WASHINGTON (AP) — President Clinton has chosen former Rep. Norman Mineta of California as commerce secretary, making him the first Asian-American Cabinet secretary, administration officials said Thursday.
The president planned to announce the nomination in an Oval Office ceremony.
Mineta would succeed William Daley, who is leaving July 15 to run Vice President Al Gore's presidential campaign.
Mineta served 21 years in Congress. He quit in 1995 and became a senior vice president at Lockheed Martin.
The president also has selected a career intelligence officer to serve in the No. 2 spot in the CIA, Director George Tenet announced Thursday.
Clinton designated John E. McLaughlin, 58, as acting deputy director of central intelligence. He succeeds Air Force Gen. John Gordon, who was sworn in Wednesday as director of the new National Nuclear Security Administration in the Department of Energy.