DeFUNIAK SPRINGS

Karl Rove used a few choice words to describe himself Saturday.

“Believe it or not, I was a bit of a hothead” at the White House, Rove said in a speech to the Chautauqua Assembly in DeFuniak Springs. He later added that he saw himself as both “a complete nerd” and “a weepy person.”

Rove, the former deputy chief of staff for President Bush, did shed tears later when he retold the story of a 61-year-old man who asked to sign up for the Marine Reserve so he could join his son at war.

“You can’t help but feel good about America when you think about that,” he told a crowd of about 300 at the First United Methodist Church.

Click here for a slideshow of photos from Chautauqua.

The controversial political adviser was in town as the keynote speaker for the Florida Chautauqua Center’s “A Journey into the American Presidency” program. His presence was a late change of plan announced after environmentalist Jim Fowler already was scheduled to speak. Fowler spoke later outside at a nearby amphitheater.

The Florida Chautauqua Center’s 13th Annual Assembly continues today at 9 a.m. Events include art shows, demonstrations, games and a bird-handler’s exhibition.

Read the full story in Sunday's paper.

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