush said. "He's also been a champion of education reform and opportunity for disadvantaged Americans."
In his acceptance speech, Thompson said he was honored as a fellow Republican governor by the nomination.
"I appreciate the confidence he is showing in me," Thompson said.
Thompson took some time to give some insight into his favorite issues during his speech, showing only a hint of his locally well-known public speaking gusto.
"Welfare reform, health care reform, long-term care for seniors, greater opportunities for the disabled, helping the poor find work and helping the working poor find rewards for their efforts, biotechnology -- I am absolutely passionate about these issues," Thompson said. "These are issues I have dedicated 35 years of public service to solving."
Thompson left Madison shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday night to be there, WISC-TV in Madison reported.
Thompson, 59, had returned to Madison Wednesday night after a family trip to Mexico for the holiday. He had left for his trip last Friday, saying that he would not have any official announcements until he returned.
However, officials told reporters last Thursday that Bush had offered the job to Thompson, and Thompson had accepted.
Thompson's Legacy
The Thompson legacy is big and complicated. A lot of it is event-driven and transitory. Some of it is attributable to Tommy as a person. Take a look back at Tommy's career in a special series, which ran last year in Madison Magazine.
Thompson spokespeople declined to comment at that time. Thompson also declined comment specifically on whether he would be leaving Wisconsin, although he did say that thinking about leaving makes him "teary-eyed."
"The president really wants me, and he thinks I can do a good job for him and for the country," Thompson said in an interview. "The con, of course, is that I love you people. I love Wisconsin ... I get teary-eyed just thinking about it."
In addition to being Wisconsin's longest-serving governor in the middle of his unprecedented fourth four-year term, he is also board chairman for Amtrak, the nation's passenger rail service.
Pay Raise
Thompson's salary will take a jump to $157,000 -- that's about $40,000 more than he's made a year as governor.
Thompson's new job description includes overseeing a $423 billion budget, 63,000 workers and more than 300 programs. The secretary has authority over such things as Medicare, Medicaid, ongoing welfare changes, the Food and Drug Administration and, to some extent, Social Security.
Thompson will replace another Wisconsinite, Donna Shalala, former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, who recently accepted the chancellor position at the University of Miami.
