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Bill Daley Steps Down as White House Chief of Staff

David McAlpine |
January 9, 2012 | 5:38 p.m. PST

Supervising Executive Producer

(Photo via Wikimedia commons)
(Photo via Wikimedia commons)
White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley resigned Monday in a surprise decision that comes at the beginning of a quickly escalating presidential election year.

Daley, the son of former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and brother of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, stepped down after a year marked with what many have considered failed attempts to reach across the aisle to confessional Republicans.

From The Wall Street Journal:

Mr. Obama brought him into the White House in the wake of Democratic losses in the 2010 election as the White House sought to recalibrate. Mr. Obama's outreach to congressional Republicans culminated this summer with a fight over raising the debt ceiling and a failed effort to reach a bipartisan "grand bargain" on reducing the federal deficit.

The president has since decided to campaign against Congress, traveling the country with a populist message designed to challenge Republicans. He solidified the shift last month with a speech in Kansas in which he cast himself as a fighter for the middle class against congressional Republicans and Wall Street—an approach ill-suited for Mr. Daley's background and perspective.

President Obama named Daley's successor later Monday, current White House budget director Jacob Lew.

From The Kansas City Star:

Standing with Lew and Daley in the White House State Dining Room, Obama said he had "every confidence that Jack will make sure that we don't miss a beat," noting that Lew as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget already has "one of the other most difficult jobs in Washington."

White House officials said Daley will remain at the White House through the end of the month. In earlier interviews, Daley indicated he would stay with the Obama administration through the end of the presidential campaign.

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