Interior Secretary Norton Resigns Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton tendered her resignation, effective April 1, ending a tenure that began on Jan. 31, 2001. In a press release issued by the Department of the Interior, an excerpt from her letter of resignation cites her and her husband’s desire to achieve goals in the private sector, “closer to the mountains we love in the West.” In a Denver Post report, Andrew Card, White House chief of staff, confirmed that the president would like to fill the post with a Westerner with Coloradoan Norton’s pro-development perspective. The president offered praise to Norton, stating, “Gale Norton has been a strong advocate for wise use and protection of our nation’s natural resources and a valuable member of my administration.” Click here to read Norton's resignation letter to President Bush.