Retired Marine Corps Gen. James "Mad Dog" Mattis, has emerged as a favored contender for nomination as secretary of defense in the Trump administration, ABC News has learned, winning strong public praise from the president-elect and an endorsement from retired Gen. Jack Keane.
Keane, who met with Trump earlier this week at Trump Tower, told ABC News that he recommended Mattis and retired Gen. David Petraeus to the president-elect as candidates for the job.
Trump met with Mattis on Saturday at Trump's estate in Bedminster, New Jersey, after which Trump said the retired general, who formerly headed the U.S. Central Command, was "the real deal."
Today, Trump tweeted that Mattis "is being considered for secretary of defense."
Federal law requires that defense secretary appointees are at least seven years removed from active duty, so an appointment of Mattis would require a waiver from Congress, if he were nominated and confirmed.
Such an action is not without precedent.
Gen. George C. Marshall, who served as Army chief of staff and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during World War II, needed a waiver to serve as secretary of defense under President Harry Truman. He is believed to be the last defense secretary who needed a waiver.
from ABC News: Politics http://ift.tt/2gbvGAi
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