Heads roll: Out goes Rumsfeld, in comes Gates

Bush introduces new Defence Secretary Robert GatesFaced with loss of Congress control, President Bush responded with a series of conciliatory measures, firing his Secretary of Defence, extending an olive branch to Democrats and vowing to strike a new tone of bi-partisanship after years of partisan rancor.

With Democrats control of the Senate hinging on the outcome of an unsettled contest in Virginia, Mr. Bush said he was “obviously disappointed.” Mr. Bush portrayed the results as a “thumpin” of Republicans and conceded he bore part of the responsibility.

Just days after declaring he would keep Secretary of Defence Rumsfeld, Mr. Bush said the two had agreed “after a series of thoughtful conversations” it was time for Mr. Rumsfeld to go. The president asked Robert M. Gates, who served as director of central intelligence under Mr. Bush’s father, to serve as his new Defence secretary.