President Obama has nominated John O. Brennan to lead the CIA, Senator John Kerry for Secretary of State, and Senator Chuck Hagel for the Department of Defense position, but the Secretary of the Treasury position is still open.
Current Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will leave a distinctive legacy as he steps down from his post, and the president must decide whether to maintain Geithner-style policies, or change course.
Apart from his credentials and economic outlook, Geithner has certainly faced an uphill battle since assuming the position in 2009, in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
As the secretary prepares for his departure, Michael Barr examines his legacy. Barr is a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, and he previously served in the U.S. Treasury Department under Secretary Geithner.