Tom Vilsack

Former Iowa Democratic Governor Tom Vilsack was chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Obama made the announcement that Vilsack was his nominee for the Cabinet position on the morning of December 17, 2008.CNN: Obama picks ex-Iowa governor, Colorado senator for Cabinet Vilsack had been a rumored contender for the post since early October 2008.Newsmax: An Obama Cabinet? Here's a Picture (September 29, 2008) The senate confirmed Vilsack's appointment only hours after the inauguration on January 20, 2009.FOX News: Senate Confirms Obama Cabinet Secretaries (January 20, 2009)

Tom Vilsack is the former two-term governor of Iowa. He was the first Democrat to announce a bid for the 2008 presidential nomination, in late 2006.FOX News: Tom Vilsack Announces 2008 Presidential Bid (November 30, 2006) The centerpiece of his brief campaign was a plan for the development of alternative energy sources.FOX News: Tom Vilsack Announces 2008 Presidential Bid (November 30, 2006) Vilsack dropped out of the race in February 2007, endorsing Hillary Clinton.Reuters: Iowa's Vilsack endorses Hillary Clinton (March 26, 2007)

"If we truly want this country to be strong and secure we need to be less reliant on foreign energy and regimes that want to do us harm. We need to create whole new industries, a whole new economy around energy security and we also have the opportunity to reclaim the moral high ground on issues of climate change and global warming and climate security which we clearly lost when we walked away from Kyoto."—Tom VilsackRolling Stone: I'm Tom Vilsack! Who the Hell Are You? (December 21, 2006)