Outgoing U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Alphonso Jackson arrives for a ceremony where U.S. President George W. Bush nominated Small Business Administration head Steve Preston to be the next HUD secretary, at the White House in Washington April 18, 2008. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Alphonso Jackson attends a ceremony where U.S. President George W. Bush nominated Small Business Administration head Steve Preston to be the next HUD secretary, at the White House in Washington April 18, 2008. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson (L) watches as U.S. President George W. Bush nominates Small Business Administration head Steve Preston (C) to be the next secretary, at the White House in Washington April 18, 2008. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush speaks before signing the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington December 20, 2007. Joining Bush are from L-R: Bush, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson (R) and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (L) unveil a plan to freeze some homeowners' mortgage interest rates, at the Treasury Department in Washington, December 6, 2007. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

Financial officials led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (L) and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson (2nd L) introduce a "Hope Now" plan to freeze some homeowners' mortgage interest rates at the Treasury Department in Washington, December 6, 2007. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (L) and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson (R) attend a news conference to introduce a plan to freeze some homeowners' mortgage interest rates at the Treasury Department in Washington, December 6, 2007. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (L) and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson (R) introduce a plan to freeze some homeowners' mortgage interest rates at the Treasury Department in Washington, December 6, 2007. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush speaks about his plans, aimed at slowing a wave of home loan foreclosures that has threatened to knock the U.S. economy into recession and rattled investors worldwide, from the White House in Washington December 6, 2007. Flanking Bush are Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson (L) and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson addresses a national housing summit held by the Office of Thrift Supervision in Washington, December 3, 2007. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson speaks to a national housing summit held by the Office of Thrift Supervision in Washington, December 3, 2007. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson (L) listens to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson speak after their meeting with the Hope Now alliance at the Treasury in Washington October 31, 2007. The Hope Now alliance is trying to reach struggling homeowners and help them avoid preventable foreclosures. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson (L) listens to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson speak after their meeting with the Hope Now alliance at the Treasury in Washington October 31, 2007. The Hope Now alliance is trying to reach struggling homeowners and help them avoid preventable foreclosures. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES) 

(L-R) U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testify at a hearing held by the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington September 20, 2007. The hearing was on "Legislative and Regulatory Options for Minimizing and Mitigating Mortgage Foreclosures." REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (L), HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson (C) and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke take their seats at a hearing held by the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington September 20, 2007. The hearing was on "Legislative and Regulatory Options for Minimizing and Mitigating Mortgage Foreclosures." REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) talks about easing the mortgage default crisis while in the Rose Garden of White House in Washington August 31, 2007. (L-R) U.S. Secretary of HUD Alphonso Jackson, Bush, and U.S. Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Jr. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) talks about easing the mortgage default crisis while in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington August 31, 2007. From L-R are: U.S. Secretary of HUD Alphonso Jackson, Bush, and U.S. Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Jr. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks out to talk about easing the mortgage default crisis with U.S. Secretary of HUD Alphonso Jackson (R) in the Rose Garden of White House in Washington August 31, 2007. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) walks out before talking about easing the mortgage default crisis while in the Rose Garden of White House in Washington, August 31, 2007. (L-R) U.S. Secretary of HUD Alphonso Jackson, Bush, and U.S. Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Jr. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) talks about easing the mortgage default crisis while in the Rose Garden of White House in Washington, August 31, 2007. (L-R) U.S. Secretary of HUD Alphonso Jackson, Bush, and U.S. Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Jr. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) talks about easing the mortgage default crisis while in the Rose Garden of White House in Washington August 31, 2007. (L-R) U.S. Secretary of HUD Alphonso Jackson, Bush, and U.S. Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Jr. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) watches new homeowner Gen White (3rd L) hugs Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson (2nd L) at a mixed housing development in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 29, 2007. The area used to be low income and was in the process of being switched before Hurricane Katrina. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES) 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (C) speaks at a news conference after the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue in Washington May 23, 2007. (L-R) U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, U.S. Housing and Urban Services Secretary Alphonso Jackson, U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, Paulson, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson and U.S Ambassador to China Clark Randt Jr. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES) 

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco (C) speaks as Mayor Ray Nagin (L) and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson (R) look on during a news conference announcing a plan to provide $4.6 billion to homeowners with properties destroyed or badly damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans May 30, 2006. "The Road Home Program," approved by the Bush administration, would offer up to $150,000 to eligible homeowners. REUTERS/Lee Celano 

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco (R) speaks as Mayor Ray Nagin (L) and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson (C) look on during a news conference announcing a plan to provide $4.6 billion to homeowners with properties destroyed or badly damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans May 30, 2006. "The Road Home Program," approved by the Bush administration, would offer up to $150,000 to eligible homeowners. REUTERS/Lee Celano 

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco (R) speaks as Mayor Ray Nagin (L) and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson (C) look on during a news conference announcing a plan to provide $4.6 billion to homeowners with properties destroyed or badly damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans May 30, 2006. "The Road Home Program," approved by the Bush administration, would offer up to $150,000 to eligible homeowners. REUTERS/Lee Celano 

