Donna Shalala, who was secretary of health and human services in the Clinton administration, said she earns "three times as much as any cabinet officer" as president of the private, nonprofit University of Miami



Donna Shalala, who was secretary of health and human services in the Clinton administration, said she earns "three times as much as any cabinet officer" as president of the private, nonprofit University of Miami

"This is not," Schatz added, "George Washington going back to his farm."
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E-mail: pagetwo@iht.com
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Roger Cohen is on vacation.
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WASHINGTON The son of a traveling salesman who grew up in public housing, Tom Ridge has done pretty well for himself. His salary as secretary of homeland security, at $175,700, is more than five times what the average American earns. But he is about to do a whole lot better.
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After a long career in government service as congressman, Pennsylvania governor and cabinet member, Ridge is stepping down but staying in Washington. His job prospects are stratospheric, say executive hiring experts and old Washington hands.
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Ridge is being bombarded with offers, friends say, though he has made no commitments. If he postpones full-time employment for a turn on the lecture circuit, he could easily command $50,000 per appearance, topping his annual cabinet salary in a single week of speech making. If he dusts off his law degree and signs on as a rainmaker for a big Washington law firm, he could earn $1 million a year. And if he takes his name brand to a corporation competing for the booming business of homeland security, that million could multiply many times over.
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"He'll have no trouble at all the first year making a seven-figure salary," said James Hall, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board who now runs his own Washington lobbying firm. "I will be surprised if he doesn't make at least five or six times his cabinet salary."
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With at least 9 of 15 cabinet members stepping down, and scores of sub-cabinet appointees and retiring members of Congress following them, the quadrennial job shuffle is proving an axiom of high-level government service: There's a pot of gold at the end of the Washington rainbow.


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Even if they are going to nonprofit groups or state agencies, departing federal bosses can get a big raise. Sean O'Keefe, the NASA administrator, is becoming chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus of Louisiana State University - and seeing his paycheck leap to $500,000 from $158,000.
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Donna Shalala, who was secretary of health and human services in the Clinton administration, said she earns "three times as much as any cabinet officer" as president of the private, nonprofit University of Miami. Apart from pay, she points out, the drawbacks of cabinet service include housing costs in the sky-high Washington market and weathering a grueling confirmation process. Shalala says she paid a lawyer $20,000 just to file all the necessary disclosure forms.
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"Would I do it again?" Shalala asked. "You bet. In a minute."

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

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December 25, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Soldiers of Peace 23 Dec Nepal RPCV discovers new species of catfish 23 Dec Tom Murphy will not seek 4th term as Pittsburgh mayor 22 Dec Richard Celeste is spicing things up 22 Dec Gov. Jim Doyle streamlines state government 22 Dec Namibia Volunteers sworn in 21 Dec RPCV serves as Ukraine election observer 21 Dec Christmas Gifts for Peace Corps Volunteers 21 Dec Estonia RPCV John Isles wins NEA poetry award 21 Dec Director Vasquez decries racism and discrimination 20 Dec RPCV criticizes "harrassment by Russian government" 20 Dec War's horrors turn RPCV's son into pacifist 19 Dec more top stories...

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Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Read the stories and leave your comments.