Hennessey Picked To Lead Economic Council

WASHINGTON — President Bush announced yesterday that Keith Hennessey will become director of the National Economic Council, replacing Al Hubbard, who is joining a growing line of top presidential advisers exiting the White House as the Bush administration heads into its final year.

Mr. Hennessey, who came to the White House in 2002, is Mr. Hubbard's deputy and has been deputy to two previous directors of the council. He served as a top budget aide to Senator Lott, a Republican from Mississippi, and worked for the Senate Budget Committee.

"Keith has been an important member of my White House team for more than five years," Mr. Bush said in a statement. "He has served as the deputy to three directors of the National Economic Council, and has worked on a broad range of economic policy issues."

Mr. Hubbard's departure comes as Bush faces one of the biggest economic challenges of his presidency, a severe slump in housing, and a credit crisis that have roiled financial markets and triggered fears of a recession.

In a letter to the president, Mr. Hubbard said he was leaving the White House at the end of the year with mixed emotions. "Were it not for my strong desire to spend more time with my kids, I would not have considered departing," Mr. Hubbard said.