President Obama has picked Susan Rice to replace Tom Donilon as his new national security adviser, replacing Tom Donilon whose work as national security adviser since 2010 won praise from a president who spoke of " strengthening our alliances" and "enhancing our relationship with key powers."
Donilon praised Obama and thanked him for his appointment, calling it "the privilege of a lifetime."
Obama said Wednesday that she "exemplifies the finest tradition of American diplomacy and leadership."She also assumes a job designed to coordinate national security policies along with the State Department, Pentagon and intelligence agencies. The national security adviser's job does not require Senate confirmation.
Obama also announced Wednesday that he is nominating former National Security Council aide Samantha Power to replace Rice at the U.N., describing her as "one of our foremost thinkers on foreign policy."
Donilon will remain national security adviser until early July, working with Obama on planned trips to Europe and Africa.
Obama had considered Rice for secretary of State late last year, but appointed John Kerry instead, largely centered around the controversy that surrounded the Benghazi attack that killed four Americans, including U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens. Those investigating Benghazi criticized Rice due to television interviews she gave five days after the attack, attributing it to protests over an anti-Islam film. After the administration later called it a pre-planned terrorist assault, some members of Congress accused Rice and others of an attempted cover-up.
Senator John McCain tweeted that while he disagree with the Rice appointment, "I'll make every effort to work with her on important issues."
Power, the nominee to be the new ambassador to the United Nations, also served as his former campaign aide. A White House official and author who has specialized in genocide and human rights, However, she also has made a slew of controversial remarks concerning Israel. Power won a Pulitzer Prize for her 2002 book, A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide.
Power had to leave the presidential campaign in the spring of 2008 after describing then-rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as a "monster" who would stop at nothing to defeat Obama. Power since apologized for the remark.
