WASHINGTON - The Senate this afternoon approved the nomination of Ben S. Bernanke to succeed Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
The Senate gave its approval by voice vote with no dissentions, and the vote came after about an hour of debate that was interrupted by a three-hour recess in the middle of the day.
Most senators praised Bernanke, who is leaving the chairmanship of the White House Council of Economic Advisors. He previously served as a Fed governor from August 2002 until last June.
The Fed said that a private swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow.
