Rove to leave the White House

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Rove to leave the White House
Bush's key political strategist says he wants to spend more time with his family. Several congressional panels have issued subpoenas for his testimony.
By Maura Reynolds
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

August 14, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Political strategist Karl Rove, whose campaign tactics twice propelled President Bush to the country's highest office, today said he would retire at the end of the month to spend more time with his family.

Rove, praised by Bush as the political architect of his victories and excoriated by Democrats for the ruthless edge he brought to political rivalry, is the last of Bush's Texas-based inner circle to leave the administration.

In brief comments to reporters, Rove cited family reasons for his departure, saying it seemed to be the "right time to start thinking about the next chapter" after spending more than six years at the White House and six years before that assisting Bush when he was governor of Texas.

Rove, with Bush at his side, said he had started discussing his departure last summer.

"I will miss, deeply miss, my work here, my colleagues and the opportunity to serve you and our nation," Rove said to Bush. "But I look forward to continuing our friendship of 34 years, to being your fierce and committed advocate on the outside and in the next journey we might make together."

Bush, who embraced Rove at the end of his statement, described him as a "dear friend" and thanked Rove and his wife, Darby, for their "tremendous sacrifice."

"I will be on the road behind you in a little bit," Bush said, referring to the end of his term. Neither man took questions from reporters.

In an interview with Wall Street Journal editorial writer and conservative columnist Paul Gigot, Rove denied that he was stepping down so that he could get involved in the presidential campaign or that he was seeking to avoid scrutiny from the Democratic-led Congress. Several congressional committees have issued subpoenas for his testimony on a number of controversies, including whether he forced the resignation of U.S. attorneys considered disloyal to the administration.

"I know they'll say that," Rove said in a story published in today's edition of the newspaper. "But I'm not going to stay or leave based on whether it pleases the mob."

Rove, a former president of the College Republicans, developed an expertise in direct-mail campaigning that grew into his signature strategy: eschewing moderate and centrist voters to concentrate on defining and mobilizing partisan voters on a precinct by precinct basis.

Rove was praised as a genius by allies and opponents alike, until the 2006 midterm election when Democrats took control of Congress. Since then, Rove's legacy has been a matter of debate in Republican circles: Did the excesses of Republican control of Congress lead to the election loss? Or was Rove's highly partisan brand of politics unsustainable over the long term, especially with the country unnerved by the war in Iraq?

Rove puts the blame firmly on Republican lawmakers: "The sense of entitlement was there … and people smelled it," Rove said.

Rove's departure followed that of other longtime advisors Bush brought with him from Texas, including former counselor Dan Bartlett, who resigned this summer, and Karen Hughes, who departed in his first term.

Rove said he planned to return to his home in Ingram, Texas, near where his son is attending college. His resignation is effective Aug. 31.

maura.reynolds@latimes.com