Karl Rove, the political strategist widely credited with engineering George W. Bush’s two successful presidential campaigns, said Monday he is resigning his White House post.
“It has been an exhilarating and eventful time,” an emotional Rove told Bush on the South Lawn. “At month’s end, I will join those whom you meet in your travels, the ordinary Americans who tell you they are praying for you.”
The president used the term “dear friend” to describe Rove, who has been at Bush’s side since he successfully ran for governor of Texas in 1994. After Bush won re-election over John Kerry in 2004, he called Rove “the architect,” anexpression of praise that became a nickname.
Bush said he understood Rove’s desire to spend more time with his wife, Darby, and son, Andrew. “This is a family that has made enormous sacrifices not only for our beloved state of Texas, but for a country we both love,” Bush said.
“Karl Rove is moving on down the road,” the president said. “And so I thank my friend. I’ll be on the road behind you here in a little bit.”
In an unusual display of affection, Bush and Rove hugged after their statements. The quiet of the moment was broken by CBS reporter Bill Plante, who hollered to Bush: “If he’s so smart, how come you lost Congress?” The question was ignored.
Rove later told reporters he began discussing his possible departure with Bush “over a year ago” and that they “mutually reinforced” each other’s “bad behavior” by finding reasons to put it off.
“We would say, ‘Let’s talk about this again after the State of the Union address, let’s talk about it again after the surge,’ ” he recalled.
In the end, the timing was influenced by White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, who has been telling staffers that if they want to leave the administration, they should go before Labor Day.
“As we get into the last 16 months of the administration, I think people need to consider whether or not they’re going to be able to serve out the entire term,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters on Air Force One.
No replacement for Rove was announced, although Perino said White House officials are “giving some consideration to possibly splitting up some of Karl’s duties and maybe not necessarily having a one-to-one replacement.” Rove has been serving as senior adviser and deputy chief of staff.
Rove has said he is planning to write a book but does not “anticipate taking any formal role” in the 2008 presidential campaign.
