FEMA Head Becomes Latest Bush Team Departure

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday December 27, 2002 06:32 by Reuters - Reuters

Joe Allbaugh resigned as FEMA director. He has a long history as a Jackson Stephens operative.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=1915398
Mon December 16, 2002 02:50 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Joe Allbaugh, one of the "Iron Triangle" of aides who helped George W. Bush win the presidency in 2000, has resigned as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a White House spokesman said on Monday.
It was the latest in a string of departures of senior Bush administration officials following mid-term elections in November. Two top economic officials have been ousted and a senior White House aide is also leaving.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Allbaugh left "to pursue other endeavors" after nine years of working with Bush.

"Joe is one of the president's staunchest supporters and good friends ... The president is going to miss him a great deal. He's a great guy, a real kind man, a gentle giant and we'll miss him," Fleischer told reporters.

Allbaugh was the manager of Bush's 2000 presidential campaign. Allbaugh, Karl Rove and Karen Hughes -- the "Iron Triangle" -- were considered Bush's innermost circle of advisers, known for managerial and organizational skills.

Allbaugh said in a release he would assist as FEMA is moved into the new Department of Homeland Security and would leave the administration in March. He said he was leaving to enter the private sector and spend more time with his wife and children.

As head of FEMA, Allbaugh was deeply involved in the federal response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and in preparing emergency workers across the country to deal with any future attack.

Last week, the White House announced the resignation plans of Mary Matalin, top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and an adviser to Bush.

Matalin is expected to remain heavily involved with the White House, in a capacity similar to that of Hughes, who left a top job at the White House last year but still works closely with Bush.

Bush earlier pushed out Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and White House economic adviser Lawrence Lindsey to revamp his economic team.

Rove remains at the White House as a senior adviser and top political strategist.
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http://www.geocities.com/burningbush2000/20.html
[November 18, 1988]Joe Allbaugh was hired by Jackson Stephens, Little Rock, Arkansas "to seek bond underwriting jobs in Oklahoma."

http://www.etherzone.com/1998/reich4.html
Jackson Stephens, the Riadys of the Lippo Group, and Saudi BCCI agents were all investors in the Worthen bank and financiers for Bill Clinton.

http://www.thedubyareport.com/bushbin.html
This is the same Jackson Stephens-BCCI consortium, including Khalid bin Mahfouz, from the Harken bail out for George W. Bush.