On 18 July, the White House submitted to the Senate the nomination of Bruce Cole for another four-year term as Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Cole's current term, which began in 2001, expires at the end of 2005. However, assuming Cole is reconfirmed two of his top aides -- his current deputy, Lynn Munson and his Senior Counselor and Congressional affairs officer, Cherie Harder -- won't be there to assist him. Harder is leaving to become one of six policy advisors to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). At this writing, Munson has not landed a job, though NEH insiders report she has "several irons in the fire." Tom Mallon, a former member of the of the NEH Council who was recently appointed by Cole as Director of the Preservation Programs division has been named "Acting Deputy Chair."

Cole responded to the White House announcement regrading his nomination with the following statement: "I am honored to be nominated by President George W. Bush to serve a second term as Chairman of the NEH. If confirmed, I will continue to vigorously uphold the highest standards of humanities scholarship, while ensuring that more Americans are served by the important work of the Endowment. I am grateful for the support of the President."

Cole is expected to be reconfirmed when the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions led by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Ranking Member Edward Kennedy (D-MA) considers the nomination; the full Senate must also act on the nomination.