Draper - Dead certain: the presidency of george w. bush

P ART I:
BAPTISM

P ART II:
THROUGH OUR TEARS

P ART III:
DARK CITY ON A HILL

P ART IV:
A CHOICE, NOT A REFERENDUM

P ART V:
COMEUPPANCE

P ART VI:
THE THUMPIN

D ECEMBER 12, 2006

You cant possibly figure out the history of the Bush presidencyuntil Im dead.

George W. Bush slipped a piece of cheese into his mouth. Lets order first. He took a quick glance at the days menu prepared for him and his guest, saw nothing on it he cared for, and announced to the steward, Ill have a hot dog. Low fat hot dog.

Then he slapped down the menu and asked, What is the purpose of this book?

He was edgy that day. Earlier that morning, Bush had decided that a major address slotted for next week was going to have to wait another month. The subject was Iraq, and he was, frankly, unsure of what to say on the subject. A bipartisan commission called the Iraq Study Groupcochaired by longtime Bush family consigliere James A. Baker IIIhad recently returned its report, which had labeled that countrys condition grave and deteriorating. Progress in that ongoing conflict had been inchwise even before sectarian violence began to develop its awful momentum in the spring of 2006 and threaten to tear the country apart. Bush had repeatedly said that the war was winnable. He had said that the American-led Coalition was, in fact, winning. No one, including Bush, was claiming imminent victory anymore.

So, what to say? Bush was a quarterback now playing defense. Five weeks before, the Democrats had seized back the House and the Senate in an election that even Bush had to concede was to some degree a referendum on the tragic misadventures in Iraq. The Democrats, with public backing, were clamoring for a change in course. So was the Iraq Study Group. And sowith their tongues freshly loosened by the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeldwere the generals in whose trust Bush had placed the mission. Stung by this reality, Bush nonetheless was digging in his heels. The day after the midterms, he had announced his intention to replace Rumsfeld with Robert Gates. Beyond that, Bush would not veer in haste. He would take the holidays to think about it.

If youre weak internally? This job will run you all over town, the president observed. He was sitting in the small conference room beside the Oval Office where his predecessor, Bill Clinton, infamously found leisure time with Monica Lewinsky. His back was to the White House lawn. He had flung himself into his chair like a dirty sweatshirt and continued to pop pieces of cheese into his mouth. Stress was hammered into his face. The subject was himselfhow his leadership skills had evolved over time, and how he had dealt with disappointment and defeat, going back to his loss to Senator John McCain in the New Hampshire primary of 2000 and now, once again, in 2006.

Bush, as always, bridled at the request to navel-gaze. Youre the observer, he said as he worked the cheese in his mouth. Im not. I really do not feel comfortable in the role of analyzing myself. Ill try . But I dont spend a lot of time. I will tell you, the primaries strip you down to your bare essence, and you get to determine whether or not youre willing to fight throughto prevail. Its a real test of will, I agree to that. I think the whole process was responsible for testing my will. No question getting defeated was a powerful moment.

He added, Ive never run a race where I thought I wouldnt win. I thought we were gonna hold the House and the Senate in 06. I thought wed lose nine or ten seats, and I thought wed be one or two up in the Senate.

Bush had held that view, almost manic in its optimism, all the way up to election day, in defiance of all available polling data. At the very mention of such data, his face began to curdle. I understand you cant let polls tell you what to think, he declaredone of his most frequently expressed sentiments, but now he went further: And part of being a leader is: people watch you . I walk in that hall, I say to those commanderswell, guess what would happen if I walk in and say, Well, maybe its not worth it. When Im out in the publicand now he was fully animated, yanked out of his slouch and his eyes clenched like little blue fistsI fully understand that the enemy watches me, the Iraqis are watching me, the troops watch me, and the people watch me.

The other thing is that you cant fake it . You have to believe it. And I believe it. I believe well succeed.

In spite of his stated preference that he be viewed as a simple guy, Bush now and then would reveal subtle shadings or outright dualities in his character. Here he was, for example, saying that he would not be influenced by pollsand then, a sentence later, saying that the job required acute consciousness of public perceptions. His father was better known for discretion and attention to appearances, Bush acknowledged. My dad was one time speaking to the Press Club, he reminisced. And the last question is always kind of a funny question: Why are you wearing a blue tie? And he kind of balked. I whispered, Tell him you spilled gravy on your red one.

Now I dont know how that happened. It popped in my head. I didnt train for the quip. By the way: He said it, and the place went wild. And thentypical George Bushhe said, Well, my son told me that! He had to share the credit, instead of taking it and running with it!

Interest in the relationship between the 41st and 43rd presidents was unquenchable, for reasons historical, political, and Oedipal. Despite their mutual love and their common experienceswhich included such not-so-trifling matters as invading Iraq and appointing Dick Cheney to positions of high powerthey were two profoundly different men. Above all, George W. had long emphasized, he was his own man. Seldom did he call on his father as a useful executive resource.

Yeah, I asked him about it, he said when the subject turned to choosing Cheney as his vice president. He said, Youll like working with him. My relationship with my dad is, yknowI dont call him and say, Give me your list of potential candidates, man! Or, What are the five things you would do if you were me? Its more, Yknow, Im really thinking about Dick Cheney, Dad. Or, Im thinking about Bob Gates. Youve worked with Bob Gates, whats he like? He knows as an ex-president, he doesnt have nearly the amount of knowledge Ive got on current things. I mean, I get briefed every day, twice a day sometimes. He knows that. And plus, once the president gets a strategy in mindI mean, theres no need to argue about the Freedom Agenda! Im sure he subscribes to a lot of it. Now, the rumors are that he and his people dont. But I dont necessarily think its true. But, look, you cant talk me out of thinking freedoms a good thing !