The White House denies it has a "litmus test" for its appointments but concedes Dr. Antonia Novello never would have been named surgeon general if her abortion views clashed with those of President Bush.
Novello's selection as the nation's chief public health officer was announced Wednesday. A pediatrician and expert on AIDS in children, she would be the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold the post if confirmed by the Senate.She would succeed the outspoken C. Everett Koop, who served for seven years.
Her nomination comes amid controversy over White House questioning of candidates for a variety of health positions on their abortion views.
Presidential Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater acknowledged such screening took place, but defended it. "We don't hire people that don't support our policies," he said.
Although the president's own position has changed since 1980 - when he voiced support for the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion - he opposes all abortions except to protect the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.
On the issue of federal funds, his views are more restrictive. Within the past month he vetoed two bills that sought to expand federally financed Medicaid abortions to include cases of rape or incest.
Novello's nomination had been widely reported in advance of Wednesday's announcement. A native of Puerto Rico, Novello, 45, is deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, one of the National Institutes of Health. She is also coordinator for AIDS research.
She is married to Dr. Joe Novello, a child psychiatrist who hosted a talk show on a Washington radio station offering advice for troubled adolescents. Her brother-in-law is Don Novello, the comedian better known as "Father Guido Sarducci."