US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan was asked by senior Republicans if he was interested in becoming US Treasury secretary but rejected the suggestion, a British newspaper has reported.
The Financial Timeswebsite reported that the informal approach reflected concern that current Treasury Secretary John Snow was not the most effective leader to sell President George W. Bush's ambitious second-term economic agenda.
It said the White House refused to comment and the Federal Reserve had no comment.
The FTsaid a group of influential conservatives lobbied the administration and Mr Greenspan (78), asking him to take over from Mr Snow. It did not say when the lobbying effort took place.
Mr Bush last week said Mr Snow would continue in the Treasury post.