Richard Ben Cramer Or/ Lhescrindallhat .1Lmost Brought

Why Americans. Flip-F/op On George Bush By Marjorie

Pius: Richard Ben Cramer or/ lheScrindallhat .1lmost Brought

Bush Do ar11

What We Know About GEORGE We've read his lips, deciphered his sentence fragments cheered him and scorned him and sent him to the White House. But as MARJORIE WILLIAMS reports, we still don't get it: We can't see that, for better or for worse, George Herbert Walker Bush is the same guy he was before we projected the leadership thing onto him. And speaking of knowing: On Page 11, in an excerpt from his new book, RICHARD BEN CRAMER takes us back to those tension-filled days in 1986 when Bush was terrified that he'd never be president because of what he knew—or didn't know—about the Iran-contra affair.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY TIM GABOR

AUGUST 16.1992 7 there are identifiable reasons—notably the recession—why America has soured on its president. But could anyone conceiv- ably deserve both these reputations? It's not as if either of these extremes was the result of a dra- matic new development in the character of George Bush. At least since he was nominated to head the CIA, in 1976—in other words, for as long as it has been important to know who George Bush is and what he's really like—he's been pretty much a known quantity. The positive and negative attributes his friends and critics described back then are more or less the same ones voters cite today. These qualities have made their bows, in reg- ular cycles, in 1980, 1984 and 1988; and his behavior in office, for good and ill, has been clearly related to them. It may be comforting to President Bush, from his vantage point down there in the 35 percent approval range, to recall how often he has been written off in the past, only to have his would take a putative virtues rediscovered. But as a comment on our political maturity, itiihould give the rest of us pause. On the eve of George Bush's final general election campaign, marriage counselor—someone, at it is worth taking stock of how often and how radically we have changed our minds about this man, rejecting and then discov- any rate, versed in the realm of the ering, again and again, the same basic reality that has been irrational—to understand. there all along. In the 17 months since the end of America's war in Iraq, OF COURSE, BUSH HAS GIVEN US LOTS OF HELP IN BLURRING public opinion about George Btish has touched not one but two his basic outlines. outer edges of the known galaxy of presidential popularity. This son of Greenwich, Conn., started out, after all, in the First, in March of last year, he scored the highest approval rat- camouflage of a Goldwater conservative, outfitted to blend into ings of any president since World War H. Then, in June of this the landscape of his adopted Texas. When he ran for the Senate year, he plunged to the lowest level of public esteem ever mea- in 1964 he opposed the nuclear test ban treaty, called Medicare sured, in the same postwar era, for a president late in his first "socialized medicine" and hammered Democrat Ralph Yarbo- term. (Worse than Ford, that means. Worse than Carter.) rough for favoring the public accommodations section of the First he was the cool customer who had taken on Saddam 1964 Civil Rights Act—positions that got him nicely through a Hussein; who had banished the ghost of Vietnam; who had re- bruising primary. (By the fall campaign, however, when it was stored America's faith in itself. To read the papers or watch clear that the national ticket was going down to epic defeat, the TV, you'd have thought that words like "resolve" and "firm" name Goldwater rarely crossed candidate Bush's patrician lips.) were actually part of his name. He was unbeatable. Two years later, running for the House, he eased to the left; Now he is, in the words of Time magazine, "the incredible he wooed his district's black vote, and in 1968 he cast a vote in shrinking president." Mired in an endless recession, he is wide- favor of open housing. But as a presidential candidate in later ly said to offer no domestic vision, no articulable plan for his years, he would follow the southern strategy that Richard second term; he is derided, by the conventional wisdom that Nixon pioneered in 1968—luring white southerners from the emanates from inside the Beltway, as a fearful ditherer who Democratic Party by playing on racial tensions, notably with hasn't even been able to assemble a competent political cam- the specter of Willie Horton. paign. In the definitive formulation of Arsenio Hall, he has be- During his four years in Congress, Bush devoted so much come "George Herbert irregular-heart-beating, read-my-line- time to family planning policy that House Ways and Means lipping, slipping-in-the-polls, do-nothing, deficit-raising, make- Committee Chairman Wilbur Mills gave him the nickname less-money-than-Millie-the-White-House-dog-last-year, Quayle- "Rubbers." But when Ronald Reagan invited Bush to be his run- loving, sushi-puking Bush!" ning mate in 1980, Bush's profile as a Planned Parenthood Re- Surely there's something crazy about a political culture that publican swiftly changed. He was now flatly opposed to abortion can take such a massive shift of perception in stride. Granted, rights, and in favor of a constitutional amendment to end them.

