WASHINGTON – Signaling more possible changes to his staff, President Bush said Tuesday that he looks forward to recommendations from his new chief of staff on "how to get the White House to function in an effective way."
Budget director Joshua Bolten is preparing to take over leadership of the president's staff after Andrew Card, who resigned last week, leaves April 14 the position he's held since Bush's first day in office. With his support at a low point, Bush's critics and even some Republicans have been complaining about White House leadership and saying Bush needs some fresh ideas.
"I told Josh that he will organize the White House in such a way that he is comfortable with and that meets my needs," Bush responded when asked if there would be far-reaching changes at the White House under Bolten. "And my needs are to have good crisp information so I can make decisions on behalf of the American people. And I look forward to Josh's recommendations as to how to get this White House to — for the last two and a half years of my administration — to continue to function in an effective way.
"And it functioned very effectively under Andy Card, by the way," Bush said. "I'm most proud of his administration and proud of the team that he assembled."
Bush spoke after meeting with advocates of his health care plan in the West Wing's Roosevelt Room. Among those seated at the table was Treasury Secretary John Snow, who some have speculated may be leaving the administration soon.
When asked if Snow would be staying on, Bush replied, "He has been a valuable member of my administration and I trust his judgment and appreciate his service."
Bush called Card "my long-time friend, a person who will go down in the annals as one of the really finest chiefs of staff in the history of the White House."
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