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 Hagel, speaking publicly for the first time about his Nov. 24
resignation, said he decided to step down after several
conversations with the president led him to conclude that now was
the best timing for a Pentagon leadership change.
"This was a mutual decision based on the discussions that we had,"
he said, noting that no aides had been present during their talks.
"I don't think there's ever one overriding or defining decision in
situations like this, unless there's some obvious issue, and there
wasn't, between either one of us."
Hagel, speaking emotionally at times, said there are always
differences on minor issues like style, speed and approach, but he
said he considered Obama a friend and "there were no major
differences in any major area."
The Pentagon chief, a Republican, has been in office since February
2013. He resigned in the aftermath of midterm elections that saw
Obama's Democrats routed by Republicans, who now control both house
of Congress.
Unnamed sources were quoted as saying he had been fired and had
privately voiced frustration over the administration's strategy in
Syria and Iraq and his lack of influence.
"Only two people know what was said. That's the president and me,"
Hagel said, dismissing "all the speculation and all the smart
people" trying to figure out what was said.
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"It's not one defining issue for me. ... But it's a combination of
things, as you think through these things, and the president and I
talked about it," he said. "So I'm very comfortable with my position
and my decision. I think the president feels good about it. I feel
good about it."
Hagel, the first former enlisted soldier to serve as secretary of
defense, noted that Thursday marked the 46th year since he returned
to the United States after being in the Vietnam war.
"If anybody would have told Sergeant Hagel walking off that plane
with my duffel bag where I'd be 46 years down the road, that would
have been pretty hard for me to believe it," he said. "I mean, the
privileges I've had have just been tremendous."
(Additional reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by David Gregorio)
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