8 PHOTOGRAPHS BY BETTMANN NEWSPHOTOS; LARRY REESE / HOUSTON CHRONICLE; CHARLES DEL VECCHIO; FRANK JOHNSTON; DAN DYER / SPRINGFIELD NEWS "I'm not going to get nickel-and-dimed to death with detail," York magazine, who gushed that Bush was "the almost perfect he said, when reporters challenged him on this and other candidate: scholar, athlete, war hero . . . George Bush may be changes of heart. The man who had coined "voodoo economics" the one Republican for whom Republicans need make no ex- to describe Reagan's economic policies now said, "I'm for Mr. cuse." Kramer wrote that "George Bush at his best" was "com- Reagan—blindly." And though he had criticized the massive tax bative, confident, at ease, with a sure sense of himself and a cuts Reagan proposed in the 1980 campaign, he would play sense of humor, unashamed of doing what he is doing, and, exactly the same note in his own 1988 campaign, swearing, above all, honest." "Read my lips: no new taxes." As winter gave way to spring, however, the press took the By the time he became president, then, George Bush had a inevitable second look. What once seemed a becoming moder- long history of inviting us to redefine him. In a sensible world, ation now seemed a refusal to stand for anything; he appeared this inconsistency would have made it easier, rather than hard- to hold himself out as the one man elastic enough to appeal to er, for voters to form a constant view of his nature: one that everyone. "What I'm getting in my polling now is that people saw his expediency itself as the most consistent theme of his think he is a lightweight. They don't know where he stands," career. said an opponent's pollster. Momentum alone, he appeared to Why have we have greeted him, again and again, with fresh think, would carry him through the election; and when "the Big surprise? Mo" turned against him, he began to seem kind of . . . plaintive. He talked more about political tactics than about issues, until, AT FIRST HE SEEMED TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, SPANNING finally, advisers began muttering to reporters about "putting an some of the growing fissures in our politics. In a typical com- issues base under him"—very much the way Bush advisers talk ment during Bush's 1970 Senate race, columnists Rowland Ev- today about surrounding their man with a domestic policy. ans and Robert Novak wrote, "Bush—young (46), handsome, a By campaign's end, Bush's image had returned to the work- Connecticut Yankee turned Houston oilman—is a glittering aday truth observed four years earlier by Osborne. A Washing- exponent of the 'modern' school of southern Republicans as ton Post editorial summarized Bush as "a center-right, tradi- contrasted with the 'primitives.' " He was the future of the tionalist, establishment-oriented, competent government figure Texas Republicans—conservative but not too conservative. who showed himself to be resilient but not especially presiden- This was the phase in which journalists called Bush telegenic, tial in-the campaign he ran in the past couple of years." even "articulate." Why, if he won a seat in the Senate, there In the vice presidency his image worsened, reaching its low was no telling what he might do. Perhaps Nixon would replace point in 1984, during the second Reagan-Bush campaign. In Agnew with him in '72 . . . part because he was running against a woman, he seemed un- But he never won the Senate seat. And by the time he had nerved, shrill, "testy." He had, reporters wrote knowingly, "a done Nixon's and then Gerald Ford's bidding at the United Na- high-strung side." In the words of another Washington Post tions, the Republican National Committee and the U.S. Mission editorial, "he seems to reveal himself, as all viewers of 'Dallas' in China, a more quotidian view of Bush had settled in. He was will long since have noticed, as the Cliff Barnes of American competent, and loyal, as far as that went, but he had been politics—blustering, opportunistic, craven and hopelessly in- passed over thrice for the vice presidency; he seemed to have effective all at once." more titles than achievements to show. "George Bush . . . may Similar language followed him into his presidential race in have the abilities necessary to bring off a monumentally difficult 1988. He was seen as pathetically deferential to Ronald Rea- assignment," wrote the New Republic's John Osborne of Bush's gan; in the vicious formulation of Garry Trudeau, he had placed nomination to be CIA director. "If he does, they have escaped his manhood in a blind trust. "Fighting the 'Wimp Factor,' " the notice of acquaintances who admire him for his amiability read the famous Newsweek cover that appeared the week Bush and his competence in handling less demanding tasks." officially launched his campaign. In the 1980 campaign, Bush was rediscovered. He was a By the time of the Republican convention, Democratic nom- fresh face at the level of presidential politics, and his surprise inee Michael Dukakis was up 17 points in the polls; all Bush victory in the Iowa caucuses made him, briefly, a media favor- offered, said Time magazine, was "a resume without a ration- ite. He called himself a "moderate conservative," whatever that ale." Polls showed that more than 40 percent of voters had a was—but he did seem reassuringly middle-of-the-road in a race negative opinion of Bush. that included Ronald Reagan, Phil Crane, John Connally and But over the next four months, America's idea of George Bob Dole. To eastern establislunentarians, he promised a re- Bush turned its most astonishing somersault yet. By January, turn to sanity after the wild internecine bloodlettings of recent he was a new man: Why, in retrospect, he had been a foreor- campaigns—an attitude summed up by Michael Kramer in New dained winner. On Inauguration Day, he was seen to be a man

