Andrew Card

Andy Card
Card in 2002
Andy Card
Born	Andrew Hill Card Jr. 10 5, 1947
Birthplace	Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, academic administrator
Known for	White House Chief of Staff (2001–2006), informing President George W. Bush of the September 11 attacks
Education	University of South Carolina (B.S.)
Spouse(s)	Kathleene Card
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (nominee discussed in sources)

Andrew Hill Card Jr. (born May 10, 1947) is an American politician, government official, and academic administrator who served in senior positions across three presidential administrations spanning more than two decades. He is perhaps most indelibly associated with a single moment in American history: on the morning of September 11, 2001, it was Card who leaned down and whispered into President George W. Bush's ear at a Florida elementary school, informing him that a second plane had struck the World Trade Center and that "America is under attack." Card served as the 21st White House Chief of Staff under President George W. Bush from January 2001 to April 2006, one of the longest tenures in that role in modern American history. Before that, he served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff and then as the 11th United States Secretary of Transportation under President George H. W. Bush. Earlier in his career, Card served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and held a position in the Reagan Administration. Following his years in government, Card moved into academic leadership, serving as acting dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University and later as president of Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.

Early Life

Andrew Hill Card Jr. was born on May 10, 1947, in Brockton, Massachusetts. He grew up in the southeastern Massachusetts area and developed an interest in public service from an early age. Card's upbringing in the working-class communities of Massachusetts would later inform his political career, first as a state legislator and then as a figure on the national stage.

Details about Card's family background and childhood are limited in publicly available sources. What is documented is that he went on to pursue higher education and entered politics at the state level in Massachusetts during the 1970s, a period when the Republican Party in the state was a minority but still maintained a presence in the legislature.

Education

Card attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. His technical background in engineering distinguished him from many of his contemporaries in politics and would later prove relevant during his tenure as Secretary of Transportation, where infrastructure and engineering policy intersected with his governmental responsibilities. Card also pursued graduate studies at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, though he did not complete a graduate degree there.

Career

Massachusetts State Legislature

Card began his political career in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he served from 1975 to 1983. He initially represented the 8th Norfolk district from 1975 to 1979, and then represented the 7th Plymouth district from 1979 to 1983. During his time in the state legislature, Card gained experience in the legislative process and in navigating the politics of a state dominated by the Democratic Party. His tenure in the Massachusetts House provided a foundation for his later roles in federal government.

Card was succeeded in the 8th Norfolk district by Bill Keating, who would go on to serve in the United States Congress, and in the 7th Plymouth district by Emmet Hayes.

Reagan Administration

After leaving the Massachusetts state legislature, Card transitioned to federal government service. In 1988, he was appointed Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs under President Ronald Reagan, serving from May 2, 1988, to September 21, 1988. In this role, Card was responsible for coordinating the relationship between the White House and state, county, and municipal governments across the United States. Although his tenure in this specific position was brief, it placed him within the senior echelons of the White House staff and positioned him for advancement in the subsequent administration.

George H. W. Bush Administration

White House Deputy Chief of Staff

With the inauguration of President George H. W. Bush on January 20, 1989, Card was appointed White House Deputy Chief of Staff, a role he held until February 3, 1992. As deputy chief of staff, Card was responsible for helping to manage the day-to-day operations of the White House and served as a key liaison between the president and various governmental agencies and political constituencies. His predecessor in the role was M. B. Oglesby, and he was succeeded by Henson Moore.

During his time as deputy chief of staff, Card was involved in the coordination of the federal government's response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, one of the most destructive natural disasters in American history at that time. This experience in crisis management would foreshadow his later role in managing the federal response to the September 11 attacks.

Secretary of Transportation

On February 24, 1992, Card was sworn in as the 11th United States Secretary of Transportation, succeeding Samuel K. Skinner, who had moved to the position of White House Chief of Staff. Card served in this cabinet-level position for the remainder of the George H. W. Bush presidency, until January 20, 1993. As Secretary of Transportation, Card oversaw a department with tens of thousands of employees and responsibility for the nation's aviation, highway, railroad, maritime, and transit systems.

Card's tenure as Secretary of Transportation, while relatively brief at less than a year, coincided with significant policy discussions about transportation infrastructure and safety. He was succeeded by Federico Peña, who was appointed by incoming President Bill Clinton.

Private Sector (1993–2001)

Following the end of the George H. W. Bush administration in January 1993, Card moved into the private sector. He served in various roles, including work with the automobile industry as president and chief executive of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. Card's private sector experience gave him a different perspective on the intersection of government policy and industry, particularly in the areas of transportation, trade, and regulation.

George W. Bush Administration

Appointment as Chief of Staff

When George W. Bush was elected president in November 2000, he selected Card to serve as his White House Chief of Staff. Card assumed the role on January 20, 2001, succeeding John Podesta, who had served under President Clinton. Card's selection reflected his deep experience in White House operations and his longstanding relationship with the Bush family, having served the elder Bush in multiple capacities.

September 11, 2001

Card's most publicly recognized moment came on the morning of September 11, 2001. President Bush was visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, where he was reading to a group of second graders as part of a planned education event. After the first plane struck the World Trade Center in New York City, Card and other staff were made aware of the developing situation. When a second plane struck the South Tower, confirming that the nation was under a coordinated terrorist attack, it was Card who approached the president and whispered in his ear: "A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack."

