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American Morning
White House Resignation
Aired December 17, 2002 - 09:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is developing news right now. Another member of the Bush administration says he is going to leave that position. Our senior White House correspondent John King shakes down the details.
What gives, John?
Good morning.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill. Nick Calio is not a name known to many Americans, not a face known to many Americans, but he is a critical behind the scenes player here at the White House and up On Capitol hill. His job up on Capitol Hill, the president's point chief in Congress, his chief congressional liaison. Whether it comes to passage of the tax cut, ultimately passage of the new Department of Homeland Security, the big education reform bill, dealing with a very narrow Republican majority in the House, first, a Republican majority in the Senate, then the Jim Jeffords defection, Democratic control of the Senate, and now of course preparations for a new Republican majority in the Senate come January, Nick Calio has been a key pointman for this administration, the lead negotiator.
Whether the issue be tax cuts, education and anything else on Capitol Hill, he is leaving the White House, he submitted this resignation letter this morning to the president, thanking the president for the opportunity to serve. He says his reasons are leaving to are simple, two 'f''s, he says, financial and family. Mr. Calio worked in the first Bush administration, and before joining this Bush administration was one of the highest paid lobbyists in Washington. He says he needs to go back into the private sector to support his family. He will leave effective January 10th, some significance to that date. That is four days after Senate Republicans will caucus us to determine the fate of Senator Trent Lott as their leader, and perhaps the Senate majority leader.
So Nick Calio moving on. He has tried to leave, actually, Bill, after one year. The president and the vice president convinced him to stay. Nick Calio will be leaving this White House in a few weeks. The White House has no word on a replacement yet. Senior officials also say, from the president on down, they now he will be sorely missed -- Bill.
HEMMER: Often tough to break those bonds, especially when you've got the president saying stick on.
Thank you, John. John King on the Front Lawn. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 17, 2002 - 09:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is developing news right now. Another member of the Bush administration says he is going to leave that position. Our senior White House correspondent John King shakes down the details.
What gives, John?
Good morning.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill. Nick Calio is not a name known to many Americans, not a face known to many Americans, but he is a critical behind the scenes player here at the White House and up On Capitol hill. His job up on Capitol Hill, the president's point chief in Congress, his chief congressional liaison. Whether it comes to passage of the tax cut, ultimately passage of the new Department of Homeland Security, the big education reform bill, dealing with a very narrow Republican majority in the House, first, a Republican majority in the Senate, then the Jim Jeffords defection, Democratic control of the Senate, and now of course preparations for a new Republican majority in the Senate come January, Nick Calio has been a key pointman for this administration, the lead negotiator.
Whether the issue be tax cuts, education and anything else on Capitol Hill, he is leaving the White House, he submitted this resignation letter this morning to the president, thanking the president for the opportunity to serve. He says his reasons are leaving to are simple, two 'f''s, he says, financial and family. Mr. Calio worked in the first Bush administration, and before joining this Bush administration was one of the highest paid lobbyists in Washington. He says he needs to go back into the private sector to support his family. He will leave effective January 10th, some significance to that date. That is four days after Senate Republicans will caucus us to determine the fate of Senator Trent Lott as their leader, and perhaps the Senate majority leader.
So Nick Calio moving on. He has tried to leave, actually, Bill, after one year. The president and the vice president convinced him to stay. Nick Calio will be leaving this White House in a few weeks. The White House has no word on a replacement yet. Senior officials also say, from the president on down, they now he will be sorely missed -- Bill.
HEMMER: Often tough to break those bonds, especially when you've got the president saying stick on.
Thank you, John. John King on the Front Lawn. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
