Secretary of State: Hillary Clinton

The former First Lady will take over from Condoleezza Rice as chief diplomat. She also becomes the highest ranking cabinet member and fourth in the presidential line of succession. Clinton has to put aside her own Presidential ambitions and try to maintain the global goodwill that exists towards America in the wake of Obama's victory. Her job will also involve negotiations ­ in co-operation and conflict ­ with the likes of Iran, China, Pakistan and India. Some right-wing critics are angered by this most obvious return to Clinton-style governance, and point out that she has no foreign policy experience. But as the Atlantic points out, America's international reputation little to lose after eight years of George Bush.

FIRST POSTED JANUARY 6, 2009