FLASHBACK: Fox & Friends Co-Host Steve Doocy Endorsed Chuck Hagel For Defense Secretary

Written by Eric Hananoki

Published

One of President Barack Obama's biggest Fox News critics endorsed Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense several weeks after the 2012 election. President Obama nominated the former Republican senator on January 7.

While appearing on Fox News Radio's Kilmeade & Friends, Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy noted that Hagel was being vetted by the White House “for some sort of job” and offered that “he'd be a good secretary of defense.” His Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade responded, “I hope so.” Kilmeade added that “it would be good to have that -- for the president to have ... Chuck Hagel's name come out there because it will appear as though he is acting in a bipartisan way.”

Listen to the remarks from the November 29 edition of Fox News Radio's Kilmeade & Friends:

DOOCY: You know, just one other thing to throw in the mix, Brian, and that is apparently according to Capitol Hill, Chuck Hagel, former senator from Nebraska, a Republican, is being vetted for some sort of job in the White House.

KILMEADE: It would make sense. They traveled internationally together and to a few war zones and he is a decorated war hero from Vietnam.

DOOCY: He'd be a good secretary of defense.

KILMEADE: I hope so.

Sam in Missouri, hey Sam.

CALLER: I had my prediction, I think you just brought it up, was the prediction that some sort of job offer -- not really in the administration, but some kind of -- more of a project is going to be floated toward Mitt Romney today that kind of helps bridge the gap.

KILMEADE: Well, I think it would be good to have that -- for the president to have that offer out there, and then also have Chuck Hagel's name come out there because it will appear as though he is acting in a bipartisan way. But the real question -- go ahead, Sam.

CALLER: Well, I'd like to see some sort of bipartisanship. They talk about it, but I'd like to see it happen. I kind of think my prediction won't really come about. But it'd be nice to see something like that from these boneheads, you know?

KILMEADE: It's a little discouraging to see some of the public comments.