Colin Powell Submits His Resignation

When asked if anyone in the Administration requested that he stay in office, or if he offered to sat in office for an additional amount of time, Powell replied: "I made no offer. We had pretty much come to our mutual agreement without anybody having to make any offer, counteroffers, anything like that. We knew where we were heading."

Powell said that he and President Bush discussed his resignation on several occasions and that Bush agrees with, and supports Powell’s decision. White House Spokesman Scott McClellan said that Powell, by his own volition, tendered his resignation.

McClellan also noted that Education Secretary Rod Paige, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman resigned last Friday as well. Powell announced that he would execute the mission of Secretary of State until Congress chooses his replacement. Powell said that he would travel to Chile with President Bush tomorrow and later, would complete visits he already has scheduled.

Bush has chosen his Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, to succeed Powell. Rumors had circulated that Rice actually wanted Donald Rumsfeld’s position as Secretary of Defense. Rumsfeld has given no indication that he will retire.