Karl Rove Resigns

Karl Rove, President Bush's close friend and chief political strategist, plans to leave the White House at the end of August, joining a lengthening line of senior officials heading for the exits in the final 1 1/2 years of the administration.

A longtime member of Mr. Bush's inner circle, Mr. Rove was nicknamed "the architect" by the president for designing the strategy that twice won him the White House.

A criminal investigation put Mr. Rove under scrutiny for months during the investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's name but he was never charged with any crime.

Mr. Bush was expected to make a statement Monday with Mr. Rove.

More here, via The NY Sun.

Back in 2003, Contributing Editor John J. Pitney asked whether Rove really was Bush's brain.