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Karl Rove (born December 25, 1950 in Denver, Colorado) is currently U.S. President George W. Bush's chief political strategist.

In 1970, Karl Rove sneaked into the campaign office of Illinois Democrat Alan Dixon and stole some letterhead. He then printed up 1,000 party invitations promising "free beer, free food, girls and a good time for nothing," which he then distributes to homeless shelters.

After dropping out of the University of Utah in 1971, Karl Rove began his political career as the Executive Director of the College Republican National Committee. He held this position until 1972 when he became the National Chairman of the College Republicans (1973-1974). As chairman, Rove had access to many powerful politicians and government officials during the Watergate scandal, including then CIA director George H. W. Bush. For the next few years, he worked in various Republican Circles and assisted George H. W. Bush's 1980 presidential campaign. At the time, Rove's greatest claim to fame was that he had introduced Lee Atwater to George H. W. Bush.

In 1981, Rove founded a direct mail consulting firm, Karl Rove & Co., which was based out of Austin, Texas. This firm's first clients included Republican Governor Bill Clements and Democratic Congressman Phil Gramm, who later became a Republican. In 1993, Rove began advising George W. Bush's gubernatorial campaign. He continued, however, to operate his consulting business until 1999, when he sold the firm to focus his efforts on George W. Bush's bid for the presidency.

In 1993, according to the New York Times, John Ashcroft campaign pays Karl Rove & Co. over $300,000 to help with his senate race.

In 1999, the George Walker Bush campaign effort pays Karl Rove & Co. $2.5M for July through December. According to Rove, "About 30 percent of that is postage."

In 1999, Karl Rove sold Karl Rove & Co.

On the 12th of March, 2000, George W Bush and his wife Laura are photographed with, during a campaign stop at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

In 2000, during the Republican Primary, the Candidate to beat was the warhero former POW John Sidney McCain III. John Sidney McCain III is a man of integrity, noted for fighting corruption, such as advocating Campaign Reform such as Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. A whispercampaign against John Sidney McCain III occurred. The allegations were that John Sidney McCain III betrayed his fellow POWs and fathered interracial children. None of these rumors had any basis in fact. This campaign cost John Sidney McCain III the Republican Primary. Karl Rove is the probable source of the whispercampaign.

In November 2000, Karl Rove organized the the Republican Riots of 2000 in Florida, for stopping the recount of ballots.

In December 2000, Karl Rove signed a campaign disclosure form, but neglects to mention he is still President of Karl Rove & Co.

After Bush became the 43rd president, Karl Rove took a White House position as a Senior Advisor to the President. Rove is generally considered one of the most influential advisors in the Bush administration, and he has earned a reputation as an aggressive campaigner.

In March 2001, White House political adviser Karl Rove meets with executives from Intel, seeking approval for a merger between a Dutch company and an Intelsupplier. The government rubberstamps the deal, and Rove's $100,000 in Intelstock surges.

In June 2001, White House political adviser Karl Rove meets with two pharmaceutical industry lobbyists. At the time, Rove holds almost $250,000 in drug industry stocks.

On the 30th June 2001, White House political adviser Karl Rove divests his stocks in 23 companies, which included more than $100,000 in each Enron, Boeing, General Electric, and Pfizer.

On the 30th June 2001, the White House admits that political adviser Karl Rove was involved in administration energy policy meetings, while at the same time holding stock in energy companies including Enron.

On April 10, 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger meets with White House political adviser Karl Rove to discuss whether the actor should run for Governor of California in 2006.

On the 14th May, 2003, during a meeting with South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun, President George W Bush brings only two officials: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and political adviser Karl Rove.

On the 29th of August, 2003, retired ambassador Joseph C. Wilson names Karl Rove as the White House insider who leaked his wife's identity as a CIA operative to the press. If true, this is a treasonous act, putting both human life and National security at risk. This is what the father of the President has to say about the subject:

1999-04-26 "I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the names of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors." -- George Herbert Walker Bush

External Links

Sites Supporting Karl Rove

Sites Opposing Karl Rove

Further Reading

• Boy Genius: Karl Rove, the Brains Behind the Remarkable Political Triumph of George W. Bush, Lou Dubose, Jan Reid and Carl Cannon, 2003, Paperback, 256 pages, ISBN 1586481924.
• Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential, James C. Moore and Wayne Slater, John Wiley and Sons, 2003, hardcover, 416 pages, ISBN 0471423270.