Subject: Howard Dean
From: "Christopher Edley" <[email-masked]>
To: "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>, "Froman, Michael B" <[email-masked]>, Federico Peña <[email-masked]>, "Cassandra Butts" <[email-masked]>, "Varney, Christine A." <[email-masked]>, "Stern, Todd" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:11:37 -0700

Earlier, I suggested Howard Dean for HHS and someone told me that he's
already in the mix.  Which is great.  I just spent an hour with him, and had
a terrific conversation.  Let me stress that I was conducting an
interrogation, not being lobbied.

First, I feel even more strongly that he would be a terrific pick for HHS.
It's not just that he's a physician, or that he dealt with the issues as a
governor, or that he was especially innovative on health care as a governor.
It is also that he has studied in detail every major health reform proposal
that's come along in the past 25 years.  He was a member of HRC's 1993 task
force.  He is a terrific combination of policy wonk and political player.
Would be an effective public face in the legislative campaign. Would be
loyal, I believe. Actually thinks Barack's plan is terrific because it is
both politically achievable and has the right structural elements.  And
Howard's a good manager. Picks good people. Doesn't micromanage. Listens.

Second, I think he should be in the mix for Domestic Policy Adviser.  (Is
this an admission against interest?) He's enough of a policy wonk to make it
work, and of course has political skills. Plus as governor he dealt with
aspects of all of these issues. And through the DGA, was involved in a ton
of federal policy debates.  The other advantage of having him in the WH is
that his breadth of interests and expertise beyond domestic policy would be
useful around the senior staff table. That is, he'd be a useful kibbitzer on
everything from Afghanistan to tax policy.

In the sense of using his broad expertice, DPC would be better for Howard.
But HHS would make better use of his strengths as a public persona.  Then
again, Stu Eizenstat was a pretty good outside face under Carter -- not so
much Meet the Press, but plenty of speeches.  Howard would also be able to
help a lot with the complex politics of the domestic policy agenda from the
WH.

I hope this is helpful. Ciao.

-- 
(personal email)
Christopher Edley, Jr.
Professor and Dean
UC Berkeley Law School