The Senate confirmed Wednesday President Bush's Treasury Secretary nominee Henry Paulson, a day earlier than Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., had expected. The confirmation follows Tuesday's Senate Finance Committee's confirmation hearings where Paulson revealed details about a sordid past. While no one cried at the hearings (see last summer's Samuel Alito confirmation hearings), there were a few entertaining moments. While Paulson did not admit to making N.J. Governor John Corzine cry following Paulson's coup at Goldman Sachs, he did admit to another indiscretion: trespassing. When a teen, Paulson scaled a fence to go for a night swim, which led to a trespassing arrest. The charges were later dropped. In addition to talking about his youthful indiscretion, Paulson also outlined his goals, which include prodding the Chinese to continue down the path toward a more flexible currency — a step that could reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China. The departing Goldman Sachs CEO replaces John Snow, who resigned last month. —Matthew Wurtzel
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