Andrew Card

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Andrew Hill "Andy" Card Jr. (born May 10, 1947 in Holbrook, Massachusetts) is an American businessman, advisor and President George W. Bush's first Chief of Staff. He announced his resignation on March 28, 2006 and it became effective April 14 2006. He assisted the President with many of his policy decisions and managed the daily operations of the White House staff. A native of Holbrook, Massachusetts, Card and his wife Kathleene have three children and four grandchildren.

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Early history

Card graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. He attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Card was active in the Boy Scouts of America during his youth. He was a member of the Old Colony Council, headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts.

Card got his start in politics serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1975–1983. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Governor of Massachusetts in 1982.

From 1993 to 1998, Card was President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the trade association whose members were Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation. The AAMA dissolved in December 1998.

From 1999 until his selection as President Bush's Chief of Staff, Card was General Motors' Vice President of Government Relations. Card directed the company's international, national, state and local government affairs activities and represented GM on matters of public policy before Congress and the Administration.

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Government career

Image:04-Bush.png Image:Card Bush.jpg From 1989 to 1992, Card served in President George H. W. Bush's administration as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff. Card served in President Ronald Reagan's administration as Special Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and subsequently as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, where he was liaison to governors, statewide elected officials, state legislators, mayors and other elected officials.

From 1992 until 1993, Card served as the 11th U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President George H. W. Bush. In August 1992, at the request of President Bush, Secretary Card coordinated the administration's disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. Later that year, Secretary Card directed President Bush's transition office during the transition from the Bush Administration to the Clinton Administration.

On September 11, 2001, it was Card who whispered in Bush's ear while the President was conducting an education event at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida that terrorists had attacked the United States. People most remember Card for this action. [1]

Card is known to have headed the White House Iraq Group (WHIG), whose members include Karl Rove, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Condoleezza Rice, Karen Hughes and Mary Matalin. This group is known for controlling public relations for the Iraq War.

On November 26, 2005, Card experienced a close call along with 12 other passengers aboard a Gulfstream twin-engine plane when smoke began pouring into the cockpit during the flight. The plane was bound for Washington, D.C., but the pilot managed to land safely at the Nashville International Airport. No injuries were reported.

On March 28, 2006, concurrent with announcing Card's resignation, the White House announced that OMB director Joshua B. Bolten was selected for the Chief of Staff position. [2]

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