John Snow is likely to be replaced as secretary of the
Treasury, according to press reports this week.
Reuters news service reported that Snow could be out as soon as the next month
or two, while The New York Times reported
that President Bush may nominate Andrew Card, his chief of staff, for the job.
Snow became the Treasury’s
top man in 2003. A former railroad executive, he has also held numerous
positions in the Department of
Transportation, including administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration; deputy undersecretary; assistant secretary for governmental
affairs; and deputy assistant secretary for policy, plans and international
affairs.
During his daily press briefing Dec. 6 at the White House, the
president’s press secretary, Scott McClellan, appeared to support Snow.
“We appreciate the great job that Secretary Snow is
doing. He’s an outstanding member of this team,” McClellan told reporters. “I
know that this is all part of the continuing Washington, DC, speculation game.
It’s a game that I’m not going to get into playing, as I’ve told you from this
podium.”
However, the
press secretary did leave the door open on the issue of Snow’s future. When
asked why the president wouldn’t publicly say that Snow had been asked to stay
on, McClellan said, “I have told you that we will keep you posted when we have
things to announce.”
