White House chief of staff Andrew Card resigns

Jolie Rouge

Chief of Staff Card resigns

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House chief of staff Andrew Card has resigned and will be replaced by budget director Josh Bolten, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.

Card will depart the White House on April 14.

The official, who asked not to be identified, said Card came to Bush about three weeks ago and offered his resignation and after a number of discussions the president accepted it over the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat.

Card has been chief of staff since Bush took over the presidency in January 2001, far surpassing how long most White House chiefs of staff serve and leading to accusations from some of Bush's Republican allies that the White House was tired.

The senior administration official said Bolten "knows how this White House operates," and is very well respected. He said a smooth transition was expected.

The official said Card felt change was necessary after his lengthy tenure.

"It is something he initiated," the official said.

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Bolten named chief of staff
By Patricia Wilson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After more than five years of service through often turbulent times, White House chief of staff Andrew Card resigned and will be replaced by budget director Josh Bolten, President George W. Bush announced on Tuesday.

Card's departure comes amid calls -- even within Republican circles -- for Bush to make changes that would revitalize his struggling team.

In the Oval Office, Bush said Card had offered and he had accepted his resignation. He is to depart the White House on April 14.

"I have relied on Andy's wise counsel, his calm in crisis, his absolute integrity and his tireless commitment to public service," Bush said with Card at his side.

If Card had stayed on until September he would have become the longest-serving chief of staff ever, surpassing the record of Sherman Adams, Dwight Eisenhower's chief of staff for five years and nine months.

Bush said Card was returning to private life. There had been speculation he might replace Treasury Secretary John Snow.

Bolten, who rides a Harley-Davidson and is part of a White House rock band, became director of the Office of Management and Budget after serving as deputy chief of staff in the White House from 2001 to 2003.

He is the son of a CIA officer and is known in the White House as a quietly effective manager.

"I'm honored Josh has agreed to serve," Bush said.

An administration official said Card came to Bush about three weeks ago and offered his resignation and after a number of discussions the president accepted it during the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat.

Card has been chief of staff since Bush took over the presidency in January 2001, serving through the September 11 attacks and shepherding to confirmation Bush's two nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court.

However, the White House has come under increased criticism in the past year as it has weathered a number of crises, including its handling of Hurricane Katrina, the ongoing war in Iraq and the recent flap over a proposed sale of some key U.S. port operations to an Arab-owned company.

The senior administration official said Bolten "knows how this White House operates," and is very well respected. He said a smooth transition was expected.

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Transcript: Text of Bush's Announcement
By The Associated Press

Here is the text of President Bush's announcement Tuesday of the resignation of his chief of staff, Andrew Card, and his replacement by Joshua Bolten, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions:


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BUSH: Earlier this month, Andy Card came to me and raised the possibility of stepping down as chief of staff. After five and a half years, he thought it might be time to return to private life. And this past weekend, I accepted Andy's resignation.

Andy Card has served me and our country in historic times: on a terrible day when America was attacked, during economic recession and recovery, through storms of unprecedented destructive power, in peace and in war.

Andy has overseen legislative achievements on issues from education to Medicare. He helped confirm two justices to the Supreme Court, including a new chief justice.

In all these challenges and accomplishments, I have relied on Andy's wise counsel, his calm in crisis, his absolute integrity, and his tireless commitment to public service.

Andy is respected by his colleagues for his humility, his decency and his thoughtfulness. They have looked to him as a leader and a role model, and they, like me, will miss him.

On most days, Andy is the first one to arrive in the West Wing and among the last to leave. And during those long days over many years I've come to know Andy as more than my chief of staff.

He is leaving the White House, but he'll always be my friend. Laura and I have known Andy and his wife, Kathy, for more than 20 years, and our close friendship will continue.

With me today is Joshua Bolten, who will be the new White House chief of staff. Josh is a man with broad experience, having worked on Capitol Hill and Wall Street and the White House staff, and for nearly three years as the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Josh is a creative policy thinker. He's an expert on the budget and our economy. He's respected by members of Congress from both parties. He's a strong advocate for effective, accountable management in the federal government.

He's a man of candor and humor and directness who's comfortable with the responsibility and knows how to lead. No person is better prepared for this important position and I'm honored that Josh has agreed to serve.

The next three years will demand much of those who serve our country. We have a global war to fight and win. We have great opportunities to expand the prosperity and compassion of America. We've come far as a nation, yet there's a lot on the road ahead.

I'm honored to have served with Andrew Card. I've got great confidence in my next chief of staff. Congratulations, Josh.

BOLTEN: Mr. President, thank you for those kind words and for your confidence.

It's been the privilege of a lifetime to serve in your Cabinet as head of a great organization, the Office of Management and Budget. I'm deeply honored now by the opportunity to succeed Andy Card as White House chief of staff.

I say succeed Andy Card, and not replace him, because Andy cannot be replaced. His hallmarks of honesty and decency, dedication and courage have made him not only a great leader of your White House staff, Mr. President, but they've also placed him among the finest public servants of this generation.

Mr. President, the agenda ahead is exciting. You've set a clear course to protect our people at home, to promote freedom abroad and to expand our prosperity.

I'm grateful for Andy's willingness to stay on for a couple of weeks to help break me in, and then I'm anxious to get to work.

Thank you again, Mr. President, for the privilege of serving you and our nation.

CARD: Mr. President, Ecclesiastes reminds us that there are different seasons, and there is a new season. Working in the White House is a tremendous privilege, and it's almost beyond description the great privilege it is to work at the White House. But it is even a greater honor to serve as the president's chief of stay, especially to you, Mr. President.

I have watched as you have kept your oath to preserve, protect and defend that Constitution. And I know that there are a lot of people who help you do that and it starts with the White House staff, it goes through everybody who serves in the executive branch of government and most especially those young men and women who wear uniforms and help defend us.

I've watched your leadership guide them during troubled times. I've watched you comfort Americans, rally the world to meet real needs. I've watched as you've guided us from a recession to economic recovery. But, most of all, I've watched you as a person. And you're a good man, Mr. President, and you do great things.

I am grateful for the friendship that you've shown me. I'm grateful for the lover that Laura has shared with Kathy and with me. I'm grateful for the White House staff that has served you so well and helped me do a better job.

But it is a different season, and Josh Bolten is the right person for that season.

I'm excited about the leadership that he will bring to the White House staff and to all of your government.

And I'm grateful to the Cabinet that has helped to serve you as well.

But, Mr. President, as a chief of staff, I know I was a staffer, and now I look forward to being your friend.

Thank you, Mr. President.

BUSH: Good job.

END

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