John King: Who fills the void?

CNN White House Correspondent John King

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush's counselor Karen Hughes announced Tuesday that she will leave the White House in the summer and return to Texas with her family. CNN White House Correspondent John King talked to "Inside Politics" anchor Judy Woodruff about the president's reaction and who might fill the void in Bush's inner circle.

WOODRUFF: John, what was the president's reaction when he heard this?

KING: In a word, Judy, we are told: understanding. The president has known for several months that Karen Hughes wanted to go back to Texas, that she has had issues about her son living here as opposed to with his friends down there.

She actually started talking among friends and family members about this late last year. So, the president was not totally shocked that she wanted to do this -- perhaps a little surprised by the timing of it all. ... But the president says she will still be very much involved.

That will be tested, though, in the months ahead. Everyone in Washington will tell you that proximity is power, especially in the White House. Yes, Karen Hughes, as she said, will be able to help plan the State of the Union address. The big question is: What role will she have on a day-to-day basis when the unexpected happens, when a major development happens in Congress, when, God forbid, something like September 11 happens? Not being at the president's side at moments like that are likely to limit her influence in the months ahead.

WOODRUFF: So, John, given all that, how does the president even begin to fill the role, or the many roles, that Karen Hughes plays?

KING: There's a debate in the White House as to whether anyone will get that title. She was called counselor to the president. Karl Rove is perhaps her only equal or close to equal in the White House. He is the senior adviser for the president. Most believe at least in the short term, the president will not name another counselor.

Dan Bartlett is the communications director. He has been Karen Hughes' right-hand man for many years, again, dating back to day one of the campaigns for governor in Texas. Dan Bartlett in recent months already has taken on many of those day-to-day communications responsibilities. He is very trusted by this president, just like Karen Hughes. There's some talk here in the White House of perhaps a greater role for Mary Matalin. Remember, she was a key political operative in the first Bush administration. Now she has the dual titles of assistant to the president and counselor to the vice president. Most of her work done out of Dick Cheney's office, but some talk in the White House that perhaps she will take on a greater role.

Again, I think all that will sort itself out in the several months while Karen is still here, but after she is gone, when have you day-to-day events in which the president needs to turn to somebody right away, that's when the new relationships will be tested here at the White House.