Going, gushing, gone

Cabinet secretaries' resignation letters have not-so-hidden agendas.

WASHINGTON - Resignation letters are piling up in President Bush's in box.

He has received nine from his Cabinet secretaries in the past five weeks, including one released Wednesday from Anthony Principi, the secretary of veterans affairs. They illustrate the delicate art of the resignation letter, Washington style.

The letters are addressed to Bush but intended for a wider audience - voters, members of Congress, lobbyists, journalists and, most important, future employers.

Like Academy Award speeches, the letters provide a chance to remind everyone what you've accomplished and thank the little people.

They range from concise (125 words, Principi) to not-so-concise (957 words, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson).

The common denominators are flowery praise for the boss (Thompson: "You are a remarkable leader and a good friend") and a fair bit of bragging (Attorney General John Ashcroft: "The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved.")

Most secretaries don't explain what they will do next. Ashcroft wrote, "I believe my energies and talents should be directed toward other challenging horizons," though he did not name the horizon. Education Secretary Rod Paige said he would like to pursue a long-planned "personal project." An aide later said that referred to remodeling his house.

Here are a few highlights from the letters from Principi, Thompson, Ashcroft, Paige, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, Commerce Secretary Don Evans and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham.

All were typed except the letter from Ashcroft, who wrote his by hand because he apparently was afraid that if it were typed into a computer, somebody would leak it to the press.

The letters gush with accolades for President Bush, extolling his leadership, friendship and vision.

VENEMAN: "... there is no doubt that your vision and leadership have strengthened our farm economy and reinvigorated America's heartland."

ABRAHAM: "Clearly, the strength, determination and unflinching leadership you have demonstrated has been fully recognized and appreciated by the nation."

EVANS: "Your leadership inspired our nation and the world to reach higher and to try harder to achieve goals beyond conventional expectations."

PAIGE: "Because of your strong and clear leadership, our work has been a labor of love."

The letters praise the countless bureaucrats at the agencies.

RIDGE: "... exceptionally talented and dedicated public servants."

POWELL: "... the dedicated men and women of the Department of State."

PAIGE: "... the talented and committed men and women of the United States Department of Education."

The secretaries found working for Bush was humbling:

THOMPSON: "I have been continually humbled by the confidence you have placed in me."

VENEMAN: "I will always be thankful and humbled that you entrusted me to serve our nation during these extraordinary times."

RIDGE: "I have been honored to serve you and humbled by the trust you have placed in me."

Other than Evans, who primarily paid tribute to Bush, the outgoing secretaries spent much of their letters boasting.

Powell and Ridge offered broad claims of success, while Paige and Thompson gave lots of details. Thompson spent several long paragraphs listing his accomplishments - reducing drug abuse, reforming Medicare and increasing organ transplants, among others - but even that wasn't enough, so he attached a detailed list.

RIDGE: "We have made significant progress in strengthening the security of our nation."

ASHCROFT: "During the last four years our violent crime rate has plunged to a 30-year low. ... Corporate integrity has been restored with the work of your Corporate Fraud Task Force."

VENEMAN: "Our nation's diverse farm and food sector is stronger and more vibrant than ever before."

THOMPSON: "We are motivating Americans to put their health first by eating better and exercising more, making prevention of disease a household priority."

PAIGE: "The department's Web site has been transformed from a confusing, unattractive site to one of the best in the federal government."

THOMPSON: "May God bless you, your family and the United States of America."

ASHCROFT: "May God continue to bless, guide, and direct you and your family as you lead America forward in freedom."

VENEMAN: "May God continue to bless you and your family, and this great nation that we all love."

World and national headlines

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright