White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater was back on the job Monday after a two-week absence, dismissing rumors that he planned to quit.
While Fitzwater enjoyed time off in Bermuda and his hometown of Abilene, Kan., reports surfaced that he was unhappy with "disarray" in the White House under the new leadership of chief of staff Samuel Skinner. Asked about the reports, Fitzwater replied, "You just don't win by talking about it. For me it's history."President Bush was plainly irritated at a news conference last Friday in responding to questions about reports of disarray in his re-election organization and its ties to the White House staff. "In my view," he told reporters, "Marlin will return in great spirits on Monday." He added that Fitzwater "has my full confidence."
Fitzwater has been White House spokesman for the past 51/2 years. He served previously as Bush's press secretary when Bush was vice president.