http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,87196,00.html
Ari Fleischer to Resign as White House Press Secretary
Monday, May 19, 2003
WASHINGTON — Ari Fleischer (search) is resigning as White House press secretary.
The public face of the Bush administration through two wars and a terrorist attack, Fleischer said he plans to enter the private sector. His replacement will likely be deputy press secretary Scott McClellan (search).
"I informed President Bush last week that after 21 years of doing nothing but government and politics ... that I have decided that my time has come to leave the White House," Fleischer, 42, said Monday morning.
"And I will leave later this summer, most likely in July," he said.
Fleischer said he wanted to step down before Bush's re-election campaign gears up.
He notified President Bush of his decision Friday, and the president ended the conversation "by kissing me on the head," he said.
Fleischer served as press secretary for Sen. Pete Dominici, R-N.M., from 1989 to 1994 and later as spokesman for the House Ways and Means Committee (search). Prior to joining the campaign of then-Gov. Bush in the fall of 1999, he served as communications director for Elizabeth Dole's presidential campaign.
It's not uncommon in the first two years of a new presidency that many high-level officials resign.
Fleischer said he may go on the speaking circuit and may do some writing. Married just six months ago, he told Fox News that the amount of time he spends on the job has prevented him from spending enough time with his wife.
With Bush beginning his re-election campaign, Fleischer said this is the time to leave the White House "or sign on for the full four years." But he said he plans to stay in Washington until the 2004 presidential election is over.
Fleischer said he will be more than willing to lend a hand to Bush's campaign staff.
"I've just been thinking about what I want to do, when I want to do it," he said. "I believe deeply in this president, his policies and the man. But there comes a time in public service when you have to decide when it's time to go."
Although he often jokes with reporters during the daily briefings, at times, Fleischer has found himself at odds with the White House press corps and had an uneasy relationship with some senior Bush aides, but he said the departure was his idea.
A cautious and calibrating press secretary, Fleischer has been the public voice and face of the Bush White House through the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the war in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, loyally putting the best spin on events.
He frustrated reporters by constantly dodging the toughest questions and sometimes irked his White House colleagues by pushing for access behind the scenes.
According to reports, Fleischer privately accused superiors of passing on bad information to the press office while the senior staff would quietly point the finger back to Fleischer. Still, senior White House officials said Monday that Fleischer left on his own, and that Bush wanted him to stay through the re-election campaign.
While his pronouncements on Bush policy have been in step with a White House that has kept a tight lid on information since Bush took office, Fleischer has had some fumbles.
For example, leading up to the war with Iraq, Fleischer denied reports that Bush was meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair abroad. The trip was announced the next day.
He also once fumbled on the whereabouts of the vice president. Asked why Dick Cheney did not attend a Sept. 11 anniversary event, Fleischer said the vice president was at a meeting of Bush's top aides.
When it was pointed out to him that Bush's top aides were at the anniversary event, Fleischer stammered.
Cheney actually had been whisked away to a secret location because of the same potential threats to the country that prompted the government to heighten the public terrorist alert soon after.
Fleischer also acknowledged shooting himself in the foot when he snapped that "one bullet" in Saddam Hussein's head would be cheaper than a war to topple the Iraqi dictator.
Two senior White House officials said Bush hasn't yet decided who will replace Fleischer. They agreed that Texas native McClellan is the likely replacement, but there are other candidates.
Republican strategist Ed Gillespie and Pentagon spokesman Victoria Clarke are other potential candidates.
One week out of college, Fleischer came to Washington and began work in politics. He was planning on staying in the area in that field for only a year, and wound up staying for over 20.
Fleischer said he hopes to eventually move back to New York.
Fox News' Jim Angle and The Associated Press contributed to this report
Ari Fleischer to Resign as White House Press Secretary
Monday, May 19, 2003
WASHINGTON — Ari Fleischer (search) is resigning as White House press secretary.
The public face of the Bush administration through two wars and a terrorist attack, Fleischer said he plans to enter the private sector. His replacement will likely be deputy press secretary Scott McClellan (search).
"I informed President Bush last week that after 21 years of doing nothing but government and politics ... that I have decided that my time has come to leave the White House," Fleischer, 42, said Monday morning.
"And I will leave later this summer, most likely in July," he said.
Fleischer said he wanted to step down before Bush's re-election campaign gears up.
He notified President Bush of his decision Friday, and the president ended the conversation "by kissing me on the head," he said.
Fleischer served as press secretary for Sen. Pete Dominici, R-N.M., from 1989 to 1994 and later as spokesman for the House Ways and Means Committee (search). Prior to joining the campaign of then-Gov. Bush in the fall of 1999, he served as communications director for Elizabeth Dole's presidential campaign.
It's not uncommon in the first two years of a new presidency that many high-level officials resign.
Fleischer said he may go on the speaking circuit and may do some writing. Married just six months ago, he told Fox News that the amount of time he spends on the job has prevented him from spending enough time with his wife.
With Bush beginning his re-election campaign, Fleischer said this is the time to leave the White House "or sign on for the full four years." But he said he plans to stay in Washington until the 2004 presidential election is over.
Fleischer said he will be more than willing to lend a hand to Bush's campaign staff.
"I've just been thinking about what I want to do, when I want to do it," he said. "I believe deeply in this president, his policies and the man. But there comes a time in public service when you have to decide when it's time to go."
Although he often jokes with reporters during the daily briefings, at times, Fleischer has found himself at odds with the White House press corps and had an uneasy relationship with some senior Bush aides, but he said the departure was his idea.
A cautious and calibrating press secretary, Fleischer has been the public voice and face of the Bush White House through the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the war in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, loyally putting the best spin on events.
He frustrated reporters by constantly dodging the toughest questions and sometimes irked his White House colleagues by pushing for access behind the scenes.
According to reports, Fleischer privately accused superiors of passing on bad information to the press office while the senior staff would quietly point the finger back to Fleischer. Still, senior White House officials said Monday that Fleischer left on his own, and that Bush wanted him to stay through the re-election campaign.
While his pronouncements on Bush policy have been in step with a White House that has kept a tight lid on information since Bush took office, Fleischer has had some fumbles.
For example, leading up to the war with Iraq, Fleischer denied reports that Bush was meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair abroad. The trip was announced the next day.
He also once fumbled on the whereabouts of the vice president. Asked why Dick Cheney did not attend a Sept. 11 anniversary event, Fleischer said the vice president was at a meeting of Bush's top aides.
When it was pointed out to him that Bush's top aides were at the anniversary event, Fleischer stammered.
Cheney actually had been whisked away to a secret location because of the same potential threats to the country that prompted the government to heighten the public terrorist alert soon after.
Fleischer also acknowledged shooting himself in the foot when he snapped that "one bullet" in Saddam Hussein's head would be cheaper than a war to topple the Iraqi dictator.
Two senior White House officials said Bush hasn't yet decided who will replace Fleischer. They agreed that Texas native McClellan is the likely replacement, but there are other candidates.
Republican strategist Ed Gillespie and Pentagon spokesman Victoria Clarke are other potential candidates.
One week out of college, Fleischer came to Washington and began work in politics. He was planning on staying in the area in that field for only a year, and wound up staying for over 20.
Fleischer said he hopes to eventually move back to New York.
Fox News' Jim Angle and The Associated Press contributed to this report
