U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers rushed to the capital just a day later.

CNN: COVER STORY - SPECIAL REPORT

At least in Washington it was a glorious bright and sunny autumn day, hotter than most British summers.

BBC: Elections help Obama. A bit.

Look, a lot of them are people that the President relies on to this day for advice and counsel and guidance, including Larry Summers, including Ambassador Rice, including Senator Kerry, among three names that have been talked about, and those three individuals certainly are people that the President depends on quite a bit for their wisdom and counsel.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said given the pressure caused by trying to deal day to day with the recession, it should come as no surprise that Summers would want to step out of the fray and return to Harvard University.

NPR: Summers' Exit Yet Another White House Shake-Up

Summers has been an increasingly progressive influence on the most important economic issue of the day: Jobs.

NPR: The New Republic: Why The Left Will Miss Summers

Ryan's mother, Carol Duffin, was so angered by the early start which she says has been creeping earlier in her district for years she launched "Save Tennessee Summers" seven years ago and lobbied state lawmakers unsuccessfully for legislation barring a pre-Labor Day first bell.

WSJ: School in August Gets Low Grades