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White House says goodbye to outgoing chief of staff Card

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 14, 2006

WASHINGTON - White House chief of staff Andy Card's last day working with President Bush started at 5:50 a.m. - a little late for the West Wing boss.

Card is known for being one of the first members of the president's staff to arrive to work, but on Thursday, about 150 staffers beat him in.

As Card's driver pulled through the White House gate, White House staff members lined both sides of the drive and greeted him with applause. Card joked that he was tardy.

There have been formal goodbye parties to recognize Card's more than five years on the job. But this early morning gathering was attended by a wide range of White House employees, from custodians up to Card's replacement, Joshua Bolten.

As Card walked inside, the corridor's walls were lined with jumbo prints of him during his years of service. Later, some items were moved from Card's office and hauled away in black vans.

Card's official last day of work is today, but Thursday was his final day working with the president, who left in the afternoon for Camp David to spend Easter weekend with his family.

Before Bush left for the presidential retreat, he and Card walked out of the Oval Office and strolled arm-in-arm around the colonnade, which is adorned with red tulips.

[Last modified April 14, 2006, 01:58:12]