UPDATE on Card: Did Boehner know?

House Majority Leader John Boehner told reporters at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol today that he just flew back to Washington from Ohio this morning because he had been at last night’s Lincoln Day dinner in Butler County with Andy Card. Apparently, Card didn’t even tell Boehner that he was planning to step down today as President Bush’s chief of staff.

“There was a phone call on my phone this morning while I was in the air apparently. Then I called him back, and he was in a Cabinet meeting. I am sure he wanted to explain why he didn't tell me or couldn't tell me last night,” Boehner said.

On Card leaving, Boehner said that Card had already has served longer than any other chief of staff in U.S. history, save one, a feat that is “nothing short of incredible.”

“Given the hours that he spends at the White House, it is remarkable to me that he has been able to withstand it, his position, this long,” Boehner said. “He has done a great job for the president. … All of us in this town owe him a great big thanks for being there for the president for as long as he has served him.”

Sen. George Voinovich, a Republican from Cleveland, told reporters over breakfast this morning that Card’s resignation in no way means that the entire White House staff is tired and should be replaced, as some have suggested.

“I think it’s indicidive that Andy Card, who is a longtime friend of mine, was tired,” Voinovich said. “Nobody realizes, but that guy gets up at 4:30, 5:30 in the morning, stays at that White House until 10 o’clock. The fact that he stayed as long as he has in that job is just quite impressive and shows how much he thinks of this country and this president.

“I know there are a lot of people out there that think we’ve got to have a complete change and a new direction … Well, I’ll tell you, from a management point of view, if we didn’t have the problems that we have today facing our country both domestically and internationally, I might say that’s not a bad idea, but with the fragility of this whole thing, particularly internationally, I think it’s really important that you’ve got some people that really know what they’re doing over there and know who the players are.”