WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who often struggled for influence as the lone moderate in an administration dominated by foreign policy hawks, resigned Monday. National security advisor Condoleezza Rice will replace him, with an official announcement coming as early as today, senior officials said.
Rice, who is expected to be succeeded as head of the National Security Council by her deputy, Stephen J. Hadley, supported a hard-line approach to foreign policy during President Bush's first term. A former provost of Stanford University and a specialist in Russian studies, she forged an unusually close relationship with Bush in the early days of his quest for the presidency.
Also on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, Education Secretary Rod Paige and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham submitted their resignations, as Bush continued to reshape the senior leadership of his administration on the eve of his second term.
Although postelection reshuffling had been expected, the departure of Powell and Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft, who announced his resignation last week, removes two of the heaviest hitters in the president's Cabinet.
Powell, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Persian Gulf War before being named the nation's first black secretary of State, has been one of the most respected figures in the U.S. government both at home and abroad. His high standing in public opinion polls was not affected by his support for the Iraq war -- even after initial military successes gave way to chaos and continuing bloodshed.
In a statement, Bush hailed Powell, 67, as "one of the great public servants of our time," saying: "He is a soldier, a diplomat, a civic leader, a statesman and a great patriot. I value his friendship. He will be missed."
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld -- who opposed Powell inside the administration on issues such as military policy in Iraq and U.S. relations with traditional allies -- praised the outgoing secretary of State on Monday and sought to dismiss the notion that they had a contentious history.
"He's an enormously talented individual," Rumsfeld said. "I've been kind of amused at the press' desire to sell newsprint by constantly creating, trying to fabricate friction."
Rumsfeld said give-and-take was natural among any president's top advisors, calling it a "healthy thing" for the U.S. government.
