From USA Today:

Bush's chief to consider changes

By David Jackson and Andrea Stone, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Bush's new chief of staff will look at possible changes in White House operations and staff as the administration grapples with political problems that include falling approval ratings and strained relations with congressional Republicans.

President Bush said Tuesday he's naming budget director Joshua Bolten, 51, to replace current chief of staff Andy Card, who has served as Bush's top aide for more than five years.

Bush, who told reporters last week he was "satisfied" with his White House team, said Card, 58, approached him about leaving the exhausting post. Bush praised Card's "calm in crisis" and noted that he routinely put in the longest days at the White House.

Bolten, 51, is a lawyer who served as White House deputy chief of staff before becoming Bush's budget director. Bush called him a "creative policy thinker."

"Josh's job is to design a White House staff that meets the needs of the president," Bush told CNN en Español on Tuesday. "Josh has just begun to take a look at the White House structure, and I haven't had a chance to talk to him about the future yet."

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said it was premature to say whether there would be any more staff departures. But McClellan noted that Bolten has the authority to "manage the White House staff and to look at personnel issues throughout the administration."

Bolten's appointment came after weeks of calls for staff changes from Republicans such as Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Rep. Peter King of New York. The demands intensified after Bush tried but failed to persuade the GOP-controlled Congress to accept a deal to let an Arab-owned company run some operations at ports in six states.

King greeted Bolten's appointment warmly. "Bolten is highly respected on Capitol Hill," he said. "People feel they can deal with him."

Others said Bush needs to do more. "This is not a change," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss. He complained that swapping one White House insider for another was "not what they need. They still need men and women of stature and gravitas in a number of slots."

Presidents have often changed chiefs of staff in difficult times. But only a few new hires have made enough change to give a White House new direction. For example, Leon Panetta, a former California congressman, was brought into the White House in Bill Clinton's second year to impose discipline and focus.

The Bush White House already is known for its discipline and managerial skill. Bolten will be coping with a restive GOP Congress, a difficult war in Iraq, and the worst public opinion poll ratings of Bush's presidency.

Bush's staff change Tuesday reflected a hallmark of his management style: surrounding himself with trusted aides he knows well. Bolten served as policy director for Bush's 2000 presidential campaign before joining the administration at its outset.