| Key dates in Karl Rove's life and career

Dec. 25, 1950

Karl Christian Rove born in Denver.

1969-71

Attends the University of Utah and joins College Republicans.

1971-1977

Executive director and then chairman of College Republican National Committee.

1974-1975

Republican National Committee Chairman George H.W. Bush hires Rove as his special assistant.

1977

Moves to Texas and becomes aide to George H.W. Bush's political-action committee. Rove leaves the job to work in the gubernatorial campaign of Bill Clements, who in 1978 becomes Texas' first Republican governor in more than a century.

When George H.W. Bush announces his decision to run for the Republican presidential nomination, Rove is the first person the campaign hires.

1984

Rove helps Phil Gramm win election to Senate from Texas.

1986

Rove announces he had found an electronic listening device in his office, helping Clements defeat Democratic Gov. Mark White. Many Texas Democrats believe Rove concocted the story.

1992

The first President Bush fires Rove from his re-election campaign after information was leaked to columnist Robert Novak. Rove denies he was the source.

1994

Political adviser in George W. Bush's first run for Texas governor, an upset victory over Democratic incumbent Ann Richards. Bush wins a landslide re-election in 1998.

2000

Orchestrates Bush's presidential campaign, which ends in victory after Supreme Court intervenes.

2004

Bush wins re-election with Rove as his chief political adviser.

June 12, 2006

Rove learns he won't be indicted in the CIA leak case.

Sources: Complete Marquis Who's Who, 2005; Who's Who in American Politics, 1999; Current Biography, 2000; The Associated Press.