Bob Rubin could be the next president of the United States - and within a matter of months.
That's the (tongue-in-cheek) prediction of David Hale, chief economist at Zurich Insurance.
Why? President Bill Clinton and vice-president Al Gore are under attack for improper campaign funding they allegedly received from Asian governments. Hale reckons at about 30% the probability that both will face congressional impeachment proceedings this summer.
The US constitution is precise about who then takes over. With the first successor, the vice-president, also facing impeachment, the speaker of the house of representatives is next in line. But Newt Gingrich has his own problems with alleged ethics violations. Third choice is the president pro tempore of the senate. But Strom Thurmond is 94 and a rabid right-winger. Next is the secretary of state, but Madeleine Albright was born in Czechoslovakia. A US president must be US-born. Enter the secretary of the treasury.
"I, Robert Rubin, do solemnly swear..." Garry Evans