Bill Clinton offers steps to help wife get State job

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has offered to allow ethics reviews of future business and charitable activities should his wife be picked by President-elect Barack Obama as secretary of state, Democrats familiar with the issue said on Wednesday.

The former president is working to address questions about whether his philanthropic and business work would create the appearance of a conflict of interest in the event his wife were to take over the top U.S. diplomatic post.

"He is definitely helping. He is not an obstacle at all," a Democrat familiar with the deliberations said.

Obama met former rival New York Sen. Hillary Clinton last Thursday to discuss the secretary of state job, a secret session that quickly leaked out.

Clinton, who was defeated by Obama during a tough Democratic primary battle earlier this year, was described by the adviser as conflicted about whether she wants to be secretary of state or remain in the Senate.

"That is true. The question is where she can be of best service," a Clinton adviser said.

Obama's transition team is believed to be looking at Bill Clinton's post-White House work to review whether his international philanthropic and business dealings would pose a conflict of interest if his wife were secretary of state.

He has amassed a fortune since leaving the White House in early 2001 and is believed to be worth about $100 million, much of it from writing books and giving speeches.