For once, Andy Card isn't the early bird

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For more than five years, White House chief of staff Andy Card has been the first senior staffer to greet President Bush on his arrival to the Oval Office in the morning.

But about 160 staffers turned the tables on "The Chief," as he is called, getting in position at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday in order to greet Card when he got to work at about 6 a.m.

It was a brainstorm of some junior staffers as a way to say goodbye to Card, who closes out his White House career on Friday. Staffers from all ranks turned out, from senior presidential assistants to custodians.

Josh Bolten, the former budget director who takes over as chief of staff from Card, was among the group.

Card was ending a lengthy run as White House chief of staff, a job he held since Bush first took office in January 2001. Only Sherman Adams of Dwight Eisenhower's presidency has served longer in the position.

When Card stepped out of his vehicle, he was handed an Egg McMuffin, a breakfast sandwich from McDonald's, the restaurant chain that once employed Card during his college years in South Carolina.

Bush himself said his farewell to Card in the Oval Office in the afternoon, before boarding the Marine One helicopter with his wife Laura, and father, former President George Bush, to spend the Easter weekend at Camp David.

"I think it's really hard to fully express the high regard with which the White House staff holds Andy," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.