Capital Briefs: Hawke Confirmed as 28th Comptroller

John D. Hawke Jr. is expected to be sworn in to a five-year term as the 28th comptroller of the currency Tuesday.

Mr. Hawke, who has done the job since last December on an interim appointment, finally received Senate confirmation late Thursday. His confirmation had been held up by a series of political maneuverings.

"I'm glad to have the issue settled," Mr. Hawke said in an interview Friday. "It resolves an uncertainty that was hanging over the agency."

But Mr. Hawke said he has no plan to change the way he has been doing the job. "I have not conducted myself in office over the last 10 months with a lot of concern with how things I did or said would reflect on the confirmation process," he said. "I don't think things will be changing much."

OCC Chief Counsel Julie L. Williams, who was acting comptroller before Mr. Hawke was appointed, will administer the oath of office. "I consider Julie a real partner in helping to run this place," Mr. Hawke said. "I told her she's locked in for another five years." -- Barbara A. Rehm

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