U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson (L) speaks as Mayor Ray Nagin (C) and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco (R) look on during a news conference announcing a plan to provide $4.6 billion to homeowners with properties destroyed or badly damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans May 30, 2006. "The Road Home Program," approved by the Bush administration, would offer up to $150,000 to eligible homeowners. REUTERS/Lee Celano 

Mayor Ray Nagin (L) greets Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco (R) as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson (C) looks on during a news conference announcing a plan to provide $4.6 billion to homeowners with properties destroyed or badly damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans May 30, 2006. "The Road Home Program," approved by the Bush administration, would offer up to $150,000 to eligible homeowners. REUTERS/Lee Celano 

From (L-R), U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Attorney-General Alberto Gonzales, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff attend a meeting of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba at the State Department in Washington December 19, 2005. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas 

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger shakes hands with a group of homeless people while visiting the PATH, People Assisting The Homeless, facility in Los Angeles, January 25, 2005. Schwarzenegger, along with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced more than $228,000,000 in funding to assist the homeless in California. The funding is part of 1.4 billion dollars worth of federal funding to be spent nationwide. REUTERS/Rick Loomis/Pool RL 

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger shakes hands with a group of homeless people while visiting the PATH facility (People Assisting The Homeless), January 25, 2005. Schwarzenegger, along with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson, announced more than $228,000,000 in funding to assist the homeless in California. The funding is part of 1.4 billion dollars worth of federal funding to be spent nationwide. REUTERS/Rick Loomis/POOL RL/GN 

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visits a computer lab at the the PATH, People Assisting the Homeless, facility in Los Angeles, January 25, 2005. Schwarzenegger, along with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson (L), announced more than $228,000,000 in funding to assist the homeless in California. The funding is part of 1.4 billion dollars worth of federal funding to be spent nationwide. The computer lab is one of the services offered by PATH to aid the homeless in finding jobs. REUTERS/Rick Loomis/Pool RL 

California Governor Arnold Swhearzenegger (C) speaks as U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson (L) looks on during a news conference in Los Angeles January 25, 2005. Jackson announced that more than $228 million would be available for housing and service programs for homeless people in California, as part of a $1.4 billion nationwide package for homeless projects. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith RG 

California Governor Arnold Swhearzenegger (R) speaks as U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson looks on during a news conference in Los Angeles January 25, 2005. Jackson announced that more than $228 million would be available for housing and service programs for homeless people in California, as part of a $1.4 billion nationwide package for homeless projects. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith RG 

California Governor Arnold Swhearzenegger (R) looks on as U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson addresses a news conference in Los Angeles January 25, 2005. Jackson announced that more than $228 million would be available for housing and service programs for homeless people in California, as part of a $1.4 billion nationwide package for homeless projects. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith RG 

[President Bush] will nominate Alphonso Jackson as his new housing secretary, replacing Mel Martinez, who resigned this week, administration officials said December 12, 2003. Jackson, a Texas native, has been deputy secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department since June 2001.
(Credit : REUTERS/Dept. Of Housing & Urban Development) 

U.S. President George W. Bush announces his next choice for Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Alphonso Jackson, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, December 12, 2003. President Bush said on Friday he expected $61 million to be repaid to the U.S. government if a Pentagon probe determines a Halliburton subsidiary overcharged for fuel deliveries to Iraq. REUTERS/William Philpott WP/GAC 

U.S. President George W. Bush announces his next choice for Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, December 12, 2003. President Bush said on Friday he expected $61 million to be repaid to the U.S. government if a Pentagon probe determines a Halliburton subsidiary overcharged for fuel deliveries to Iraq. REUTERS/William Philpott WP 

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) announces his next choice for Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Alphonso Jackson, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, December 12, 2003. Jackson would replace Mel Martinez who resigned this week. REUTERS/William Philpott WP/GAC 

U.S. President George W. Bush announced his next choice for Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Alphonso Jackson, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, December 12, 2003. Jackson would replace Mel Martinez who resigned this week. REUTERS/William Philpott WP/GAC 

U.S. President George W. Bush announces his next choice for Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Alphonso Jackson, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, December 12, 2003. Jackson would replace Mel Martinez, who resigned this week. REUTERS/William Philpott WP/GAC 

U.S. President George W. Bush announces his next choice for Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Alphonso Jackson, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, December 12, 2003. Jackson would replace Mel Martinez who resigned this week. REUTERS/William Philpott WP/GAC 

President Bush will nominate Alphonso Jackson as his new housing secretary, replacing Mel Martinez, who resigned this week, administration officials said December 12, 2003. Jackson, a Texas native, has been deputy secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department since June 2001. REUTERS/Dept. Of Housing & Urban Development/Handout RC 

U.S. President George W. Bush (2nd R) walks next to a cement truck with
U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez (L),
Deputy Secretary Alphonso Jackson (2nd L) and Masharn Wilson (C) while
touring the Park Place South section of the Pryor Road Corridor
Development site while in Atlanta, Georgia, June 17, 2002. Bush spent
the weekend at his Texas ranch and will return to the White House after
his stop in Georgia. REUTERS/Larry Downing

LSD/MMR