When Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel learned the White House wanted him to resign, he decided not to stick to their timeline. Barbara Starr at CNN reports that a source close to Hagel indicates that he wanted to move quickly and “at least control his departure.”
The White House wanted to have a nominee to announce following the disclosure of Hagel’s resignation; an official nominee announcement is still pending. Starr’s piece is rife with interesting tidbits on Hagel’s political struggles leading up to his resignation.