Full disclosure: Clinton clears way for Hillary's appointment
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Bill Clinton has bowed to the demands of Barack Obama, agreeing to disclose the names of more than 200,000 donors to his foundation. (Reuters: Kevin Kolczynski)
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are about to turn their once-bitter rivalry into a high-profile diplomatic union, with the President-elect tonight expected to nominate the former first lady as his secretary of state.
In a move to clear the way for his wife's appointment, former president Bill Clinton is opening his business dealings and global charitable endeavours up for scrutiny.
Mr Clinton has reportedly agreed to disclose the names of every contributor to his William J Clinton Foundation, and to refuse donations from foreign governments.
He will also submit his speaking schedule to the White House and State Department.
Richard Lugar, the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee which will decide whether to confirm Ms Clinton as secretary of state, says he welcomes Mr Clinton's decision to publish donor names.
"I think it's a big step," he said.
"I think the Obama campaign people have done a good job in trying to pin down the most important elements and at this point, hopefully, this team of rivals will work.
But Mr Lugar suspects Hillary and Bill Clinton will still have to be careful to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.
"Well, I would hope so, and I've said for my part I plan to vote in favour of her confirmation," he said.
Mr Obama also plans to announce that Defence Secretary Robert Gates will remain in his job for a year or more and that retired US Marines General and former NATO Commander James Jones will serve as the president's national security adviser.
Like Mr Obama, Mr Gates wants to send more troops to Afghanistan and close Guantanamo Bay.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is a close friend of John McCain's, and once said he would dread the day if Mr Obama became commander-in-chief.
Now he is not so critical.
"I want to applaud President-elect Obama for these picks, these are good people, but it's one thing to pick them, it's another thing to listen to them. I think he's going to do both, at least I hope he will," he said.
Mr Obama's national security team is already being dubbed a "team of rivals" war cabinet and there is no doubt they will have plenty of challenges to tackle.
-Adapted from a report by Kim Landers for AM
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