By
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - President-elect Bush has selected Robert Zoellick, who served in previous Republican administrations at the State and Treasury departments, to be U.S. trade ambassador, officials close to the process said Thursday.
Bush was expected to make the announcement later in the day before ending a two-day visit to Washington and returning to his ranch at Crawford, Texas.
Zoellick is a close associate of former Secretary of State James A. Baker III. When Baker was Treasury secretary in the Reagan administration, Zoellick served as an undersecretary of treasury. He later was a deputy secretary of state when Baker headed the State Department in the administration of Bush's father.
The trade representative, who carries the rank of ambassador, is the chief U.S. negotiator in trade talks with other nations. It traditionally has been afforded Cabinet rank, although Bush had previously indicated that his former campaign manager, Don Evans, whom he has said he would nominate to be commerce secretary, would take the lead on trade issues.
Bush advisers who spoke on the condition of anonymity also said the president-elect was near a decision on a new choice for labor secretary. But it was not clear whether a decision would be made in time to announce before Bush heads back to Texas.
Bush's first choice for the labor post, Linda Chavez, withdrew Tuesday in the face of disclosures that she provided shelter and financial support to an illegal immigrant who performed household chores for her.
A leading candidate for the job, Eloise Anderson, former social services director in Wisconsin and California, was interviewed by Bush for the post late Wednesday after being summoned from California.
