WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (AFP) - US Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson Friday resigned from President George W. Bush's cabinet, the eighth secretary to do so since Bush won re-election on November 2.
Thompson, 63, announced his departure in a press conference at 2:00 pm (1900 GMT).
"This morning I submitted by, to president Bush, my resignation as Secretary of Health and Human Services," Thompson said.
Thompson has been in the post since Bush first took office in January 2001. He said he had resigned for personal reasons.
"It's time for me and my family to move on to the next chapter in our life," he said.
Mark McClellan, a doctor and economist who heads the Medicare health care program for the elderly, is favorite to succeed Thompson. McClellan is the elder brother of White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
The health department has more than 60,000 employees and an annual budget of more than 500 billion dollars.
Thompson recalled the high and low points of his department over the past nearly four years: the September 11, 2001 attacks; anthrax attacks on congressional offices and news media; the threat of a SARS epidemic; a prescription drug plan for seniors and a lack of flu shots for the coming season in the United States.
"I am proud of the people and the work of America's department of compassion. This department really does a tremendous job. It impacts every man, woman and child every single day," the former governor of Wisconsin said at Heath and Human Services headquarters in Washington.
HHS had been thought of as cabinet post that saw little glamour or controversy, but the September 11 attacks, the discovery of anthrax-laced envelopes, Bush's 15-billion-dollar promise to combat AIDS/HIV in Africa, as well as controversies around stem-cell research and government spending on prescription drugs placed Thompson in headlines.
"We've touched the third rail of politics and delivered on our promise to modernize Medicare with prescription drug coverage, the most historic improvement to Medicare since it was created back in 1965," Thompson said.
"HHS was among the first on the ground to care for New York City residents and assist in the aftermath of 9/11.
"We were able to deliver drugs and supplies to New York within 10 hours after that first attack," Thompson recalled.
"I saw the best of America on the streets and on the hospitals and in the hearts of New York City and the Pentagon, in the days following the 9/11 attacks.
"The best of America also was on display here at HHS that horrible day. We could see the smoke from the Pentagon from our office windows. We couldn't get through to our loved ones. It was a frightening day, one that none of us will ever forget," Thompson said.
12/03/2004 19:48 GMT - AFP