Obama team probes Bill Clinton's endeavors

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's team is probing Bill Clinton's activities to see if they would prevent Hillary Clinton from serving as secretary of state.

The New York Times reported Sunday that the Obama team's move suggests the president-elect could be serious about appointing Hillary Clinton as the nation's top diplomat.

A source close to the Obama team and Hillary Clinton, the junior U.S. senator from New York, told the newspaper that lawyers are examining former President Bill Clinton's philanthropic organization, his interactions with foreign governments and his ties to pharmaceutical companies.

"That's the first and most important hurdle," an Obama adviser said. "He does good work. No one wants it to stop, but a structure to avoid conflicts must be thought of."