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ASSOCIATED PRESS; ASSOCIATED PRESS; MARGARET THOMAS; RICH LIPSIU; BILL SNEAD AUGUST 16, 1992 9 of preternatural grace: sire of five fine children, husband to the sustained and embellished this new George Bush, as he soothed Silver Fox; a cool-headed leader come to restore.government his defeated foes and assembled a Cabinet, all with confidence by the elite; a born president. and a grace that startled many of those who had witnessed his Which brings us to the role of the press. campaign ferocity . . . Such is the metamorphosis of a public man." OF COURSE, ALL NEW PRESIDENTS ARE GRANTED HONEY- Press enthusiasm for such narratives of personal renaissance moons: The public is eager for vindication of the vote it has just is a recent fashion in our politics. Back in 1968, when reporters cast, and the press, eager to curry access in a new administra- and political opponents spoke of the "new Nixon," it was an in- tion, is happy to oblige. sult—meant to condemn what was seen as Nixon's calculated But there is a longer history to the media's fickle treatment bid for a new image. of George Bush. The press has long been the chief vehicle by And can anyone imagine, say, LBJ plausibly undergoing a 10- which America has invented and reinvented Bush—mostly for week metamorphosis? impersonal, even accidental reasons that are ingrained in the Can anyone imagine him wanting to? mechanics of political journalism. The main thing is the need for a story: There's no heat in BUT IT'S THE VOTERS, IN THE END, WHO CONSUME THE reporting that George Bush is pretty much the same guy he poses concocted by politicians and served up by the media; who was the last time the reader or viewer checked in, deploying have given Bush his wild ride from 90 percent down to 35. This the same skills, acting out the same limitations. The reporter is where diagnosis might best be made by a good marriage who can discover a new shade of meaning, a shift, is the report- counselor, someone accustomed to understanding extreme feel- er who has a story; the bigger the shift, the bigger the story. ings as part of a larger system. For it is not happenstance that In addition, the conventions of mainstream journalism make Bush's new record-low popularity was preceded by a record it difficult to take a steady bead on a public figure. It would have high; the two extremes are part of a single dynamic. been hard, in 1988, to find a dozen journalists in Washington It is the common, unspoken dynamic that underlies so many who believed George Bush's pledge that he would not raise angry marriages, in which each partner invests in the other the taxes—not because theysould prove any specific intent to de- responsibility for whatever it is that pains them. When things ceive on his part, but because they knew the math that would are going well, the spouse seems omnipotent, larger than life; confront him once he actually had to govern, and they knew him but when things are going badly, it is all his fault. as a late, unpersuasive convert to the supply-side religion. But How much easier to hold unrealistic expectations of one's mainstream journalism affects a neutrality that forbids pressing mate—and then blame' him when he fails to meet them—than an argument—however common-sensical—that a candidate is to examine those expectations closely, and give away our fond lying. illusions. The more blindly faith is invested, the more bitter the Finally, George Bush's gyrating reputation is the fruit of a ultimate blame. fairly new fad in political journalism: an increasing tolerance for At the altar George Bush told us, like Reagan before him, the whole idea of self-transformation. that he could give us everything we wanted: that we deserved Consider just a brief period during the 1988 campaign, in to pay lower taxes and get a constant flow of goodies from the which Bush was credited more than once with reinventing him- government. And we have shown, again and again, that we self. The GOP convention, scripted down to the sentence, was would rather marry that sweet lie than act on a true under- greeted by the press as a transformative event in the life of standing of our situation. George Bush. The Washington Post, in a front-page story, de- But it's not Bush's fault that we bought the con. It was al- scribed Bush as "casting aside his old identity as Reagan's vice ways a sham, and the deficit—which now suffocates so many president." Wrote Post columnist David S. Broder, "From the possible solutions to the problems that surround us, from the moment he arrived here to claim the nomination, he seemed economy to the inner cities—the deficit is the enormous result taller, looser, funnier—and more purposeful." of our illusions. And now that the lie is crumbling, there is At the center of the drama was what all the pundits agreed something dishonest about our insistence on blaming the liar. was his "crucial" acceptance speech. Never mind that all the In reality, George Bush is the same old husband today that credit for the themes and language of the speech went to writer he was a year ago: He'd rather watch a ballgame than clean out Peggy Noonan; Bush's delivery was covered as a magnificent the gutters; and he's fabulous at parties, but he's not much act of political reincarnation. The New York Times reported good with the kids. that "after eight often trying years, [he] became what he had And while he's done his best to obscure these basic facts of always claimed he was: his own man." Added a Times editorial, his nature (it takes two to tango, any marriage counselor will "What was most striking about his speech is how firmly he tell you), it's not his fault that we've never taken the respon- grasped the wimp epithet and turned it inside out . . . Intimacy sibility of facing up to where we are, and what we need to do; and modesty radiated from the TV screen." and to whether he is the man who can partner us in that. This was followed, of course, by a slashing fall campaign dis- Over the next three months, you may be sure that the Bush tinctly lacking in intimacy and modesty. For a few anxious campaign will proffer further astonishing shifts in Bush's char- months the press wrung its hands about Bush's tactics—the acter and fortunes; you can bet too that he and his handlers will Willie Horton ads, the flag factories, the stigmatization of what fmd a willing audience in at least some segments of the media. Bush called "the Aaaay-Ceee-E111-Yoo." The only unknown is what use voters will decide to make of But immediately after Bush won the presidency, he was once George Bush this time: which idea of him will prove the most again seen to transform himself. He disowned the divisive sym- satisfying. bolism that had driven his campaign, and the press greeted the We will either fmd a way to become infatuated with him change not as an act of hypocrisy but as the natural move of a again, or else we will apply the age-old remedy for disillusion- statesman. Under the front-page headline "BUSH'S METAMOR- ment, and throw the bum out. But in the absence of any effort PHOSIS: FROM LOYAL SUBORDINATE TO SELF-ASSURED LEAD- to understand the sick dynamic of the attraction in the first ER," The Post observed that Bush had "recast himself as a place—to acknowledge how thoroughly we have been ruled by statesman far removed from the fray of the campaign that had the fantasy of rescue—you know how that story ends: consumed him only days before . . . Over the next 10 weeks, he We always marry another one just like him. •

