The man President Obama picked to take over the government’s least known but most important financial regulatory agency was a major reason why Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the portentous decision to eliminate the filibuster for presidential nominees.

Republicans for seven months had steadfastly blocked the nomination of Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency, prompting Reid to change the rules to allow Watt to be confirmed with a simple majority of votes in early December.