Bush Would Select Eagleburger for State Dept. Post in 2nd Term

WASHINGTON —  President Bush said Friday that he will formally nominate Lawrence S. Eagleburger as secretary of state if he is reelected next week.

Eagleburger, who was the State Department’s second-in-command under Secretary of State James A. Baker III, has been running the department as “acting secretary” since Baker became White House chief of staff in August.

“I have a great deal of confidence in him,” Bush said in an appearance on CNN’s “Larry King Live” Friday night.

His impromptu announcement suggested that Baker, who initially hoped to serve at the White House only briefly, is likely to remain there for at least a year. Bush has said he plans to put Baker in charge of his domestic economic and social programs.

Eagleburger, 62, would be the first secretary of state to come from the ranks of the career foreign service. He served as a foreign service officer from 1957 until 1984, when he left to join the consulting firm of former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger.

Eagleburger, who suffers from ailments ranging from asthma to gout, has said he plans to retire in January. But Bush said he “hoped” he could persuade him to stay on.

Bush said he wanted Baker to stay at the White House because his longtime lieutenant gives him franker advice than most aides.

“He is respectful of the office, but he’s not particularly respectful of me--and it’s a good thing,” the President said.