Barack Obama’s decision to name Hillary Rodham Clinton as his Secretary of State likely will be viewed as one of the defining moments in the shaping of his administration. But at the heart of the new union between one-time rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination lies the question: Why?

Why would Obama, a man who ran a campaign based on an implicit rejection of the Clinton years, choose a symbol of those very years as his chief diplomat? Why would Clinton, a woman who is used to being the boss, agree to be a cog in the vast Obama machine?

For Obama, picking Clinton accomplishes practical and symbolic goals.

Practically, it’s hard to argue with her credentials or her readiness to represent the US in the world. Neither of the two other people considered for the job — New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry — carried her star power, known and respected throughout the world.

Symbolically, picking Clinton sends a series of fascinating messages. It reinforces the “Team of Rivals” theme that seems to have transformed into conventional wisdom in the month or so since Obama was elected. Picking Clinton shows Obama’s bigness — that his pledge to bring in the best and brightest regardless of their past political entanglements is more than just lip service.

Bringing Clinton in board also serves as an example of the old adage that you keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Bill and Hillary Clinton were certain to be a base of power within the Democratic Party irrespective of whether they were actually part of the Obama Administration. By inviting them in through the front door, Obama is ensuring that he will have some control over America’s preeminent power couple.

... contd.