Former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sam Nunn will advise President-elect Obama during his transition, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.
In a Nov. 11 story about Obama's transition operation, The Associated Press erroneously reported that Obama has hired veteran Democrats Sam Nunn and Warren Christopher to head his transition teams at the Pentagon and State Department. Nunn "will play an informal senior adviser role" for the transition, and Christopher has no role, Obama transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said.
Nunn, a former Georgia senator and veteran Democratic defense adviser, was once rumored as a potential running mate for Obama.
Nunn's role has been described by others, speaking anonymously because the transition teams have not been announced, as assisting with Obama's defense transition.
Obama's national security transition offices will work with the outgoing Bush administration to hand off management of two wars and complex diplomacy with North Korea, Russia and other nations. Obama has not announced his choices to be defense secretary and secretary of state.
Heavy on Clinton-era officials
Nunn could be part of a national security brain trust for Obama that is heavy on former Clinton administration officials, including possible national security adviser James Steinberg, a former State Department official.
At the Pentagon, the large transition office would likely include former Clinton Navy Secretary Richard Danzig and former Clinton-era Pentagon comptroller Bill Lynn, officials said. The announcements are expected later this week.
"There's a lot of disinformation out there," Cutter said. "We're working hard to put the agenda review teams together and expect they'll be announced and inside the agencies by the end of the week."
Clinton Pentagon officials turned think tankers Michele Flournoy and Kurt Campbell are also mentioned as part of the Obama transition office at the Pentagon. Clinton-era State Department officials Wendy Sherman and Tom Donilon are mentioned in similar roles at State.