White House spokesman Ari Fleischer to step down

US: President Bush's spokesman, Mr Ari Fleischer, yesterday announced that he is to resign his post this summer "after 21 years…

US: President Bush's spokesman, Mr Ari Fleischer, yesterday announced that he is to resign his post this summer "after 21 years of doing nothing but government and politics."

"My heart tells me it's time to go," he told reporters. Mr Fleischer (42), a New Yorker who got married six months ago, said he would spend the next 18 months trying to help Mr Bush get re-elected, then move to Westchester, New York.

"I informed President Bush last week that after 21 years of doing nothing but government and politics I have decided that my time has come to leave the White House. And I will leave later this summer, most likely in July," Mr Fleischer said.

A deputy press secretary, Mr Scott McClellan, was seen as a likely replacement.

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Mr Fleischer said he was exhausted after working through the September 11th crisis, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the anthrax attacks and other issues. "They just take their toll on your ability to serve," he said.

The White House press secretary, who has enjoyed a close relationship with Mr Bush, said he told the President last Friday of his decision in an emotional meeting at the end of which Mr Bush kissed him on his bald head.

"This is a wonderful job. I love this job, I love President Bush, I believe deeply in President Bush, the policies and the man.

"But there comes a time in public service when you have to know when it is time to go to pursue other endeavours," he said.

A veteran of Capitol Hill, Mr Fleischer signed on with the Bush campaign four years ago after Ms Elizabeth Dole abandoned her race for the Republican presidential nomination.

"I really want to unwind, do something more relaxing like dismantle live nuclear weapons," he joked.

As he walked off the podium from his early, off-camera briefing, he added: "Can you say Nantucket in August? I'm one of those white-wine swillers on the east coast."