WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama naming, or at least leaking to the press, his cabinet picks faster than nearly all of his predecessors, CNN reported Tuesday.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is flanked by Council of Economic Advisors Director-designate Christina Romer(L), National Economic Council Director-designate Lawrence Summers (R) as he announces the members of his economic policy team during a news conference in Chicago, November 24, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "If we do not act swiftly and boldly, most experts believe that we could lose millions of jobs next year," Obama said Monday, when he nominated Timothy Geithner as next treasury secretary.

    With an economic crisis spiraling out of control and a lame duck president in the oval office, presidential scholars say the next commander in chief simply had no choice.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama speaks in front of Peter Orszag (L), the current director of the Congressional Budget Office, as he announces Orszag as his choice for director of the Office of Management and Budget during a news conference in Chicago Nov. 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "This is really unprecedented. But it's an unprecedented situation," said Larry Sabato, a presidential scholar at the University of Virginia.

    In recent times, only former President George H.W. Bush, father of current President George W. Bush moved more quickly, but that was to name confidant James Baker to secretary of state just days after the election.

    Both Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton waited until December for their first picks.

ABC News: Gates set to stay on as defense chief

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is set to stay on in the top Pentagon job, for at least the first year of the Obama administration, ABC News reported Tuesday.

    "It is a done deal," a source close to the process was quoted as saying. Full story

Obama unveils economic team to tackle economic crisis

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- With the economy in crisis, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama Monday unveiled his economic team pick to shore up financial markets and tackle the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression in 1930s. Full story

Obama puts Romer, Barnes to senior White House posts

    CHICAGO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Monday put University of California professor Christina Romer and his campaign aide Melody Barnes on senior White House posts.

    Romer was named Director of the Council of Economic Advisors by Obama at a press conference in Chicago. Full story

Profile: Ex-treasury chief to be Obama's top economic advisor

    CHICAGO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Lawrence H. Summers, a former Secretary of Treasury, was named Director of the National Economic Council by president Barack Obama on Monday.

    Summers, 53, currently a professor at Harvard University, will be Obama's top economic advisor at the White House.  Full story

New York Fed head named as candidate for Obama's treasury secretary

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Timothy Geithner, the current New York Federal Reserve head, was named as the top candidate for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's treasury secretary, said a TV report on Friday.

    According to NBC, the 47-year-old president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was considered as one of the two most potential for the key cabinet post, along with Lawrence Summers, the former Treasury chief in the Clinton's administration. Full story

Clinton accepts offer to be next U.S. state secretary

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has accepted offer to be the next U.S. state secretary, joining her former presidential rival Barack Obama's cabinet, according to a news report released on Friday.

    Citing two of Clinton's associates, the New York Times said in an online report that she made up her mind after additional discussions with Obama about the nature of her role as the top U.S. diplomat and his foreign policy plans.

Report: Obama to select New Mexico governor as commerce secretary

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, who has turned from a rival to supporter for President-elect Barack Obama, appeared as the most potential candidate for the next commerce secretary, said a TV report on Friday.

    According to NBC, Obama has nodded the appointment of Richardson to the post but the official announcement would not be made before the Thanksgiving holiday. Full story

Obama announces more White House staff

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama announced more White House staff on Wednesday, including his long-time friends.

    Those who were announced the White House staff after Obama takes office on Jan. 20 included David Axelrod as senior advisor to the president, Lisa Brown as Staff Secretary, Greg Craig as White House Counsel, and Christ Lu as Cabinet Secretary. Full story

Former Senate majority leader named as U.S. next health secretary

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tom Daschle, former Senate majority (Democratic) leader during the Clinton's administration, was chosen by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama as the next secretary of health and human services, said a TV report on Wednesday.

    Citing three sources, a CNN report said that Daschle has personally showed interest to the job and proposed to report directly to the incoming president after he takes office as the White House health "czar." Full story

Ex deputy attorney general named as Obama's attorney general

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- An ex deputy attorney general was eyed by U.S. president-elect Barack Obama to be the next attorney general, said a report released on Tuesday.

    According to the News Week, Eric Holder, who served as deputy attorney general under President Bill Clinton, was expected to be the country's first African American attorney general. Full story

Obama's economic team picks get positive response

    CHICAGO, the United States, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Media and politicians are hailing President-elect Barack Obama's top economic appointments, which will be officially announced later Monday.

    Obama was expected to name Timothy Geithner, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as treasury secretary, and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers as head of the National Economic Council at a press conference beginning at 12:00 p.m. eastern time (1600 GMT).  Full story