This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6943814.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Top White House aide Rove resigns | Top White House aide Rove resigns |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Top White House aide Karl Rove, seen by many as the brains behind George W Bush's presidency, has said he will resign at the end of August. | Top White House aide Karl Rove, seen by many as the brains behind George W Bush's presidency, has said he will resign at the end of August. |
| "I just think it's time," Mr Rove said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, adding that he was quitting for the sake of his family. | "I just think it's time," Mr Rove said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, adding that he was quitting for the sake of his family. |
| Mr Rove has worked with Mr Bush since 1993 when he ran for Texas governor. | Mr Rove has worked with Mr Bush since 1993 when he ran for Texas governor. |
| As Mr Bush's chief strategist, he is seen as instrumental in delivering election victories in 2000 and 2004. | As Mr Bush's chief strategist, he is seen as instrumental in delivering election victories in 2000 and 2004. |
| There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family Karl Rove Profile: Karl Rove Karl Rove in his own words | There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family Karl Rove Profile: Karl Rove Karl Rove in his own words |
| For these he is highly regarded by Republicans, but at the same time equally reviled by Democrats. | |
| "Obviously, it's a big loss to us," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino told the Associated Press news agency. "He's a great colleague, a good friend, and a brilliant mind. He will be greatly missed." | "Obviously, it's a big loss to us," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino told the Associated Press news agency. "He's a great colleague, a good friend, and a brilliant mind. He will be greatly missed." |
| "He will continue to be one of the president's greatest friends," she added. | "He will continue to be one of the president's greatest friends," she added. |
| Delayed departure | Delayed departure |
| Mr Rove said he was leaving now on his own terms. | |
| But the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says the truth is he has run out of elections to win with this president. | |
| His reputation has been tarnished by both recent electoral setbacks and the political scandals that have buffeted the Bush administration, leaving the president with approval ratings of around 30%, correspondents say. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY If Rove has been Bush's chief advisor, he has given a lot of very, very bad advice. Rory Morty, Giessen, Germany Send us your comments | |
| Mr Rove has been a controversial political figure since his teenage years. | |
| As a student, he invited Chicago vagrants to turn up for free beer at a plush reception for a Democrat state candidate - an incident he later described as a "youthful prank" that he regretted. | As a student, he invited Chicago vagrants to turn up for free beer at a plush reception for a Democrat state candidate - an incident he later described as a "youthful prank" that he regretted. |
| Last month, the US Senate issued a subpoena against him as part of an investigation into the sacking of eight federal prosecutors, but Mr Bush ordered him not to testify, citing executive privilege. | Last month, the US Senate issued a subpoena against him as part of an investigation into the sacking of eight federal prosecutors, but Mr Bush ordered him not to testify, citing executive privilege. |
| Mr Rove was also investigated in connection with the exposure of CIA agent Valerie Plame, though prosecutors decided he should not face any charges. | |
| Mr Rove told the Wall Street Journal that he had first floated the idea of leaving last year, but had delayed his departure when the Democrats took control of Congress. | Mr Rove told the Wall Street Journal that he had first floated the idea of leaving last year, but had delayed his departure when the Democrats took control of Congress. |
| He said he took a final decision to leave after White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten told aides that if they stayed after the end of August they would be obliged to stay in the administration until Mr Bush's own departure in January 2009. | He said he took a final decision to leave after White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten told aides that if they stayed after the end of August they would be obliged to stay in the administration until Mr Bush's own departure in January 2009. |
| "There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family," he said. | "There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family," he said. |
| He said he expected Mr Bush's current poor ratings to improve, and that conditions in Iraq would get better as the military surge continued. | He said he expected Mr Bush's current poor ratings to improve, and that conditions in Iraq would get better as the military surge continued. |
| A Republican had a good chance of winning the 2008 presidential election, he said, because Democrats would choose the "fatally flawed" Hillary Clinton as their candidate. | A Republican had a good chance of winning the 2008 presidential election, he said, because Democrats would choose the "fatally flawed" Hillary Clinton as their candidate. |