One of President Bush’s closest advisers will celebrate this Independence Day by liberating himself from the White House inner circle. Dan Bartlett, who has served as Bush’s aide since his early political beginnings in Texas, announced on Friday (his 36th birthday) that he will be stepping down around July 4 to seek a new career.


AP via Breitbart.com:

With twin 3-year-old boys and another son born in January, Bartlett said it was time to pursue a new chapter of his life and “reacquaint myself with my family.” His wife, Allyson, had joked that they should name their newborn “Exit Strategy.”

Bartlett said he was open to job opportunities and had retained Washington attorney Bob Barnett to help him in the search.

It is a point of pride with Bartlett that he is Bush’s longest-serving staffer — longer than even political strategist Karl Rove, another Bush confidant whose tenure was interrupted by work as a political consultant. Before teaming up with Bush, Bartlett worked for Rove’s Austin-based consulting firm.

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