Tuhia he haere tonu mō tēnei wāhanga - I rangona a Hagel he hoa tauwehe pea mō te Tumuaki Tuarua mō te Kaunihera i taua wā, a Barack Obama, i tana pakanga perehitini o te tau 2008
He aha? I te Pipiri 20, 2008, i kii a Hagel ka whakaaro ia ki te rere me Obama mena ka whakawhiwhia ki te waahi VP, ahakoa i kii ia kaore ia e whakapono ka tohua ia e Obama mo te tuunga. I taua wa i whakahuatia hoki ia hei Minita Tiaki o te United States hei angitu i a Robert Gates i te tari Obama. I kii a Hagel ka whakaaro ia ki te mahi mena ka tonoa.