Rove's job pared, Bush press secretary quits
Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:40pm ET
By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush's senior adviser Karl Rove surrendered his role overseeing policy on Wednesday and White House spokesman Scott McClellan resigned in a shake-up aimed at salvaging Bush's second-term agenda.
The moves were part of a rapid restructuring of White House operations by new Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, who started work last weekend and is trying to help Bush rebound from sagging polls and bolster American confidence in his leadership. More staff changes are anticipated, but no more decisions appeared likely this week.
Bush's job-approval ratings are hovering around the high 30s, the lowest of his presidency, pushed down in part by growing public unease with the Iraq war. Bush has lurched from crisis to crisis in recent months and Republicans have voiced concern about their prospects in November mid-term elections.
Rove has been Bush's political adviser and a lightning rod for Democratic critics. He added policy development to his portfolio at the start of Bush's second term, which has been marked by lack of progress on major initiatives including a Social Security overhaul.
Rove will give up the policy part of his job to Joel Kaplan, who was deputy budget director under Bolten. But Rove will remain a deputy White House chief of staff and focus on trying to help Republicans keep control of Congress.
His job change meant that he has survived the shake-up, although with a shrunken portfolio.
"This lifts a burden off of Karl," a top White House official said. "This will free up Karl to focus on a very broad portfolio. He will still be a key voice and trusted adviser on policy matters."
Republicans said Bolten wanted to bring in his own person and return policy development to the system he had in place when he was deputy White House chief staff.
[MORE]
http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...055Z_01_N17202425_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH-STAFF.xml
Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:40pm ET
By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush's senior adviser Karl Rove surrendered his role overseeing policy on Wednesday and White House spokesman Scott McClellan resigned in a shake-up aimed at salvaging Bush's second-term agenda.
The moves were part of a rapid restructuring of White House operations by new Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, who started work last weekend and is trying to help Bush rebound from sagging polls and bolster American confidence in his leadership. More staff changes are anticipated, but no more decisions appeared likely this week.
Bush's job-approval ratings are hovering around the high 30s, the lowest of his presidency, pushed down in part by growing public unease with the Iraq war. Bush has lurched from crisis to crisis in recent months and Republicans have voiced concern about their prospects in November mid-term elections.
Rove has been Bush's political adviser and a lightning rod for Democratic critics. He added policy development to his portfolio at the start of Bush's second term, which has been marked by lack of progress on major initiatives including a Social Security overhaul.
Rove will give up the policy part of his job to Joel Kaplan, who was deputy budget director under Bolten. But Rove will remain a deputy White House chief of staff and focus on trying to help Republicans keep control of Congress.
His job change meant that he has survived the shake-up, although with a shrunken portfolio.
"This lifts a burden off of Karl," a top White House official said. "This will free up Karl to focus on a very broad portfolio. He will still be a key voice and trusted adviser on policy matters."
Republicans said Bolten wanted to bring in his own person and return policy development to the system he had in place when he was deputy White House chief staff.
[MORE]
http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...055Z_01_N17202425_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH-STAFF.xml
