President-elect Barack Obama says he will welcome strong opinions and differing viewpoints from his national security team, saying he appointed his "team of rivals" because they shared his broad vision, but would not necessarily agree on tactics or strategies to deal with world issues.
Announcing his team in Chicago, Mr Obama confirmed the worst held secret in America: that his former rival for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton, would be his secretary of state.
Robert Gates, a George W Bush appointment, has agreed to stay on as defence secretary, and General Jim Jones will be national security adviser.
Three other appointments were confirmed as well: Mr Obama's closest foreign affairs adviser, Dr Susan Rice, becomes UN Ambassador with a seat at the cabinet table; Eric Holder becomes Attorney-General; and the governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, becomes secretary of Homeland Security.
"I am a strong believer in strong opinions and strong people," Mr Obama said. "I will be welcoming vigorous debate in the White House," he said, adding that the biggest risk, judging by history, was the tendency towards "group think" in an administration.
The heavily experienced team will give Mr Obama more leeway to concentrate on the economy while also dealing with mulitple challenges on the international stage.
"The national security challenges we face are just as grave - and just as urgent - as our economic crisis. We are fighting two wars. Old conflicts remain unresolved, and newly assertive powers have put strains on the international system. The spread of nuclear weapons raises the peril that the world's deadliest technology could fall into dangerous hands. Our dependence on foreign oil empowers authoritarian governments and endangers our planet," he said.
"The common thread linking these challenges is the fundamental reality that in the 21st century, our destiny is shared with the world's," he said.
Unlike his economic team, which did not speak at their press conference, each of the new national security team said a few brief word,s an acknowledgement perhaps of the high profile that many of them already enjoy in the public arena.
Introducing Mrs Clinton to the lectern, Mr Obama lavished her with praise and appeared slightly irritated with a reporter who reminded him of how he had described her diplomatic record as "thin" and overstated during the priamry campaign.
Mrs Clinton responded by invoking a blessing: "May God bless you and all who serve with you," she said.
She promised to be a "force for positive change" and to pursue "vigorous diplomacy", in her new role as America's most senior diplomat.
Mr Obama was repeatedly asked whether India had the right to go into Pakistani territory to capture those responsible for the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last week.
During the campaign, Mr Obama asserted that under his leadership he would not hesitate to send American forces into Pakistani territory if there was reliable intelligence that Osama Bin Laden was there.
But on this issue, Mr Obama did not venture an opinion, invoking the "one president at a time rule" twice during the 45 minute press conference.
"Sovereign nations have a right to protect themselves," he said. "My administration will be steadfast in its support of India's efforts to catch the perpetrators of this attack," he said.