Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack indirectly turned thumbs down on the idea of running for the Senate with words that might also apply to election-season rumors of a possible job as White House chief of staff. “Here’s what I know about myself: I’m an executive. I like making decisions,” Vilsack said during a National Press Club luncheon.
When Press Club president Thomas Burr asked Vilsack about the chief of staff rumors, Vilsack side-stepped the question. “Everyone should be focused on supporting the candidate of their choice and making sure this is an election, at the end of the day, people can be proud of,” he said, before listing the benefits of a well-run government.
“Public service is noble. And I will never apologize for it and I will be proud of it,” said Vilsack, who earlier described his desire to spend time with his four grandchildren in the Midwest. “Anyone with the opportunity to provide public service is blessed.”
That led to Burr’s question if Vilsack might want to run for the Senate from Iowa in the future. “There are people who are really good at legislating,” said Vilsack, but his experience as a mayor, governor and cabinet officer was more satisfying than his tenure as a state senator.
Chatter of a potential White House job for Vilsack arose almost at the same time as he and a number of other Democrats were passed over for the vice presidential nomination by Hillary Clinton. Vilsack is a longtime friend of the Clintons, who prize loyalty, and was an early supporter of Hillary Clinton for president in 2008, after his own run for the nomination flamed out.
While it always burnishes an officeholder’s reputation to be mentioned for a lofty administration post, this is not the first time Vilsack was floated as a chief of staff. In early January 2011, he was reported to be a dark horse candidate as President Obama looked for a successor to Rahm Emanuel, who left the White House to run successfully for mayor of Chicago.
In the end, Vilsack remained as agriculture secretary. He is the only remaining member of the original Obama cabinet and is on track to become the first person since the Kennedy-Johnson era to serve two full terms as agriculture secretary.
To watch a video of Vilsack’s speech at the National Press Club, click here.