Bush team take shape

Dick Cheney: Memories of the Ford administration

President-elect Bush's White House team is taking shape - and as expected, players from his father's administration together with his own campaign advisers figure prominently.

Running mate Dick Cheney is transition chairman. Although the 59-year-old, suffered a heart attack - his third - and underwent bypass surgery in 1988, he has vowed to continue in the post.

Formerly a high-profile member of the US administration, Mr Cheney has been out of the political limelight for much of the past decade.

Ex-lobbyist

Considered a moderate conservative, he is credited with masterminding the US success in the Gulf War, and appears to be widely respected within the Republican Party.

Andrew Card: Adviser and prospective chief of staff

When Gerald Ford named him as his White House chief of staff in 1974, the 34-year-old Mr Cheney became the youngest man in history to hold the post.

Commentators have suggested that Mr Bush would quite likely be a "hands-off" president, leaving Mr Cheney a major role in shaping policy.

Andrew Card, a Bush adviser who was chairman of this year's Republican convention, has been earmarked for a top post.

A former lobbyist for the motor industry, he was transportation secretary for Mr Bush's father, having earlier served in both of Ronald Reagan's administrations.

This time, the 53-year-old, who has been praised for his loyalty and ability to reach across party lines, is set to be chief of staff.

African Americans

The first appointment was retired General Colin Powell, 63, as secretary of state.

Colin Powell: Top soldier during Gulf War

At 52 he became the youngest, and first African American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - America's highest ranking soldier - under the presidency of George Bush senior.

He shot to world fame in 1990 when, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he ran the successful campaign to oust Iraqi forces which had invaded Kuwait.

Since retiring in 1993, he has dedicated himself to improving race relations, and in his frequent lectures to black children he challenges them to fulfil their true potential.

His reluctance to get involved in foreign interventions would match Mr Bush's cautious approach.

Isolationism

Shortly afterwards, Mr Bush appointed Condoleezza Rice as his national security adviser, a post that usually carries cabinet rank.

Condoleezza Rice: Russia expert

Ms Rice, aged 45, a former provost of Stanford University, also served under Mr Bush's father, when she worked on Soviet and East European issues at the National Security Council.

She has advocated the pullout of US troops from the Balkans, and criticised the Clinton administration for supporting too many foreign interventions.

However she is considered less isolationist than some leading Republicans, and persuaded Mr Bush to stop Republican moves in Congress to set a date for a US withdrawal from Bosnia and Kosovo.

Ms Rice has also guided Mr Bush towards acceptance of the controversial national missile defence system, which is intended to provide the US with an anti-ballistic missile umbrella.

Democrats

Because of the closeness of the election result, Mr Bush is thought to be considering appointing some Democrats to his cabinet.

Sam Nunn: Democrat in with a chance

Republican officials have suggested that the Democratic Senator of Georgia, Sam Nunn, chairman of the Senate armed services committee, is a contender for the post of defence secretary.

However, a former undersecretary of defence, Paul Wolfowitz, aged 56, is thought to be another likely Bush appointment.

Now dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, he is a former ambassador to Indonesia.

Richard Perle, aged 59, a hawkish Pentagon official for international security policy under Ronald Reagan, has also been tipped for a job in George W Bush's administration.

Wall Street and big business

One of America's leading businessmen, Paul H. O'Neill, the chairman and chief executive of Alcoa, has emerged as the top contender to become treasury secretary.

Mr O'Neill is believed to have the edge over several former Wall Street chief executives for the post, which traditionally goes to someone in the US financial services industry.

Also being considered are Jack Hennessy, former chairman and chief executive of Credit Suisse First Boston, Walter Shipley, former chairman of Chase Manhattan, and Donald Marron, chairman and chief executive of the Paine Webber stockbroking Group.

Marc Racicot: Buoyed by Florida performance

Mr Mr Bush is thought likely to give his chief economic adviser, Lawrence Lindsey, a top economic job - possibly chairman of the council of economic advisers or chairman of the national economic council.

And Mr Bush's policy director, Josh Bolten, is also tipped for the top trade job - as the US trade representative, a Cabinet level post.

Mr Bolten has worked on trade policy during the previous Bush administration, and then worked for Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs.

However, Mr Bush is believed to be also considering another black businessman for that role, Richard Parsons, president of Time Warner, which is merging with America Online.

For the post of attorney-general, two of Mr Bush's fellow Republican governors are said to be under consideration - Marc Racicot of Montana, and Frank Keating of Oklahoma.

Sources in the Republican camp say Mr Racicot's chances have improved because of his effective role as a Bush spokesman during the recount disputes in Florida.