Hours after Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld resigned from his position.

Rumsfeld, who held the position for almost six years, held the war in Iraq at the center of his resignation.

Republican officials questioned the war's management and hinted to President George W. Bush about Rumsfeld's replacement.

Mike Craw, assistant professor of social relations, said he was surprised to hear of Rumsfeld's resignation but it was a "step in the right direction."

"It is a sign that, already Democrats have an influence on how the war is handled," Craw said, adding that Bush is still the chief commander.

Bush said Robert M. Gates, 63, a national security veteran and current president of Texas A&M University, would be nominated to replace Rumsfeld.

"Secretary Rumsfeld and I agreed that sometimes it's necessary to have a fresh perspective," Bush said in the abrupt announcement during a postelection news conference.

When asked if Rumsfeld's departure signaled a new direction in the war, Bush said, "Well, there's certainly going to be new leadership at the Pentagon."

The Iraq war has cost more than $300 billion and claimed the lives of more than 2,800 U.S. troops and many more Iraqis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For more information about this story, please see Thursday's edition of The State News.