Plenty of Embarrassment to Go Around

CNN's John Roberts took the unusual step of mentioning on the air an e-mail he got from McClellan's former deputy. "Just got an e-mail from my old friend Trent Duffy, who was one of the deputies, saying, thanks a lot, man. Please include me in the . . . list of people as The Washington Post and others are."

Roberts added, belatedly: "Sorry, Trent."

If it's any consolation, Duffy can be assured that, from helicopter avionics to the White House briefing room, there's plenty of embarrassment to go around today.

The small group of reporters permitted to travel on Air Force One greeted McClellan with handshakes and applause when he went to visit the press cabin. He got a pat on the back from Joe Hagin, a deputy staff chief in the White House, and was described as "serene" by those who viewed him on the plane.

Briefing reporters, modest McClellan gave himself only a one sentence mention as he summarized the days news: "And then of course you heard the announcement that [Bush] and I made upon departure." Asked whether it was voluntary or forced, the spokesman spoke neutrally: "With the new chief of staff coming on board, it was a good time to make this decision."

McClellan, who should be worth a substantial sum in private-sector PR, said he hasn't thought much about what he'll do when he leaves in two or three weeks. To the end, he remained the cautious press secretary when asked about his successor ("I'm not going to get into speculating"), what he told Bush ("I'll leave it a private conversation") and further changes ("nothing else to announce today").

There were frequently times in the past when reporters thought that McClellan might quit in frustration over the administration's claims about Iraq's weapons or about the untruths he told (and was told) about the CIA leak case. For the first time today, he admitted he had considered resigning earlier. "I can't say there aren't days before when I've thought about it," he told reporters on Air Force One.

But instead of such a gesture, which surely would have been interpreted as a protest against his boss, McClellan held on -- until the president and colleagues he was so faithful to gave him a push out the door.