Mood:
d'ohNow Playing: My Brother and Boyfriend Babbling About PMS
Topic: Politics
Secretary of State Powell Expected to Resign
By Mike Allen and William Branigin
The Washington Post
Monday 15 November 2004
Resignations from heads of Agriculture, Education, and Energy also expected.
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who has sparred for four years with the more hawkish members of President Bush's war Cabinet, plans to announce his resignation today, administration officials said.
Powell's departure - along with the previously announced resignation of Attorney General John D. Ashcroft - signals a transformation of Bush's national security team.
Says he's VERY disappointed with the way things have been handled in Iraq....
The resignation of Powell, 67, a 35-year veteran of the Army who rose to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is among four that the White House plans to formally announce today, adding to a growing list of departures from the Bush administration as the newly reelected president prepares to begin his second term.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan refused to be specific about the latest resignations, but administration officials said Powell submitted a letter of resignation to Bush Friday and told top aides this morning that he would be leaving.
Among the other Cabinet officials resigning is Education Secretary Rod Paige, who informed the president of his wishes last week. News services reported today that Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham also will be leaving. Abraham - like Powell - intends to stay on until his successor is found, the news services reported.
In addition to Ashcroft, Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans has already submitted his resignation.
Administration officials said the departures would be staggered.
The exodus - including the previously announced departure of Ashcroft, who is in charge of several aspects of the fight against terrorism - raises questions about whether Bush will have the continuity that his staff has said he wanted.
Bush is launching the most ambitious legislative agenda of any of his years in office, and his aides are constantly cognizant of the possibility of having to respond to a terrorist attack.
"That's doesn't mean they're leaving today," McClellan said of the officials involved in the latest resignations. "They'll continue to do their job."
The resignation letters carry a variety of dates, indicating that the White House has received a stream of them since the election and has been packaging the announcements.
Administration officials said the list includes Paige, who wanted to stay but was not invited to remain. He will be succeeded by Margaret Spellings, Bush's domestic policy adviser, administration officials said.