White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, who is battling cancer, will step down in two weeks and be replaced by his deputy, Dana Perino, President George W. Bush said today.
"It's been a joy to watch him spar with you," Mr Bush told reporters. "He's smart, he's capable, he's witty, he's ... able to talk about issues in a way the American people understand."
Mr Snow (52) a former Fox News commentator who was hired last year, announced in March that he had suffered a recurrence of colon cancer.
"I don't know what he's going to do, I'm not sure he does yet either," Mr Bush said. "One, he'll battle cancer and win, and secondly he'll be a solid contributor to society."
Mr Snow, who will depart on September 14th, said he plans to give speeches and stay involved with politics. "I'm going to try to turn cancer into a chronic disease rather than a fatal disease," Mr Snow added.
Mr Snow has been working while undergoing chemotherapy. A few weeks ago he indicated he would be leaving for financial reasons sometime before Bush's term ends in January 2009.
"I ran out of money," Mr Snow said.
Perino (35) has served as Mr Snow's deputy since March 2006 and filled in for him in March and April this year while he was treated for cancer.
Mr Snow is the latest in a string of high-level White House officials to depart. Friday was the last day at work for senior White House adviser Karl Rove.
Mr Snow described Mr Rove's final senior staff meeting this morning as "emotional." White House counsellor Dan Bartlett, another longtime Mr Bush adviser from Texas, left earlier this year.