10 THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE ID HE Know

What a question! A vice president's job is to knc Washington understands the verb. But when it to George Bush and the Iran-contra' affair, nothin, as simple as that BY RICHARD BEN CRA

LANGUAGE, THE FIRST AND MOST BASIC tool of culture, is also its truest mirror. Any culture worthy of consideration will have created language to reflect its special preoccupations. Eskimos, it's said, have a hundred words for snow. hi fact, the power and precision of language is the surest mark of its sway in the world. Gallic pride is engorged, with rea- son, when speakers of 40 languages turn to French for verbs in the kitchen and nouns in the boudoir. And it is a distinction of undying greatness that half a world may call to God with names invented by a couple of small Levantine tribes. Alas, it is the surest sign that official Washington remains a pre-cultural swamp that it has not offered mankind any refinement of language to illumine its own constant preoccupation, the basic activity of its single industry, the work of its days and the spice of its nights, which is knowing. There are, in the capital, a our plates, along with the morning paper: is life. Only in the bars of hundred different ways to know and to be To Know. you hear a normal, healthy known; there are fine gradations of About this preoccupation there can be responding to the blandis knowing, wherein the subtlest distinc- no dispute: Knowledge is power, and the handsome swain with t tions are enforced. But to discuss this art capital is a city built on power, which breathy question, "You A and passion, we have only the same bland means knowing and being known. But this Only in a half-dozen Wash flapjack of a verb that flops each day onto is more than a business in Washington. It rants can a man's reputatic

AU( of the oil and gas What did he know, and wim fOi his connaissance know it? enhanced (and the object of his knowing interests may have no opponent in his -'„And so, there has developed, so quickly diminished) by the half-bored, next campaign. (Why run against a guy r ington, a kind of knowing wit, half-dismissive assertion: "Oh, I know Jack who'll have two million in the bank?) A known to know, for which th . . . forget it." in the sense of ac- man who knows the president may get word at all. It is a nonoperat This is knowing invited to a couple of state dinners. A connaissance, but this is traceable knowing, which can quaintance, of man who is well known to know the pres- proven or disproven. Indeed, i only the most basic way To Know. Large ident is himself a new president—of a oriental essence can barely be and lucrative careers, great firms filling successful consulting firm. It is yin-and-yang, knowing-no many marbled floors of fine buildings are Then there is another shade of the connaissance awareness. It is knowing all about the thi built on a combination of verb To Know, in the sense of being culpable of knowing thei and a judicious smatter of knowing in the right now, and scientia, as in facts It is about what's going on All of which brings us to th sense of knowledge, as such, it is Washington's highest branch scientia on capital personage, that longt or familiarity with a branch of govern- of knowledge. Encyclopedic timer of the Washington art, ment endeavor. "Well, you can go ahead the theory, history and practice of pro- knowing of men, Vice Preside and file the appeal," the consultant-lob- gressive taxation in America is nothing, Here was a man whose ver' compared to knowing byist says to his speakerphone, "but I less than nothing, only job, was To Know, as thi know the assistant secretary is no friend (a week before the vote) Chairman Ros- derstands the verb. He starte to Section 289, so we might want to pur- tenkowski's bottom line on depreciation morning, in his office in the 0 sue that avenue at the same timebut with-. . ." of timber assets. One brand of knowing (Men and women with scientia

Bush was right, ofcourse, about the preside di ggingthem in deeper with the press confer Don Regan marched the old man out, and screwed things up to a fare-thee-well.

