A National Security Team That Looks Like the Nation

This was the first time Obama has allowed his nominees to speak at a news conference announcing their appointment. Timothy F. Geithner and Lawrence H. Summers stood patiently -- and silently -- last week when the president-elect announced they would anchor his economic team.

This had been an unusual trend for Obama, as both George W. Bush and Bill Clinton usually let their nominees make remarks at news conferences, our colleague Glenn Kessler reports.

But yesterday's national security rollout featured some high-wattage political celebrities, and they were not shy for words. Hillary Rodham Clinton was first to take to the podium after her new boss and promptly lowered the twin microphones so they wouldn't obstruct her face.

Transition officials yesterday declined to comment on this first important flip-flop of the young administration-in-waiting.

Security Alert

A turf war is underway that has people around Foggy Bottom asking: Who will protect Madam Secretary?

Hillary Rodham Clinton's nomination to serve as secretary of state creates a unique dilemma regarding her security. Should the Secret Service, which protects all current and former presidents and first ladies, continue protecting Clinton? Or should the Secret Service pass the baton to the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, which protects the secretary, visiting foreign dignitaries and U.S. diplomatic missions abroad?

The Secret Service already knows Clinton and her routine, but if Clinton passes over the Diplomatic Security force she would create immediate tensions at State, where our colleague Ed O'Keefe reports the security issue has been topic du jour among employees.

With Philip Rucker