Eagleburger Sworn In as Secretary of State, at Surprise Ceremony
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WASHINGTON — President Bush made Lawrence S. Eagleburger his secretary of state Tuesday in a White House swearing-in ceremony that surprised even the secretary.
Eagleburger, 62, had been acting secretary of state since Aug. 23. He was summoned to the Oval Office for what he had been told was a briefing on Somalia. Instead, he found his family and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia waiting with a Bible.
The recess appointment will allow Eagleburger to serve with full Cabinet rank for the final six weeks of Bush’s presidency.
Eagleburger has been in charge at the State Department since James A. Baker III resigned to become the White House chief of staff and de facto head of Bush’s reelection drive.
Under federal law, Eagleburger could serve only 120 days as acting secretary before Bush was required to nominate a full-fledged secretary.
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