Office Building, getting tc earns a ratty office and a tend to pursue less lu- (scientia) or something over breakf out connaissance shared secretary at the Heritage Foun- (awareness) brings last for only 15 or 20 min crative careers as policy wonks in the dation. The other ended in time for the vet agencies, do-good lobbies or think tanks.) power, money, fame . . . little man with the brief Then there is the matter of being But as the highest form of capital- from the CIA who appeal known, which can be more important knowing, the quest for awareness is also a.m., to offer the agency than knowing. If a Washington man is the most dangerous. Clearly, the lack of awareness, not as a vice well known as a man in the know, then this knowing can undermineposition, reputation or but as a courtesy, a tip his knowing is seldom tested. In fact, it is or power, especially if one's people who come to him to indicates that one cap, to the former dire fed daily by one's connaissance, Bush, who liked to know see what he thinks about what they ought to know. To be unaware, to be Out had been doing for the 1 know. This new knowledge is greeted by of the Loop, is allied in the tribal con- when that was finished, him with nods (I know, I know . . .) that sciousness with impotence, inability, im- the driveway to the NI begin before the other person has fin- becility . . . and ultimately with the fatal Oval Office, there to s ished talking. As a result of this, he ends affliction of ridiculousness. But there is dent's chief of staff brie up knowing pretty much what everybody also, in success, in wide awareness, a al security briefing, to else knows, which is usually enough. danger just as mortal. For this is the the president wanted There are companies or interest groups, brand of knowing that is closest to Eating opinion, not because t officeholders or office-seekers, who will From the Tree of Knowledge, and can offer material on whit hire him to be their man in the know. He result in expulsion from Eden. When day or ever, but simpl is, after all, well known. things foul up in a massive way; when after all, was the poll hi fact, being well known is a quality as The Washington Post, like God, is angry; briefings were over, 1 close to a bankable asset as a Washington when conunittee chairmen vie for juris- mal work for the day, man can have. It's what talent is in other diction of the hearings that will make to know about some towns. A politician who is well known as them well known as the scourge of evil- cials who'd convened a foe of oil and gas regulation is not going doing, then this is the knowing implied in ital, or sitting in with to have trouble raising money for his the most portentous of capital questions: next campaign. In fact, a man well known

12 THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE V fine and reinforce his acquaintance with ' angry, and millions of Americans eagerly the president of Zaire or the foreign min- In fact, Kean appointed Brady to the Sen- awaited a single, supposedly simple fact— ate, to fill out an unexpired term. So, if it ister of Malaysia, or jetting off to meet yes or no?—and an answer was sought a and to know the officers and enterprise of came time to announce: Hey! Bus is leav- thousand times, by a thousand of the na- ing! Get on board or be left behind . . . the nation's first tall-stack-clean-coal pow- tion's best journalists . . . it was sought er plant, or returning to his office for an there was always someone else to do it. only with the blunt tool at hand, the edge That left Bush as the genial host . . such informational briefing on the federal nar- of that mealy flapjack, always with a ques- cotics interdiction effort, or sitting down a decent guy! That's the part he liked, tion that came out this way: anyway. He'd have Kean over that night, at his desk to work through the report on Did George Bush know? . . . no matter . . . Every meeting, every after the movie. He could stay the night! Now what could they possibly mean by 'There was plenty of room! Bar would get act, each step in his daily vice presidential that? march, down to the last skip-and-jump everything set up upstairs . . . It'd through the briefcase full of papers which be fun! ON THE 18TH OF NOVEMBER 1986, But that was all arranged before the he'd tackle in his study at home, at night, George Bush was to host a night at the had simply to do with knowing, and know- deal with Iran started to come out on movies: "Top Gun" was on the bill, just Election Day. Since then, there was nothing in the Washington Way. Here was a the kind of action flick the VP liked. In man, after all, who owed his job to his ing else in the news: 10 minutes or more con- fact, it should have been a perfect night: at the top of each newscast, guaran- naissance, and maintained his standing in friends, mostly governors, in town for the it almost solely by one pinpoint of that teed—they loved this crap! Ted Koppel, Republican governors' do, all convened in every night after the late news, making c on naissance: his knowing relationship comfort and security in the armchairs of with Ronald Reagan. At the same time, mincemeat out of anyone who dared say Jack Valenti's private theater on 16th a kind word for Reagan. Turn the chan- his constitutional duty required him to 'Street in the capital, a plushy screening masteethe-scientia, teltii6W'at least nel, there were Johnny Carson jokes: a room maintained for VIP entertainment cake and a Bible for the ayatollah! That enough of the arms-control-throw- by the Motion Picture Association of weight-multiple-reentry-warhead was before The Post started turning over scfentia America. It was just the sort of .soiree— every rock in town on the question: What' The well-fed, well-pleased men with pink jowls and red ties were chuckling about him over lunch at Joe & Mo' s . .`Oh, I know George—nice guy, but Dole could eat him for breakfast.'

