Christie Todd Whitman to resign from Bush administration

I’ve always felt a little sorry for Christie Todd Whitman. A moderate Republican from New Jersey with a strong record on environmental issues, Whitman was a fine choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency in the Bush administration.

I’ve felt badly for her, though, because she was the right person for the right job in the wrong administration. No matter how strong her convictions on environmental protections, Whitman has always been alone in an administration that is indifferent to the environment.

It came as little surprise, therefore, that Whitman announced her resignation from the Bush administration today, citing the proverbial desire to “spend more time with my family.”

Whitman was in an unenviable position. She oversaw the EPA while her boss fought successfully to cut and eliminate funding for enforcement of regulations to protect the environment.

Sadly, there were two controversies for which Whitman gained notoriety during her tenure, neither of them left her looking good.

First, there was the “four pollutant” policy. During the 2000 campaign, Bush promised to curb carbon dioxide emissions as part of a “four pollutant” environmental strategy. Just two months into Bush’s term, Whitman insisted that the president would stick to his campaign promise. Shortly thereafter, the White House announced Whitman was wrong and that the campaign promise had been made “in error.” In March 2001, Bush made it official by telling GOP lawmakers in Congress that his administration opposes mandatory limits on carbon dioxide, after having argued the opposite six months prior.

Second, there was the EPA “chauffeuring” flap. Just last month, reporters learned that EPA agents assigned to investigate environmental crimes had been ordered to do personal favors for Whitman, including returning her husband’s rental car and holding a table at a fancy restaurant so she wouldn’t lose her reservation. It turns out Whitman also gave EPA employees “professional conduct” lists, including instructions for her chauffeurs to “ensure they rent only a Lincoln Town Car, tune the radio to smooth jazz or classical music and set the volume low, and keep an eye out for a Starbucks coffee shop or Barnes & Noble book store.”

If it seems like the Bush administration has had exceedingly few cabinet resignations over the last 29 months, you’re right. Whitman is only the second cabinet-level official to leave, following former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, who was forced out of office in December as part of an attempt to bring in a “fresh” economic team.