Bringing Evolution, Not Revolution

Bolten joined the Bush team in 1989, working as general counsel of the U.S. trade representative and then as a White House lobbyist under President George H.W. Bush. He spent five years in London for Goldman Sachs International before being recruited at Christmas 1998 to go to Texas for the next Bush campaign. "I fell in love with the governor and the whole operation, the whole spirit of the operation," Bolten told C-SPAN last year.

Giving up the Goldman Sachs money, Bolten developed the campaign's policy platform, then helped enact it as deputy White House chief of staff in President Bush's first term. He was instrumental in pushing through tax cuts and the education plan known as No Child Left Behind. He also spearheaded a $15 billion plan to fight AIDS around the world, battling with Mitchell E. Daniels Jr., the director of the Office of Management and Budget, who objected to the cost.

When Daniels resigned in 2003, Bush tapped Bolten to take over OMB and the annual $2.8 trillion federal budget.

Bolten produced two consecutive budgets that cut discretionary, nonsecurity spending, but the cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as soaring Medicare expenses have pumped up deficits.

Within the administration, Bolten earned a reputation as tight-fisted and more "overtly demanding" than Card, as one colleague put it, while making few enemies. "He's well-liked by all who know him, even if they don't agree with every decision that he makes," said former commerce secretary Donald L. Evans. "You can't help but say Josh Bolten is a fair and good man."

And Bolten repaired some relations on Capitol Hill frayed under Daniels, who was seen as less deferential to congressional egos. Bolten stroked the likes of Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), terming him the "Incredible Hulk" of lawmakers. Bolten "is respected as a straight shooter and good listener," said Rob Portman, a member of the House leadership before becoming U.S trade representative last year.

Bolten views himself as an honest broker and eschews public attention. "It's best that you keep yourself out of the equation," he told C-SPAN, "and in that way make sure that others have confidence that you're not running your own agenda -- you're just running the president's agenda, which was my objective. Still is."

Still, he will not bring fresh legs to the assignment. Many Republicans around Washington attributed at least some of Bush's political problems to a tired White House staff that has remained largely intact since the beginning of his presidency. Card served longer than any other chief of staff in half a century.

Bolten has been with Bush since the start, as well, working as many if not more hours than Card. Although he gets into the office later than Card, just in time for the 7:30 a.m. senior staff meeting, Bolten is regularly seen at the office until 10 or 11 at night before climbing into his 12-year-old Ford pickup to drive home. (After long resistance, Bolten recently accepted the car and driver service entitled to high-ranking White House officials, according to colleagues.)

Nonetheless, some believe Bolten offers enough change to make a difference. "It's a significant change because he brings a different skill set than Andy did," said Cesar Conda, a former aide to Vice President Cheney. "Josh will bring some energy to the policymaking apparatus at the White House. And he'll bring good relations with the Hill."