(Austin, Texas-AP) -- President-elect Bush is making retired General Colin Powell his first Cabinet choice.

Bush will announce later today at his Texas ranch that he wants the popular hero of the Gulf War to be his secretary of state.

The selection has been one of Washington's worst-kept secrets. Powell was chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the administration of Bush's father.

Tomorrow, Bush is expected to name Stanford University administrator Condoleezza Rice his national security adviser and make other top White House appointments.

Rice also served under former President Bush.

Bush says he hopes to announce the rest of his Cabinet choices within a couple of weeks.

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