Person of the Week: Karl Rove

Nov. 5, 2004 -- -- Among the many people President Bush thanked in his re-election victory speech was his senior adviser and chief political strategist, Karl Rove.

"Karl Rove, the architect," Bush said to huge applause.

Rove, 53, is an architect, indeed, who is both powerful and polarizing.

"Karl Rove is the single most influential person with the staff inside this White House. He's a guy who 14 or 15 years ago put together a blueprint to make George Bush the president of the United States and succeeded," said Dallas Morning News reporter Wayne Slater.

It was Rove who designed the president's re-election campaign.

"Without Karl Rove, George Bush would never have been governor of Texas, would never have been elected president the first time and clearly would never have been re-elected in 2004," Slater said.

Rove and Bush have known each other for more than 30 years. Rove advises him on every issue that involves political and public opinion, which is virtually every issue.

"You're going to see Karl's influence on everything from decisions on who's going to be in the Supreme Court, environmental issues, on tax issues, but most importantly on the value issues," Slater said.

Rove's influence with the president is the subject of endless speculation and universal fascination. His critics often refer to him as a puppeteer.

They were the ones who saw an apparent bulge in the back of the president's suit jacket in the first 2004 presidential debate and claimed it was a device allowing Rove to whisper guidance in the president's ear.

"It's almost as if whatever happens, whatever goes on, its expected Karl Rove is behind it," Slater said.