to be president, today, should disaster 20 or 30 people he knew, gathered for strike. At the same time, his political did they know, and when did they know activity and no heavy talk—the VP al- it? By the time the governors came to standing, his sole shield against the dread ways enjoyed. He'd have them out to the = and fatal ridiculousness of the job, de- town and Bush was to host his night at house for drinks before the film. Perfect! the movies, nothing seemed much fun. pended on his ability to enhance the pre- Then he could pick off two or three, take cious awareness". . and yet . . . Kean could tell right away when he got and yet them off to his study for a moment—no to the residence: Bush wasn't happy. He . . He could not know, could not afford to arm-twisting, nothing like that—just a know, in the full operational sense of the was alternately pensive and snappish. He friendly word or two . . . couldn't concentrate on what anybody word, anything beyond what the admin- "Well, I feel we're doing all right . . . istration was known to know, or anything said. Of course, Kean knew Bush from "And I hope you could feel, you know, politics, and had for almost 15 years, different from what the administration Of- I'm qualified . . . ficially Knew, or anything that put the lie ever since Richard Nixon made Bush the "If you could help . . national GOP chairman. But Kean and to any of the fond and rosy myths that It always worked like a charm. After •.f swaddled, like a blessed baby, the mind of Bush had also known one another in the all he'd done for them, now he was ask- ways that children of good families know the most know-nothing president in the ing, so intimately, gently . . . it was so re- capital's known history. one another. Kean's sister had met young spectful and decent. If it came to arm- Poppy in Connecticut. Kean's father had Here was, in short, the most creative twisting later, well . . . Lee Atwater did and subtle knower of knowledge in the served with Prescott Bush in Congress. the heavy lifting with the southerners. In the early years of the century, their capital. Andy Card was working on Governor Which brings up, again, that lamentable grandfathers were classmates at a pri- Sununu from New Hampshire. Bush's vate college in New Jersey. So Kean had word: For when Iran-contra transpired, friend, Nick Brady, went back a long way and God, like The Washington Post, was more than politics in mind when he took with Governor Tom Kean in New Jersey. Bush aside to continued on page 24

