John Bolton AP PHOTO

Bolton got the position in August 2005, appointed by Bush when Congress was in recess. With that temporary assignment about to expire, and his long fight for confirmation going nowhere, Bolton made it official Dec. 4.

He handed in a resignation letter that did not mention the political fight behind it. It said simply: "I have concluded that my service in your administration should end when the current recess appointment expires."

"I accepted. I'm not happy about it," Bush said in the Oval Office, with Bolton at his side. Bush did not name a replacement, and officials offered no timetable for an announcement.

The setback for the White House seemed to put a hold on talk of bipartisanship after last month's election gave control of the Senate and the House of Representatives to Democrats. Both formerly were in the hands of Bush's Republican Party.

Bush considered Bolton a strong voice as the United Nations dealt with crises in Iraq, Lebanon, North Korea and other complex matters around the world. Bolton also pushed the administration's effort to reform the United Nations.

Most Democrats strongly opposed Bolton, whom they viewed as a brusque, ill-suited diplomat.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 9, 2006
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