Who Is Defense Secretary Nominee Robert Gates?

Nov. 8, 2006 — -- By choosing Robert Gates as his nominee for defense secretary, President Bush invited speculation that he was looking for major changes in his Iraq policy.

Such speculation is inevitable because of Gates' close association with former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, a sharp critic of the Iraq war.

Gates served as deputy to Scowcroft in the early years of the presidency of Bush's father, George H.W. Bush.

Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane, now an ABC News consultant, said Gates "will bring a new perspective on Iraq."

A short time later at the White House, with Gates and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld standing beside him, President Bush used similar words, saying Gates would "provide the department with a fresh perspective and new ideas on how America can achieve our goals in Iraq."

The president noted that when Gates interviewed for the top job at Texas A&M University, "he described himself as an agent of change."

Gates is a member of the Baker-Hamilton Commission, also known as the Iraq Study Group, which will make recommendations on U.S. policy toward Iraq.

Bush noted today that Gates had visited Iraq and spoken to U.S. commanders and troops.

Rumors have circulated for weeks in Washington that the commission will urge the president to begin a staged reduction of American troops.

Should those rumors prove true, Rumsfeld might have a hard time carrying out what could be seen as a repudiation of present policy.

Fairly or unfairly, Rumsfeld's critics view him as rigid and resistant to compromise.

Because Gates has long been out of government, he is not personally connected to Iraq policy. He was not eager to leave his post as president of Texas A&M University.

Early last year, Gates said that he'd been asked to accept the new position of "intelligence czar," director of national intelligence.

Gates wrote that he "wrestled with perhaps the most difficult -- and close -- decision of my life, and last week declined the position."

He later said he "had nothing to look forward to in D.C., and plenty to look forward to at A&M."

Now, Gates has changed his mind.

But running the Pentagon is a very different job from heading the nation's intelligence effort. Gates has already done that, serving as director of the CIA in the early '90s.

As defense secretary, if confirmed, he would help the president make policy.

The chances that the Senate will confirm his nomination are excellent, even if the Democrats take control of Congress as seems likely based on present vote returns.

Many in Congress, including some Republicans, have said they suffer from "Rumsfeld fatigue."

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said "if the vote of [Tuesday] night from all over America did not accomplish anything but this [Rumsfeld's departure], it was a good night."

Reid said that he felt "the country is going to be well served with the new secretary of defense. I look forward to working with that person."

House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi said, "I welcome the change. I think it will give us a fresh start to finding a solution to Iraq rather than staying the course."

Republican Sen. John McCain noted that he had differences with Rumsfeld.

While thanking Rumsfeld for his service, McCain said he believed the president had done the right thing in bringing Gates on board.

In terms of their personalities, Gates may prove to be less confrontational than Rumsfeld.

In private, Rumsfeld can be charming, but his public persona is often abrasive.

Gates is regarded as more easygoing, but associates who knew him during his Washington years say he also has a tough side.

He will need it if he is going to deal with America's challenges, especially in Iraq.