AUGUST 16,1992 13 • been hoarding for six years, and got no- forming himself, when none of these mat- BUSH ters was on his plate? And so, by a capital continued from page 13 where. It was incredible. "Afterwards, I went at Regan again," feat of knowing-not-knowing, of yin-and- ask: "What's wrong? You just don't seem Bush said that night. "Believe me, I went yang Washington art, he was not in- yourself." in there . . . as hard as I could." formed, could not be shown to have been "Aw, this thing with Iran," Bush said, informed, of the scandal itself. As he later when they got a chance to talk alone. Bar HE KNEW REAGAN WAS GOING TO DIG pointed out, he was out of the loop! He was had gone to bed. The old, rambling house them a deeper hole. Bush knew what the not culpable of knowing anything. was silent, save for the quiet voices in the president was going to say out there. What he was culpable of, on the great study. (Craig Fuller's wife, Karen, helped Pat historical scoreboard, at least, was of "I don't know what the hell happened," Buchanan get the statement together.) practicing his art of Washington knowing Bush said, "and neither does the presi- And Bush knew some of it was plain to the end, to the exclusion of all else. dent. But they're gonna put him out there wrong, dangerously wrong. That business George Bush was aware that the U.S. was tomorrow for a news conference . . . about the arms fitting into one cargo shipping arms to Iran, and he did not say a They'll kill him out there!" plane—dead wrong. Bush had taken a word to derail the deal. George Bush was Just the thought of it . . . Bush couldn't private meeting (at 011ie North's request) aware they were secretly shipping aid to sit still in his chair. He felt so helpless. with the Israeli middleman who started the contras, and he did not say a word. And it was his ass out there on the line! the whole deal rolling. He knew they The only time he went to the mat, spent Reagan wasn't running again. If the whole were talking about more than one plane- his capital to affect the flow of events, second term sank into this Iran swamp, load, as he knew they were dealing with was after the fact, when the only issue Reagan was still going back to his ranch the genuine fanatics at the right hand of was what should come out and when, and horses. It was Bush whose future was Khomeini. He never bought that "mod- what they were allowed to admit aware- ruined. Of course, that's not how he said erates" fantasy. ness of, what they were going to be cul- it, wouldn't even think that way. No, it In fact, there were many things that pable of knowing. That's when he went in was the price of being Poppy that his first George Bush knew that later emerged in as hard as he could . . . But, of course, no thought, in fact, all his concern, had to the confluence of revelation that came to one outside the White House knew that. bend to the rescue of "this good man, who be known as ban-contra. He knew, for They were only asking a question that has become my friend," Ronald Reagan. starters, the administration shipped arms meant nothing: Did Bush know? The code left no options. When the deal to Iran. In fact, he was for it, in a quiet, came unglued and the papers started dig- barely traceable way, not because he HE WAS RIGHT, OF COURSE, ABOUT THE ging up the whole sad tale, Bush didn't thought it would work, but it might . . . president digging them in deeper with the call any meetings, didn't take polls, didn't and the president was for it. He knew that press conference, the following day. Don even talk to his political guys. There was if the deal went down as hoped ("planned" Regan marched the old man out, and he only one thing he