Bush Names Taiwan-Born American As Labor Secretary
WASHINGTON (News Agencies) - President-elect George W. Bush on Thursday named Taiwan-born Elaine Chao as Labor Secretary, replacing Linda Chavez who withdrew her name after admitting to harboring an illegal immigrant.
Chao, who came to the United States as an immigrant from Taiwan as an eight-year-old, has worked in finance, for charitable organizations and in government.
"Elaine Chao believes deeply in the American dream because she has lived it," said Bush as he unveiled the nomination.
"She came to America at the age of eight not knowing a word of English. Her successful life gives eloquent testimony to the virtues of hard work and perseverance and to the unending promise of this great country."
Chao told reporters she was honored to have been chosen for the work of ensuring that U.S. workers were prepared to compete in the global economy.
And she recalled the day she saw the United States for the first time.
"You know, when my mother, sisters and I arrived on the shores of America when I was eight years old, the boat on which we came, a freighter, passed the Statue of Liberty."
"And as a I looked up at the Statue of Liberty I thought at that time what a wonderful country."
Chao is a former president of United Way, a large charitable organization, and also directed the Peace Corps and served as deputy secretary of transportation.
She is married to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
