NATION : John Tower Undergoes Surgery

DALLAS — Former Sen. John Tower (R-Tex.) is recovering today from surgery that removed a cancerous prostate gland, hospital officials said.

Tower, 64, underwent the procedure Tuesday at Zale Lipshy University Hospital. His surgeon, Dr. Paul Peters, said Tower’s recovery should be “unusually good.”

“I’ll be out of here in a week and I’ll be back to normal again real soon,” Tower said from his hospital room.

Tower was President Bush’s initial choice to be secretary of defense but the Senate refused to confirm him. He returned to Texas to teach and to re-enter business.

Reports indicate Bush is considering naming him chairman of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Tower was appointed to the board following the Senate’s refusal to confirm him as defense secretary.