CREATE TABLE table_204_598 (id DECIMAL, "name" TEXT, "state of residence" TEXT, "took office" TEXT, "left office" TEXT, "president served under" TEXT)

who was the previous advisor before pete rouse ?
SELECT "name" FROM table_204_598 WHERE "took office" < (SELECT "took office" FROM table_204_598 WHERE "name" = 'pete rouse') ORDER BY "took office" DESC LIMIT 1
SELECT "name" FROM "table_204_598" WHERE "took office" < (SELECT "took office" FROM "table_204_598" WHERE "name" = 'pete rouse') ORDER BY "took office" DESC NULLS LAST LIMIT 1