WASHINGTON (AP) — Karen Hughes, who led efforts to improve the U.S. image abroad and was one of President Bush’s last remaining advisers from the close circle of Texas aides, will leave the government at the end of the year, she told the Associated Press.
Mrs. Hughes said she plans to quit her job as undersecretary of state and return to Texas, although improving the world’s view of the United States is a “long-term challenge” that will outlast her.
“This will take a number of years,” Mrs. Hughes said in an interview to announce her departure. She was informing her staff of her decision Wednesday morning and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was announcing it.
Mr. Bush had picked Mrs. Hughes two years ago to retool the way the United States sells its policies, ideals and views overseas. A former television reporter and media adviser, Mrs. Hughes was focused on changing how the United States engages and responds to criticism or misinformation in the Muslim world.
“Negative events never help,” Mrs. Hughes said when asked how events like last month’s shooting of Iraqi civilians by private U.S. security guards in Iraq affects the way the world sees the United States.
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