"It's not a clean-cut division," the career EPA scientist said. "If you have studied at all creationism vs. evolution, there's theistic or God-controlled evolution and there's variations on all those themes."

Johnson declined to elaborate - "perhaps after Jan. 20, I'll be happy to discuss it" - except to say that it "as a practical matter has not been an issue" at the EPA.

Nonetheless, the Taylor influence on Johnson remains strong. In an EPA office filled with the usual accoutrements of a cabinet member, one of the most prominently displayed items is Johnson's honorary doctorate from his alma mater.

Susan Hazen, a longtime confidante and senior EPA official, said Johnson's faith "gives him a sense of confidence in himself."

When Johnson was named EPA administrator, he presented Bush with a religious symbol, a servant's towel given to each graduate as a reminder to serve God and country.

And when Johnson stood before a Senate committee for confirmation, he introduced his pastor as well as the leader of a Washington group called Christian Embassy, a ministry for political leaders.

Shortly after he took office, Johnson appeared in a Christian Embassy promotional video, where he spoke of holding 6:15 a.m. Bible study sessions in his EPA office.

In the video, Johnson sits on a white couch with an American flag in the background. He looks into the camera and says of his government job, "I can't imagine doing this without the Lord."

Prayer remains a central element of his life, and this includes his 24/7 job as EPA administrator, he told The Inquirer.

"Whether it's Christian Embassy or my church or people that I worship with, friends in Bible studies ... there's a lot of valuable life lessons, information, guidance and direction for me that's there."

"Just knowing that there's a group of people praying for you, who know there will be times when you are Daniel in the lion's den . . . strengthens you."

An unexpected rise

Johnson's rise from career scientist to EPA chief began in 2001, when he made the jump from civil service bureaucrat to political appointee.

The official White House version is that Johnson, who was the lead staff toxics official at EPA, caught the eye of senior Republicans during routine transition briefings. Connaughton, the senior Bush adviser, cited Johnson's keen intelligence and management skills.

But Johnson also got a political boost from an old friend, Washington lobbyist Charles Grizzle, whose clients include power companies, hospitals, shopping centers, and a formaldehyde industry association. Grizzle is also a longtime friend of Rove's; they met in the 1970s when Grizzle chaired the Kentucky Federation of College Republicans and Rove chaired the College Republican National Committee.

Grizzle and Johnson met in the early 1990s. At the time, Grizzle was an EPA assistant administrator, and Johnson had just been selected for a senior career executive mentorship program. Grizzle became Johnson's informal mentor.

"Steve and I became friends and kept in touch after I left EPA," Grizzle recalled. "After the 2000 election, I called Karl and suggested that he should take a look at Steve."

Soon after the call, Bush named Johnson to the political post Grizzle had suggested - assistant administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. Rove did not respond to a request for comment.

Compared with other political appointees, many still learning their way around the cavernous EPA building, Johnson excelled. He made fast friends with Bush officials and connected with the EPA career staff.

"There were no surprises with Steve," said a former EPA political appointee. "He cuts an impressive figure and knows how to impress superiors. Steve has that down cold."