Is it important for a Treasury Secretary to have credibility?

[PauletteGoddard]

I saw clips of a recent interview with a Treasury Secretary and he appeared evasive and untrustworthy. It may have been the editing that was responsible for this effect, but have there been effective, credible Treasury Secretaries?

According to a December 2002 article on Salon.com, a Treasury Secretary "oversees the nation's accounts, including Social Security and Medicare, and manages debt—if a creditor's looking to get paid by Uncle Sam, it's technically the secretary's responsibility to see that the checks get written. He's also the official boss of such departmental bureaus as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Secret Service, as well as nominally responsible for making sure the manufacture of coins and cash goes smoothly."

Is credibility or trustworthiness relevant for this position?

[msi56]

Of course they have to have a credible history and a good track record and managing finances. As far as trustworthiness goes it is important for the confidence of the general public, but it is not actually a prerequisite for the position.