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After watching President-Elect Barack Obama’s press conference today announcing his national security team, I was relieved to see wisdom in action. As he introduced his team and explained the reasoning behind his decisions, including keeping incumbent Defense Secretary Robert Gates (a Republican) and adding Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, it was clear that Obama was going to lead with strength and logic. During his remarks, he mentioned he “welcomes vigorous debate” from his team but will set the policy and be responsible for the outcome.  In response to a reporter’s question, Obama noted that “outside the heat” of campaigning, he and his former Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton share the view that “strength and diplomacy together will advance American interests.” His choices for national security team also include General Jim Jones as National Security Adviser (a respected leader and close friend of Republican presidential candidate John McCain), further demonstrating Obama values bi-partisan team building and surrounding himself with strong thinkers. As he put it, the team he selected comprises “tough, smart and disciplined” folks who “share my core values” while also noting that he saw “group think” and “no dissenting views” as weaknesses in leadership. Today’s announcement reminded me of a great Frontline biography from PBS on Obama and McCain, which is well worth watching. The Choice 2008 examines, among other things, Obama’s appointments when he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. At that time, Obama also crossed the aisle by mixing liberal and conservative chair appointments, apparently with the priority being strong and effective leadership rather than simply paying back old friends or peppering the Review with yes-men. Perhaps there is hope after all.