Republican strategist Karl Rove will dissect the presidency of George W. Bush in a memoir said to be worth more than $1.5 million US.

Rove, who ushered Bush into office as architect of his 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns, is believed to be one of the most influential political advisers of all time.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove in Washington this August just before he left his post in the White House.
(Associated Press)

Threshold Editions, part of the Simon & Schuster publishing house, won a bidding war for rights to his book that involved at least eight publishers.

Rove's agent, Robert Barnett, would not disclose the final price, but publishing officials familiar with the bidding said it exceeded $1.5 million.

"All of us at Threshold are thrilled to publish the book from the man who had the president's ear for two terms," said Threshold's publisher and executive vice-president Louise Burke.

Rove was part of the secretive White House Iraq Group that co-ordinated strategy prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

He also courted scandal over his involvement in the revealing of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame, but escaped charges. He left his post as chief policy adviser in August.

Bush has referred to him as the "boy genius" of his successful runs for the presidency.

He has known Bush for more than 30 years, planning his campaigns for governor of Texas in 1994 and 1998.

There has been speculation in the U.S. press over how much a behind the scenes man such as Rove would actually reveal, but Rove has issued a statement promising "a candid, careful look" at Bush's presidency and his role in it.

"It will tackle and shed light on important events and big controversies, spell out their implications for America and set the record straight," he said.

With files from the Associated Press