IMG_0190, originally uploaded by DavidAll06.

Karl Rove surprised Washington this morning with news that he’d be leaving the White House at the end of the month. Rove will join President Bush at 11:30 a.m. to talk about his departure.

Having never met or talked to Rove, I can’t convey any personal stories about the man know affectionately by Bush as “The Architect.” He will certainly be missed at the White House, especially by Bush, whom he has worked under for 14 years.

Rove will be remembered for his political skills, which helped Republicans stage a resurgence in the early 2000s, only to lose a grip on Washington last year. Rove always had his hand in everything, and if I fault him for one thing, it’s straying from conservative principles. On education, health care and immigration, Rove oversaw policies that alienated Bush’s allies and may have contributed to last year’s electoral losses.

But for all his flaws, I also see many positive contributions Rove made over the years. The most important are the nominations and confirmations of Supreme Court justices John Roberts and Sam Alito. Rove also deserves credit for framing the importance of the War on Terror, even if the big picture didn’t correspond with the actions on the ground. The tax cuts of Bush’s first term were among his best moves.

There’s no question he’ll be reviled by Democrats for what happened in Florida in November 2000. Now that he leaves Washington for his home in Texas, however, the left won’t have Rove to kick around anymore. It will be interesting to watch who takes his place in the spotlight.

Like him or hate him, one thing is certain: Rove is a brilliant political strategist who leaves a legacy that others, on the right or the left, will try to mimic. I’m reminded of this 1972 video from CBS News (hat tip to David All) from Rove’s early years in Republican politics during the Nixon re-election campaign. It demonstrates that Rove has been a brilliant strategist for years.

Karl Rove will be missed, and not just by those who admire his brand of political strategy. His adversaries have lost public enemy No. 1. And for that reason, I’m not sure whether to be happy or sad to see him go.