Will bring to the job: As president of the New York Federal Reserve since 2003, Mr. Geithner has straddled Wall Street and Washington as a central player in trying to resolve the most significant financial crisis in more than 60 years. He would bring a deep understanding of Wall Street and a close working relationship with Ben S. Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, his partner in the $700 million bailout, along with Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr.
Though not an economist, Mr. Geithner has a deep understanding of monetary and fiscal policy and broad experience in international trade issues. Before the current crisis, he was involved in the bailouts of Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Brazil and Thailand. Although he served in the Clinton administration, he is not viewed as partisan and enjoys good relations with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.
Is linked to Obama by: Robert E. Rubin and Lawrence H. Summers, two former Clinton treasury secretaries who have been advising the Obama campaign. Mr. Geithner was an aide to both men. Paul Volcker, the former Fed chairman who is also advising Mr. Obama, was on the committee that selected Mr. Geithner for his current job.
In his own words: “Most consequential choices involve shades of gray, and some fog is often useful in getting things done.” (The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 20, 2007)
“The fact that the banks are stronger and risk is spread more broadly should make the system more stable. We can’t know that with certainty though. We’ll have a test of that when things next threaten to fall apart.” (The New York Times, Feb. 9, 2007)
Used to work as: Director of the International Monetary Fund’s policy development and review department. One of his first jobs was at Kissinger Associates, where he worked directly for Henry Kissinger, researching a book.
Served as an assistant attaché in the American embassy in Tokyo before being assigned as a special assistant to Mr. Summers when he was treasury under secretary. Ultimately Mr. Geithner became a treasury under secretary under Mr. Summers at the end of the Clinton administration.
Carries as potential baggage: Mr. Geithner was involved in most of the fateful decisions of the last year, including the move to rescue Bear Stearns and American International Group and the decision to let Lehman Brothers collapse. Those decisions have both supporters and critics.
Is otherwise known for: Picking up the favorite hobby of central bankers, fly-fishing, which he has done on the East Coast, Canada and at the annual meeting of the Federal Reserve in Jackson Hole, Wyo. He also plays tennis and surfs.
Résumé includes: Born Aug. 18, 1961, in New York ... raised in the United States, Asia and Africa ... his father worked in government as an international development official before working at the Ford Foundation ... graduate of Dartmouth College and Johns Hopkins, where he received a master’s degree in international economics and East Asian studies ... joined the treasury department as a career staff official in 1988 ... married to a Dartmouth classmate; they have a son and a daughter.