USTIN, Texas - Colin L. Powell told top-level staffers this week he will join George W. Bush's administration if asked to do so, clearing the way for the retired Army general to be tapped as secretary of state as early as next week.
''He said, `If asked, I will serve,''' said one Republican insider familiar with the statement Powell made Tuesday to aides at America's Promise. Powell established the Alexandria, Va., foundation 31/2 years ago to work with corporations and community groups to provide role models and safe activities for children.
Throughout this year, Powell campaigned with Bush, and spoke at the Republican National Convention in August. Bush made it clear he hoped to lure the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff back to government service, but Powell repeatedly demurred when asked whether he would serve in a Bush administration.
''I have not been offered such a position, and it would be presumptuous of me to suggest otherwise,'' he said Nov. 2 during an appearance at Tufts University.
The news of Powell's willingness to serve came as he and his wife, Alma, travel today to Bush's ranch in Central Texas for meetings about a new Republican administration. Also attending were Dick Cheney, Bush's running mate and head of his transition effort, and Andrew H. Card, his choice to be White House chief of staff.
Amid speculation about a Powell appointment, Cheney said in Washington yesterday that no Cabinet posts will be filled before next week. He said Powell was being brought to Texas to talk more broadly about the transition and a national security team.
''We both have great confidence in his judgment and his ability,'' Cheney said, speaking on behalf of Bush. ''I've known him for a long time, worked with him for a long time. He's been a major adviser during the course of this campaign.''
Cheney dismissed criticism that the campaign was relying too heavily on the administration of Bush's father, former president Bush. Cheney served as his defense secretary, Card as his deputy White House chief of staff and transportation secretary, while Powell was the elder Bush's military leader during the Gulf War.
''The fact of the matter is, when you put together an administration, one of the things you look for are people with experience,'' Cheney said. ''And we've had a number of Republican administrations over the 30-some years that I've been involved in national politics, and many of us have had prior experience in the Bush administration, but a great many other administrations as well. So the notion that somehow that makes us overreliant, you might as well say we're overreliant on the Ford administration.''
One thing certain to factor into today's staff discussions are the new realities of getting Bush's nominees confirmed by Congress.
Election Day not only produced a split presidential vote between Bush and Democrat Al Gore, but also a nearly evenly divided Congress. Republicans will hold a 221-212 majority in the House, plus two independent members, but the Senate would be a 50-50 split if Democrat Maria Cantwell maintains her lead over Republican incumbent Slade Gorton in Washington state.
The chance that Democrats could easily stymie him may not only moderate the agenda Bush pursues if he prevails in his election dispute with Gore, but may also force him to bypass hardline conservatives as he builds an administration.
But congressional insiders and observers also say the fallout from partisanship in the election fight may ultimately force Democrats to back down and be more receptive if Bush emerges as the victor.
''Working with Congress is going to be key,'' said Scott Reed, a Republican political consultant who managed Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign.
''It was Bush's trademark in Texas, to reach across party lines, and he's going to have to do it here, big time,'' Reed said. ''Both sides are going to have to agree to put partisanship aside and agree on a centrist agenda. If there's too much partisanship, it will be like quicksand and consume the side overdoing it in the midterm elections in 2002.''
There are more than 3,000 top administration jobs appointed by a president, nearly all of which are now held by Democrats. The Senate must approve 600 nominees, including Cabinet choices and ambassadors.
Cheney said at his news conference that Bush remains interested in appointing Democrats to his administration, in part to soothe partisan passions. One Democrat thought to be under consideration for defense secretary, former US Senator Sam Nunn, Democrat of Georgia, yesterday took himself out of contention.
''While I am honored to have my name mentioned for a Cabinet position, I am not interested in going back into government at this juncture in my life,'' Nunn, 62, said in a statement issued from his office at the law firm of King & Spalding in Washington. He said he had not discussed the idea of an appointment with either Bush or Gore.
One top Democratic staffer in the House said Bush will have to make a concerted effort to pacify Congress's lower chamber. The staffer said one expected gesture, picking several Democratic House members to serve in his administration, was being viewed skeptically.
''There's some rumor that they're looking at conservative Democrats in the House so they can then go there and pick off their seats for the Republicans,'' the staffer said. Among the members that would fall into that category are Charles Stenholm of Texas and Gary Condit of California, both of whom have been mentioned as possible choices for agriculture secretary.
The aide, as well as another top Democratic staffer in the US Senate, said Bush would be wise to choose moderates for any post requiring congressional confirmation.
