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The (old) gang's all here

First there was John Podesta, then various Clinton-era advisers and then Hillary Rodham Clinton. Now, Bill Clinton's former secretary Betty Currie has joined the team to help Obama's transition. Summary.

By PETER BAKER, New York Times

Last update: December 16, 2008 - 8:22 PM

It's official. The old Clinton gang really is back together again. Answering the phones these days for the co-chairman of President-elect Barack Obama's transition, John Podesta, is none other than Betty Currie.

Currie, who is emerging from retirement in southern Maryland to volunteer at Obama headquarters, was the personal secretary to President Bill Clinton who became caught up in an independent counsel investigation into his trysts with the White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Since leaving the White House, Currie, 69, has shied from publicity and kept a low profile in Hollywood, Md., where she lives with her husband, Bob, and Socks, 19, the presidential cat, which she took with her after Clinton left office.

Currie, who works with nonprofits and serves on the Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary's County, declined to discuss her work for Obama or her recent life, citing a transition policy against volunteers giving interviews.

Compelled to testify to a grand jury five times about Clinton's relationship with Lewinsky, Currie is widely admired in Clinton circles for her loyalty and effectiveness.

Podesta, who was Clinton's last White House chief of staff, said it was natural for him to call Currie back to service. "Of course I asked her, because in the 30 years we have worked together, I have never known anyone with more grace, dedication and public spirit than Betty," he said. "And she has one mean Rolodex."

Currie is the latest familiar face from the Clinton era to assist Obama's team. In addition to Podesta, Obama's new White House chief of staff, his White House counsel and his economics, energy and environmental advisers all served in the Clinton administration. So did most of the Cabinet officers he has chosen and many of the transition aides conducting agency reviews. And the secretary of state designee is Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A longtime secretary in such agencies as the Peace Corps, Currie began working for Democratic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 before joining Clinton in 1992. She stayed through all eight years of the Clinton administration, calmly managing the intersection of power and policy.

Other Obama aides said they did not expect Currie to return to the White House after the inauguration.

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