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As Bush packs, aides disclose more administration appointments

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January 6, 2001 

AUSTIN, Texas, JAN (AP) - As President-elect George W. Bush packed his belongings in Texas in preparation for his White House move, his aides in Washington announced his selections for key White House positions.

Among them was Mary Matalin, a well-known Republican strategist, political talk show host and former campaign aide to Bush's father. Matalin was tapped as communications director for Vice President-elect Dick Cheney.

Bush's transition team made the staff announcements on Friday as the president-elect traveled to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, where he was to meet with Republican state governors on Saturday.

Bush picked Margaret La Montagne, who served as his education adviser during the presidential campaign, as his domestic policy adviser, said Ari Fleischer, Bush's spokesman.

Albert Hawkins, director of the Texas governor's Office of Budget and Planning, will become the liaison between the Cabinet and the White House. Juleanna Glover Weiss will continue as Cheney's press secretary.

Bush had no public events Friday and spent the morning packing his belongings at the governor's mansion in Austin. A moving van and a smaller truck were parked in front of the mansion.

Some of his things were headed to the Crawford ranch, a sprawling 1,600-acre (640-hectare) spread in a remote part of central Texas where builders just completed Bush's new house.

A much-loved, relaxing getaway for Bush, the ranch probably will continue to serve as a refuge even after Bush moves to Washington.

"I think he's going to make healthy use of the ranch. He enjoys going down there," Fleischer said.

Utility crews were laying cable beside the bumpy, hilly road that leads to the ranch. Workers said fiber optic communication lines were being installed for the ranch.

The rest of Bush's things are headed to Washington. Moving vans will begin to load up on Monday, aides said.

Meanwhile, Fleischer said Bush would review a slew of last-minute executive orders issued by President Bill Clinton. Clinton ordered a ban on logging in federal forests Friday and proposed a reorganization of counterintelligence efforts.

Gov. Dirk Kempthome of Idaho, who opposes the logging ban, and 17 other Republican governors will huddle with Bush at the ranch on Saturday. Bush will talk about the economy and education and show off the ranch and his brand new house, aides said.

Bush plans to return Sunday to Austin for a Monday meeting with Cheney; Donald Rumsfeld, his designated secretary of defense; and Democratic and Republican congressional leaders who serve on defense committees to discuss his proposal to overhaul and modernize the military.