Bernanke Wants "Continuity" in Succeeding Greenspan

By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 15, 2005; 12:06 PM

White House economic adviser Ben S. Bernanke, President Bush's choice to succeed Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve, pledged today to steer clear of "all political influences" at the helm of America's central bank and said he would continue to focus on controlling inflation.

In prepared testimony at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee, Bernanke, 51, also stressed that "continuity" with Greenspan's policies was a top priority. But he expressed support for one key departure from those policies, saying he wants to set long-term targets for inflation, provided his colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board agree.