Bush names his new AG

President George Bush today proposed the first ever Hispanic Attorney General, nominating his long-time confidante Alberto Gonzales to replace John Ashcroft.

Mr Gonzales, the White House Counsel, was put forward for the job by Mr Bush a day after Mr Ashcroft announced he was standing down.

Mr Bush said Mr Gonzales was “a calm and steady voice in times of crisis” adding he had served in his current role with “skill and integrity”.

Mr Ashcroft’s announcement that he would depart the Justice Department, one week after Mr Bush won a second term in office, came as no surprise in Washington.

Aides to Mr Ashcroft said recently that the deeply religious Attorney General was exhausted from his years in government.

Mr Bush praised outgoing Mr Ashcroft, saying he “served with excellence during a demanding time”.

Since the September 11 attacks, Mr Ashcroft has taken the leading role in tackling terrorism at home.

The 62-year-old has long been a favourite among Bush’s base of religious conservatives. But he has come in for criticism by some Democrats and civil liberties groups for his anti-terrorism policies, which expanded rules for eavesdropping on the public.

Earlier this year Mr Ashcroft underwent surgery to remove his gall bladder.

Mr Ashcroft said in a handwritten resignation letter that “the demands of justice are both rewarding and depleting” and that the Justice Department would be well served “by new leadership and fresh inspiration”.

Mr Gonzales’ links to President Bush stretch back to his days in state politics in Texas.

Prior to serving in the White House, Mr Gonzales, a married father-of-three, served as a Texas Supreme Court judge.

Before his appointment to the court in 1999, he served as the 100th Secretary of State for Texas.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary of State, Mr Gonzales was the General Counsel to Mr Bush, the Texas governor, for three years.

The son of migrant workers thanked Mr Bush for the “excellent opportunity”, adding: “Just give me the chance to prove myself.” He vowed to run a Justice Department “guided by the rule of law”.

His nomination requires Senate approval before it is confirmed.

Other candidates for the Attorney General job were Mr Ashcroft’s former deputy Larry Thompson and Marc Racicot, chairman of Mr Bush’s re-election campaign.

The future of Secretary of the State Colin Powell is still unclear. According to some reports he may stay on for a few more months, but he has made it clear to friends that he does not wish to remain for a full second term.

Donald Rumsfeld, the 72-year-old Defence Secretary, is also widely expected to depart before the end of Mr Bush’s second term.

But his immediate future is considered safe and he may remain at the Pentagon for another year.