Posted on 06/25/2004 4:12:33 AM PDT by Max Combined
WASHINGTON -- Solicitor General Ted Olson, who represented the Bush administration before the Supreme Court and became a voice for strong anti-terrorism policies after his wife died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, said Thursday he is resigning to return to private law practice.
"I love this job, I love the people, I love everything about it," Olson, 63, told The New York Times. "But I'm at an age where it wouldn't be bad to get back to earning a little more money in the private sector."
Olson, a conservative legal icon, said he would probably return to practice in Washington at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, the Los Angeles-based firm where he has served as a partner.
Olson said he will leave his post in July, shortly after the Supreme Court completes its current term.
He has served as solicitor general since June 11, 2001, and, prior to joining the Justice Department, represented President Bush in the legal battle over the disputed 2000 presidential election.
Exactly three months after he took office, his wife, Barbara, also a Washington lawyer and conservative commentator, died aboard the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. Barbara Olson was a Houston native.
After the attacks, Olson became a personal symbol of the cost of terrorism and later took an unusually public role for an administration Supreme Court lawyer, particularly in support of its efforts to defeat terrorism.
At a Justice Department remembrance ceremony Sept. 11, 2003, Olson said an unrelenting fight against terrorism is the best way to honor the attack victims.
"Their suffering and deaths must fuel our dedication to stamp out this cancer," he said.
No successor was immediately named, but Olson's top deputy is Paul Clement, who would likely take over on an acting basis.
Olson another honorable man, has served his nation with honor, may God Bless him and protect him.
I understand he has been fighting a tough battle with anorexia. He's in my prayers
The country will miss you, and thanks you for your service. All the best, Mr. Olson.
Next up? Rudi or Starr?
Bill Clinton, in his book, My Life, continues to libel Ted Olson. He continues the lie begun by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons, fed by David Brock, that Ted Olson was "the lawyer for the American Spectator's "Arkansas Project."
I heard about this yesterday but there was no story in any of the news sources. The DUers were going crazy over this on their forum.
Bill Clinton lies so much in this book that we are going to have to produce an annotated version with the responses from all those he lied about.
G-DSPEED, SIR.
I saw that. Has Ted remarried?
HIs wife was a freeper..often posted here..as "bko"..I had the very good fortune to be an occasion email correspondent of hers....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.