For Mr. Trump, the strained history of these generals with his predecessor is less a liability than a credential. General Mattis, in particular, commands wide respect from uniformed men and women — especially Marines, who revere him as one of their own. The defense secretary must navigate the politics of the White House and Congress while balancing — and in some cases, resisting — the views of his former colleagues. People close to Mr. Trump said they were sensitive to the dangers of having too many military officers. They noted that there were other candidates for defense secretary, including Jim Talent, a former Republican senator from Missouri.

Source: New York Times November 22, 2016 02:19 UTC