John LeBoutillier
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001

TV deals, speaking engagements and other associated work soon followed.

In the 1991 Gulf War a few TV regulars briefed the nation daily. Among them were then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell - and, of course, Stormin' Norman Schwartzkopf. The former went on to make $40 million as a motivational speaker and an AOL board member and then became Secretary of State. The latter could have run - and easily won - a campaign for political office. But he chose to become a speaker and a TV on-air consultant.

Without a doubt the biggest star in Operation Enduring Freedom is Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

His Pentagon briefings are the best show in town. Reporters are dying to attend - and even "Saturday Night Live" now regularly imitates Rummy's gruff manner.

Most of the all the American people absolutely love Rumsfeld's no-nonsense anti-P.C. attitude.

How refreshing it is to hear a public official tell off a reporter for his or her stupid question. And how good it is to hear a Cabinet secretary tell it straight - and not mince words.

Donald Rumsfeld - a former U.S. congressman, ambassador, White House chief of staff, defense secretary (he is the only man to hold the post twice - and was the youngest ever to hold it and is now the oldest to ever hold it), and multi-millionaire former corporate CEO - is relaxed in his own skin and decidedly unambitious.

Why?

Because he is 69½ years old. He can afford to unload on anyone he chooses. As long as he stays on the good side of Team Bush, he can do as he pleases.

And, as a man who longed to be president himself one day, that goal, too, is out of reach.

But what is not out of the realm of possibility is for Rummy to replace Vice President Dick Cheney - his former deputy in the Ford White House - on the 2004 ticket with G.W. Bush.

Cheney has become a mysterious figure since 9-11. Is it because of "security concerns," as the White House would have us believe? Or is the disappearing act because of faltering health - or a faltering relationship with longtime Bush retainers Karl Rove and Karen Hughes?

Others say the new homeland security chief, Tom Ridge, is a shoo-in to replace Cheney, should a vacancy appear. But Ridge - a nice man - has gotten off to a poor start in an ill-defined job with no authority. So far his star is sinking - and Rummy's is soaring.

Because the media are prohibited from covering the action on the ground in Afghanistan, there are no on-the-ground military TV stars of this war. The TV action is all emanating from D.C. And, among the regular briefers - Ari Fleischer, John Ashcroft, Robert Mueller, Tom Ridge, Colin Powell - Donald Rumsfeld has emerged as a unique character.

As written here before, Rummy was already in good shape to become vice president should something happen to Dick Cheney. Rumsfeld is no political threat to Bush; he is too old to ever want his own presidency. Thus he, like Cheney, will not be in conflict with W's agenda.

Furthermore, his varied background matches Cheney's. And, in a White House set-up that features a very proactive vice president as a de-facto prime minister, Rumsfeld fits the bill perfectly.

It is to be hoped Dick Cheney remains in perfect health - and in perfect standing with an often-jealous White House staff. If so, Rummy will have to content himself with the Pentagon - and a permanent place in "Saturday Night Live" lore.

However, should anything happen to Cheney, look for Rummy to emulate another lifelong Republican who longed for the White House but was happy, late in life, to end up one "heartbeat away": Nelson Rockefeller.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Bush Administration

Media Bias

War on Terrorism

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