Andrew H. Card, Jr.

Andrew H. Card, Jr., who served as President George W. Bush's first Chief of Staff, resigned March 28, 2006. Card was replaced by Joshua B. Bolten, Budget Director and policy director for the 2000 Bush campaign. 


 * Director, Points of Light Foundation

Invasion of Iraq
Card helped coordinate the White House campaign for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In September 2002, the New York Times quoted Card as saying, "From a marketing point of view you don't introduce new products in August." Card was explaining what the Times characterized as a "meticulously planned strategy to persuade the public, the Congress, and the allies of the need to confront the threat from Saddam Hussein." George W. Bush credited Card with the idea for Bush's brief visit to 600 U.S. soldiers celebrating Thanksgiving in Baghdad in 2003.

Profiles
Andrew H. Card, Jr. (b. May 10, 1947) served as Secretary of Transportation under President George Herbert Walker Bush (1992), and was Chief of Staff during the presidential transition in 2000-2001.

Card has also served as director of government affairs at General Motors Corp. (1999-2000); president and CEO, American Automobile Manufacturers Association (1993-1998); assistant to the president and deputy White House chief of staff (1989-92); New Hampshire primary campaign manager for George W. Bush (1987-88); special assistant to President Ronald Reagan for intergovernmental affairs (1983-87); candidate for Massachusetts governor (1983); various Massachusetts elected and appointed offices, including state legislator (1971-82); structural design engineer (1971-75). He received a B.S. in engineering from U.S.C. in 1971.

On December 16, 2000, the Associated Press reported that Card "already has Bush family and White House credentials.


 * "He was President Ronald Reagan's liaison to the nation's governors and then, after George Bush (the president-elect's father) was elected president in 1988, Card stayed on as assistant to chief of staff John Sununu. He later became transportation secretary."


 * "Card's history with the Bush family began in 1980" when he, Andrew Natsios ("a Card confidant" and then "in charge of Boston's massive 'Big Dig' highway project") and Paul Cellucci -- the incumbent Massachusetts governor who is believed to be in line for a Bush administration job -- led the elder George Bush's presidential campaign in Massachusetts."


 * "Card, after a failed run for governor in 1982, joined Reagan's administration and stayed through Bush's. ... After the Democrats won the White House in 1992, Card helped organize the transition, then found a lobbying job with the American Automobile Manufacturers Association, representing the big three U.S. car companies.


 * "That led to a job as director of government affairs for General Motors for Card, who lives in Holbrook, Mass. He took a leave of absence when the Bush family came calling again."


 * George W. Bush "sought him out to coordinate the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Card is credited with staging a seamless political coronation with no intraparty squabbling." Card's second in command at the convention was Republican consultant Ed Gillespie.


 * "In 1980, Card also helped form the Ward Commission, which investigated corruption in construction of the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts."

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Bush's White House Staff
 * White House Iraq Group