Karl Rove

Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950 in Denver, Colorado) is an American political consultant, and (as of 2005) U.S. President George W. Bush's senior advisor, chief political strategist, and Deputy White House Chief of Staff in charge of policy.

Trivia

• On 8 December 2004, Rove was named by Barbara Walters as the "Most Fascinating Person" of the year.
• George W. Bush has referred to Karl Rove as "The Boy Genius", "The Architect" and "Turd Blossom," http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,107219,00.html a Texan term for a flower which grows from a pile of cow dung. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050713.wxrove13/BNStory/International/
• Karl Rove is known for careful management of the press, including the use of humor to put reporters at ease.
• Karl Rove is a Norwegian-American. According to Bob Woodward's recent book, Rove is obsessed with the "historical duplicity" of the Swedes, who seized Norway back in 1814. According to Woodward, this nationalism manifested itself as hatred for Swedish weapons inspector Hans Blix. http://slate.msn.com/id/2099277
• Rove is also fascinated by Mark Hanna, President William McKinley's political adviser.
• Karl Rove's reputation for alleged political dirty tricks is such that, among both his supporters and critics the phrase "Rovian" has come to be used as a synonym for "Machiavellian". The documentary ' ??depicts Rove as the most powerful political consultant in American history and, in essence, a co-president? according to USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-03-11-southwest-film-fest_x.htm
• The television show American Dad depicted Rove as a shadowy figure clad in a red robe and cowl. Whenever his name is said a wolf howls, and when he tried to enter a church, he began to burn. He later departed the scene by transforming into a swarm of bats.
• On The Dead Zone the character of Malcolm Janus, a shadowy figure who guides the career of Congressman Greg Stillson, seems to be a fictionalized take on Rove.