"It has been the tradition, that the US president has appointed a person to that job. And that person traditionally has been an American," State department spokesman Sean McCormack said adding the Treasury Department is already on the job to find a replacement.
"Secretary of Treasury Paulson is in the process of collecting some names that he will forward to the president for his consideration. The president will then nominate the next president of the World Bank," McCormack said.
When asked whether the state department was playing a part in the process, he said, "I can't tell you whether or not the state department has played any formal role in that process. Secretary Rice, I'm sure, will offer her views if she's asked either by the president or Secretary Paulson and she may also have some thoughts that she'll offer on her own".
"... the President is committed and Secretary Paulson is committed to forwarding names of people who are well qualified and who would merit selection and nomination as the next president of the World Bank," he said.
McCormack parried a query whether the events of the last few weeks surrounding Wolfowitz had damaged the reputation of the World Bank.
"I can't tell you whether or not it's damaged the reputation of the World Bank on the international scene. It's been a very trying period for the bank. President Bush talked about it and he's sorry that it came to this because Paul Wolfowitz is a good man who is committed to fighting poverty around the world.
He is committed to lifting up those most in need around the world. But it's been a very difficult couple of months, while this whole episode was played out," McCormack said praising the outgoing WB president.
"The World Bank is an important institution. And there are a lot of very capable, skilled professionals who work there. Obviously we can all benefit from their expertise. I think they can also benefit from perspectives of others on the outside, who might have different ideas about how to go about the work of poverty alleviation and development," he said.
"The World Bank, I expect, will continue to be an important institution in the international system, concerned with issues of poverty alleviation and development" McCormack maintained.
A number of names have been doing the rounds as possible successors to Wolfowitz. These include the former US Trade Representative Robert Zolleck and even the outgoing Prime Minister of Britain Tony Blair.
