Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/obama-nominates-yellen-to-succeed-bernanke-as-fed-chairman Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Story President Barack Obama nominated Janet Yellen, the Federal Reserve’s vice chair, Wednesday afternoon to be chairman of the nation’s powerful central bank. She succeeds Ben Bernanke at a pivotal time for the economy and the Fed’s monetary policies.