Barry Jackson, a former White House adviser to President Bush, will become chief of staff to House Minority Leader John Boehner, following the sudden death of Paula Nowakowski.
Nowakowski died of a heart attack on Jan. 10, stunning Boehner’s office and many on Capitol Hill. She was 46.
Jackson, who was chief of staff to Boehner in the early 1990s, hired Nowakowski in 1995 when Boehner was head of the House Republican Conference. He and Nowakowski became close friends, and talked constantly when Jackson went to work for George W. Bush in the White House.
Jackson was for many years a deputy to Karl Rove, Bush’s top political adviser, and replaced Rove in 2007 when Rove left the White House.
“No one in America is better prepared or better qualified than Barry to pick up the torch in the wake of our tragic and unexpected loss,” Boehner said. “I’m deeply grateful for Barry’s willingness to return to active duty on our team in what promises to be an important year not just for Republicans, but for America.”