PRNewswire
Monday, Aug. 30, 2004

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  Some, predominantly those who live in the conservative Red States, proudly see a confident, self-knowing Bush. Others, mostly liberal Blue Staters, cringe at a cocksure (but insecure) bully boy who seems to strut about the world.

Many of President George W. Bush's friends, as well as his critics, wonder why he failed to consult his father, George Herbert Walker Bush, an experienced and able expert in the field of foreign affairs, on Iraq. "41" often calls "43," but usually to say, "I love you, son," President Bush tells Newsweek. "My dad understands that I am so better informed on many issues than he could possibly be that his advice is minimal."

That is a pity, say some old advisers to 41, because 43 badly needed to be rescued from the clutches of the neocons, the Defense Department ideologues who, in the view of the moderate internationalists who served in 41's administration, have hijacked American foreign policy, report Assistant Managing Editor Evan Thomas, White House Correspondent Tamara Lipper and National Affairs Reporter Rebecca Sinderbrand.

Several of Bush's friends and advisers commented that Bush is really more like his mother than his father. Barbara Bush, they say, can be more judgmental, more black and white, and more caustic than her husband. Andy Card, who has spent considerable time around the Bushes, observed that he has never seen President Bush argue with his father. The father won't engage or argue back, says Card. Not because Bush Sr. agrees with his son's policies, says an old friend of 41's. "It's an agony for him" to watch 43 make policy on Iraq. "It's doubly frustrating to him because that's not the way he'd run it if he was still in charge."

Newsweek also reports on another incident from Bush's past. A week after his father was elected president in 1988, George W. asked friend and adviser Doug Wead, "What's going to happen to me?" Wead asked Bush if he wanted some research on the lives of progeny of earlier presidents, and, as Wead recalled the story to Newsweek, Bush answered yes. The result was a 44-page memo, titled "All the President's Children." Burdened with high expectations, presidential children seem to sense that people are just waiting (and sometimes hoping) for them to fail. The fate of many presidential sons, Wead found, was alcoholism, divorce and premature death.

A few did have some political success, Wead reported. Franklin Roosevelt's son, FDR Jr., became a congressman and ran for governor of New York. Did he win? asked Bush. No, replied Wead. Bush just "groaned." Today, Bush's discipline permeates the White House decision-making process. His occasional nickname for his chief of staff, Andy Card, is "Tangent Man"-Bush's way of putting Card on notice that he doesn't appreciate digressions. "He pays close attention to his schedule," says Card, "and if I'm not doing my job of monitoring his schedule, he disciplines me."

Editor's note: