White House Staff Shake-Up

President Bush announced the resignation of White House chief of staff Andy Card on Tuesday and replaced him with budget director Joshua Bolten. The move comes amid a sharp decline in Mr. Bush's approval ratings and calls from Republicans for the president to bring in new aides with fresh ideas and new energy.

"The next three years will demand much of those who serve our country," Mr. Bush said in an Oval Office appearance with both men.

"We have a global war to fight and win," Mr. Bush said. "I'm honored to have served with Andy Card. I have great confidence in my next White House chief of staff."

Mr. Bush said he's relied on Card's "wise counsel" and "absolute integrity." He said Card may be leaving the White House, but will always be his friend.

Bolten, 51, is widely experienced in Washington, both on Capitol Hill as well as at the White House, where he was deputy chief of staff before becoming director of the Office of Management and Budget.

"Josh is a creative policy thinker," Mr. Bush said. "He is an expert on the budget and our economy. He is a man of candor and humor and directness. No person is better prepared for this important position."

A White House official tells CBS News the decision to accept Card's resignation was "an excruciating one" for Mr. Bush. The official says Card first told the president of his intention to resign earlier this month but Mr. Bush only decided to accept it this week.

The White House staff first learned of the shake-up this morning. There was no immediate indication of other changes afoot.

The dramatic change follows Republican concerns about Mr. Bush's low poll numbers, reports CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer.

Mr. Bush's approval rating remains at an all-time low of 34 percent, according to the latest CBS News poll. Just 28 percent of Americans think the country is headed in the right direction, while 66 percent say it's on the wrong track.

"People have been expecting a staff change and certainly Republicans have been encouraging it. Whether this is a significant enough staff change is another question," University of Virginia political expert Larry Sabato told CBS Radio News.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a Bush critic, said, "The good news is the administration has finally realized it needs to change its ways, but the problems go far deeper than one staffer. Simply rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic by replacing Andy Card with Josh Bolten without a dramatic change in policy will not right this ship."

Mr. Bush gathered at mid-morning with members of his Cabinet in the Rose Garden after discussions about the war on terror. He ignored shouted questions from reporters about why he made the staff changes. Mr. Bush said he would deliver a speech on Wednesday about Iraq.

"We had a chance to honor two members of my Cabinet who won't be with us much longer. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, Chief of Staff Andy Card," Mr. Bush said. "These two folks have served our country with distinction and honor. I'm proud to work side-by-side with them, and I'm proud to call them friend."

To the public, Card may be best known as the aide who calmly walked into a Florida school room and whispered into Mr. Bush's ear that America was under attack on Sept. 11, 2001. He was known for keeping his cool under pressure. When Mr. Bush's father, then President George H.W. Bush, got sick at a banquet in Tokyo, aides and security officials ran toward the president. Card ran in the opposite direction, out the door to make sure the motorcade was ready to rush Mr. Bush away.

Card, 58, stood stoically with his hands by his sides as Mr. Bush lauded his years of service through the Sept. 11 attacks, war and legislative and economic challenges. Gripping the podium, Card said in his farewell: "You're a good man, Mr. President." Card's eyes were watery. Card said he looks forward to just being Mr. Bush's friend. The president then gave him five quick slaps on the back and the two walked out of the Oval Office together.

In his remarks, Bolton said, "I'm deeply honored now by the opportunity to succeed Andy Card as White House chief of staff. I said succeed Andy Card, not replace him, because he cannot be replaced."

Mr. Bush was asked at last week's White House news conference about rumors that a shakeup in his staff was in the works. Mr. Bush said he was "satisfied with the people I've surrounded myself with."

Card has been Mr. Bush' chief of staff from the first day of his presidency. A veteran of the administrations of both President Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush, he was widely respected by his colleagues in the Bush White House. They fondly called him "chief."

He usually arrived at work in the West Wing by around 5:30 a.m. and frequently did not leave until 9 or 10 p.m.

Card plans to stay on the job until April 14, when the switch with Bolten takes place.

Associates said that Card, who was secretary of Transportation and deputy chief of staff, had wanted to establish himself as the longest serving White House chief of staff. James Steelman, who was President Harry S. Truman's chief of staff, had served for six years and Card's tenure will have gone not much longer than five years.

Card did not immediately disclose his plans. His resignation immediately prompted questions about whether he would return to Massachusetts to run for governor or perhaps challenge Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who currently faces no major GOP challenge for re-election this fall, or Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., whom he helped defeat as the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee and who faces re-election in 2008.