Robert Gates Keeping His Day Job

When running for re-election in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln famously coined the phrase that one should not switch horses in midstream. He was referring, of course, to his re-election bid, while the Civil War raged across America. According to phrases.org.uk, Lincoln first coined the phrase "in reply to Delegation from the National Union League who were urging him to be their presidential candidate." He is said to have stated, "An old Dutch farmer, who remarked to a companion once that it was not best to swap horses when crossing streams." Lincoln did triumph, winning a re-election which saw through the end to the Civil War in 1865.

President-Elect Barack Obama has been a widely noted fan of Lincoln, and the famous Lincoln biography, Team of Rivals. President-Elect Barack Obama will reportedly ask Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to hold onto his title for the time being.

There had been speculation over whether Obama would ask current administration officials, especially Gates, to stay on, as the incoming president had pledged to invite representatives of a wide political spectrum into his cabinet. There is no word yet on what kind of negotiations took place, allowing Gates to stay in his current capacity. It is estimated that he will be asked to stay for at least one year. Gates will continue to be the head of the Pentagon until Obama selects a new Defense Secretary, if he even chooses to find a replacement. This may be seen as a shrewd move, as there will be a significant transfer of power from one party to the other, while the country is in the midst of two wars in the Middle East.