The image of Card leaning down to deliver this message to the seated president became one of the most iconic photographs of the September 11 attacks and of the early 21st century. Card has spoken publicly about that moment on numerous occasions in the years since. In September 2025, he visited the Peoria Riverfront Museum in Illinois, which unveiled a September 11 exhibit on the 24th anniversary of the attacks. Card participated in a public conversation about his experiences that day.

Reflecting on the moment, Card has described the brevity and precision required in communicating with the president during a crisis, noting that his goal was to provide essential information without creating panic in a room full of young children and television cameras.

White House Iraq Group

Card served as head of the White House Iraq Group, a body established in August 2002 to coordinate the messaging and public communications strategy regarding the Bush administration's case for military action against Iraq. The group included senior administration officials from the national security, communications, and policy staffs. Card's leadership of this group placed him at the center of one of the most consequential and controversial policy initiatives of the Bush presidency.

Tenure and Resignation

Card served as White House Chief of Staff for more than five years, from January 20, 2001, to April 14, 2006. His tenure was the second-longest for a chief of staff in the modern era, and it encompassed some of the most consequential events in recent American history, including the September 11 attacks, the war in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, and the federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Card announced his resignation on March 28, 2006, with an effective date of April 14, 2006. He was succeeded by Joshua Bolten, who had been serving as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The resignation came at a time when the Bush administration was facing declining public approval ratings and increasing criticism over the handling of the Iraq War and the response to Hurricane Katrina. Card's departure was part of a broader staff reshuffling aimed at reinvigorating the administration during its second term.

Post-Government Career

Private Sector and Board Service

After leaving the White House in 2006, Card returned to the private sector. He joined the board of directors of Union Pacific Corporation in July 2006. In November 2007, Card joined Fleishman-Hillard, the international public relations firm, in a senior advisory capacity.

In 2019, Card joined the board of directors of Draganfly Inc., a drone technology company, drawing on his experience in transportation and technology policy.

2010 U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2009, following the death of Senator Ted Kennedy, Card publicly expressed interest in seeking the open Massachusetts Senate seat in the January 2010 special election. He explored a candidacy for the Republican nomination. However, Card ultimately did not become the Republican nominee; the nomination went to Scott Brown, who won the special election in an upset victory in January 2010.

Bush School of Government and Public Service

On July 5, 2011, Card was named acting dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He succeeded Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who had been called back to government service to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. Card served as acting dean until August 1, 2013, when Crocker returned to the position. During his time at the Bush School, Card oversaw the academic programs and operations of the graduate school, which offers degrees in public service and administration, international affairs, and related fields.

Franklin Pierce University

In 2014, Card was named the 5th president of Franklin Pierce University, a private university in Rindge, New Hampshire. He formally assumed the presidency on January 12, 2015. As university president, Card was responsible for the institution's academic, administrative, and financial operations. He served in this capacity until August 1, 2016, when he retired from the position. His successor as president was Kim Mooney.

Continued Public Engagement

Card has continued to be active in public life following his retirement from Franklin Pierce University. He has participated in speaking engagements and public events, particularly in connection with the legacy of the September 11 attacks and the Bush presidencies. In July 2025, Card joined the Presidential Leadership Scholars program team in College Station, Texas, to share lessons from his time working with Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.

In September 2025, Card visited the Peoria Riverfront Museum in Peoria, Illinois, which had unveiled a new exhibit dedicated to the September 11 attacks on the 24th anniversary of the event. Card participated in a public event at the museum, reflecting on the historic moment when he informed President Bush of the attacks.

Personal Life

Andrew Card is married to Kathleene Card, who serves as a minister. Reverend Kathleene Card has been associated with the Peterborough United Methodist Church in New Hampshire. The couple's residence in New Hampshire was consistent with Card's later role as president of Franklin Pierce University in the state.

Card has maintained ties to Massachusetts, where he began his political career, as well as to Texas, where he served at the Bush School. His public appearances in later years have frequently focused on themes of public service, crisis leadership, and the responsibilities of government officials during moments of national emergency.

Recognition

Card's service across three presidential administrations and his role during the September 11 attacks have brought him significant public recognition. The photograph of Card whispering into President Bush's ear at Emma E. Booker Elementary School on the morning of September 11, 2001, remains one of the most reproduced and discussed images of that day, and has been featured in museum exhibits, documentaries, and historical accounts of the attacks.

In 2007, Card was invited to deliver the commencement address at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a decision that generated controversy among some students and faculty members.

Card's transition to academic leadership at the Bush School and Franklin Pierce University reflected the recognition of his governmental experience and his potential contributions to the education of future public servants.

Legacy

Andrew Card's career in American government spans a period of significant transformation in American politics and foreign policy. His service under three presidents—Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush—places him among a select group of officials who have maintained influence across multiple administrations within the same political party.

Card's role on September 11, 2001, has become a defining element of his public identity. The image of his whisper to President Bush has been described as capturing a pivotal moment in American history—the instant when the president learned that the nation was under attack. Card has used this public recognition as a platform to discuss the importance of crisis communication, presidential decision-making, and the role of the chief of staff in the White House hierarchy.

His tenure as the longest-serving chief of staff under George W. Bush encompassed the initial response to the September 11 attacks, the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the domestic policy agenda of the Bush administration. As head of the White House Iraq Group, Card played a central role in one of the most debated policy decisions of the early 21st century.

In his post-government career, Card's move into academic administration at the Bush School and Franklin Pierce University represented an effort to apply his governmental experience to the training and education of new generations of public servants. His continued public engagement on matters of national security, presidential leadership, and the September 11 legacy ensures that his voice remains part of the ongoing historical conversation about this era in American governance.