(2005-07-10) — A tearful Karl Rove waved goodbye to reporters from the White House lawn today before boarding Marine One for his final ride in the presidential helicopter.

Mr. Rove’s long political career came to a shameful end when his attorney was forced to admit that in 2003 the White House political advisor didn’t even know the name of the wife of former ambassador Joe Wilson, nor what she did in her job at the CIA.

Official Washington has buzzed for weeks over rumors that Mr. Rove was the White House insider who blew CIA Agent Valerie Plame’s cover.

But according to a memo written by Newsweek reporter Matthew Cooper, Mr. Rove didn’t seem to know Ms. Plame’s name, and had only a vague notion of what she did for a living.

The revelation sent shock waves through an administration that had relied heavily on Mr. Rove to make the president look competent.

“I have asked my dear friend Karl Rove to step down, for the good of the nation,” said President Bush in a brief statement to reporters. “Karl will be tough to replace. As most of you know, he’s the one who makes me look smart, even though I’m of average intelligence, with college grades no better than Sen. John Kerry’s.”

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