The Associated Press reports that Tony Snow didn't say much on his first day at the White House.
President Bush had two press secretaries Monday — incoming Tony Snow and outgoing Scott McClellan.
The two men are sharing responsibilities in a final few days of transition.
Snow and McClellan stood behind the cameras in the Oval Office as Bush announced his nomination of Gen. Michael Hayden to be the next director of the CIA.
Then, Snow made his first solo appearance on the White House podium — but only to introduce John Negroponte, the national intelligence director, for a televised briefing on Hayden's nomination. Snow's role amounted to speaking 59 words.
When Bush next appeared, McClellan stood in the back of the Roosevelt Room as the president talked about efforts to bring peace to the Darfur region of Sudan.
McClellan accompanied the president later Monday on a two-night trip to Florida. Over the weekend he cleaned out his office and took down his pictures from the wall. His duty ends Wednesday on his return to Washington with Bush. Snow began moving into the press secretary's office when McClellan left.
Snow is expected to give an informal briefing — known as a gaggle — on Friday and hold his first televised briefing next Monday.
These are Tony Snow's first words as press secretary:
"As you know, President Bush, earlier today, nominated General Michael Hayden to become the next Director of Central Intelligence (Agency). A lot of you have questions about the circumstances surrounding that, so I thought we would invite Ambassador John Negroponte, the Director of National Intelligence, to answer your questions. He has an opening statement, and then will take questions."
