Bush transition office move to be gradual

At Bush-Cheney transition headquarters in McLean, Va., last week, Vice President-elect Cheney was ceremonially handed the keys to the Washington General Services Administration transition office, marking the beginning of a stepped-up effort by the team he directs to put a working administration in place. But Cheney, speaking with reporters in McLean, said the move to GSA's downtown offices would be gradual--indicating that he himself would stay at the Virginia office for another week or two. "I live nearby. It's a great commute," he quipped. Cheney also joined what he indicated was a chorus of praise for Vice President Gore's concession speech Wednesday night, calling Gore's remarks "very gracious" and "totally appropriate to the occasion." The transition is well under way, according to Cheney, who pointed to the campaign's use of private funds to get the effort off the ground. But he indicated the Bush-Cheney organization could intensify its recruitment effort now that the election dispute is over. He said that only about $500,000 of the $3 million in private funds raised for the transition had been spent. He added that the remaining $2.5 million would be "put to good use," while the transition proceeds, and decisions about any funds that are left over would be made at a later date. Cheney refused to say when Cabinet selection announcements would be forthcoming or who was being considered, indicating only that the Cabinet would be in place by Inauguration Day--Jan. 20. Responding to a question about whether there would be a Cabinet announced by as early as a week from next Friday, Cheney said he did not want to establish an "artificial deadline" but noted, "If we make it, that would be fantastic." And he added that meetings to be held early next week between President-elect Bush and President Clinton--as well as between Bush and Gore--would be an important catalyst for increasing direct contacts between Bush-Cheney officials and outgoing members of the administration who will help with the transition. Clay Johnson, Cheney's assistant for the transition, said that priorities at the sub-Cabinet level included agency general counsels and legislative affairs and public affairs officials.