could do: stand by his was too grand a word), the U.S. hostages screwed things up to a fare-thee-well. friend. Anything else . . . well, it'd be like would all come home. He knew Bud First, Reagan denied the deal was arms ratting on a school chum. McFarlane, 011ie North and John Poindex- for hostages—when no one in the country But he could help, if they'd give him a ter were running the show. He knew the believed that anymore. Then he denied chance. He knew something about this, Israelis had started the whole deal, were the U.S. had anything to do with Israel's sure as hell knew more than the presi- in it up to their eyeballs, in it for shipments—when Regan (as reporters dent. Reagan didn't see what all the fuss their own reasons, not necessarily those pointed out) had already admitted that the was, thought he'd just go out there and of the U.S. And he knew the president U.S. condoned an Israeli shipment in Sep- say what he'd done. He didn't understand! didn't quite grasp the details of the tember of '85. Then Reagan said there That's why Bush went into the Oval Of- operation. were no mistakes in the deal with Iran— fice that day—did what he'd almost never On the contra side of the ledger, he had they'd got three hostages back and he'd done in six long years. He went to the also come to awareness of most of the continue on the same path. mat on this: went to the president to tell pertinent facts. He knew 011ie North was It was chaos! The spokesman, Larry him to back off—just for a few days! Just a cowboy. He knew 011ie was shaking ev- Speakes, had to put out a "statement from until they knew what the facts were, what ery tree in the forest for money for the the president" within 20 minutes to cor- they were supposed to be. This was a contras. (In fact, he was going to speak at rect the stuff about Israel. Don Regan covert operation! Shouldn't be coming out one of North's fund-raisers, and backed was back in the Blue Room, pounding the like this! George Bush had joined his first off only when his staff counsel warned table and swearing he wasn't gonna be secret society at age 14. He'd been keep- him he might get into trouble.) He hung out in the wind as the leaker on this. ing secrets ever since, been director of knew—in fact, his was the first office in Goddammit, he was gonna hold his own the CIA! He knew this stuff in his bones! the White House to learn—a former CIA press conference! Poindexter wrote the Just back off, till everybody knew what op named Eugene Hasenfus was shot correction and put in the same lies about they were supposed to know, what it was down while flying aid to the contras. He everything fitting into one cargo plane. they could admit they knew. knew Hasenfus was not the only demi- After that performance, seven out of 10 But they brushed him off like a fly . . . spook running around on this secret, air- Americans said they didn't believe Ronald Reagan, Ed Meese, Don Regan. Bush borne, aid-the-contras operation. Reagan anymore. talked into the president's face in a way In short, George Bush had come in Sure enough, Bush saw the ship sinking he never had . . . but Reagan simply contact, by various means, at various around his ears, and there wasn't a damn couldn't understand. Meese thought the times, with nearly every salient fact that thing he could do to patch the hull. He had Gipper could just deny it—make it all go later emerged in The Post. But that did his own small staff in an uproar, trying to away in front of the cameras. Regan was not mean he ever put them together. Why do what the whole West•Wing couldn't or only interested in his own reputation— would he, when all he had to know, the wouldn't do: "Just get the goddam facts," wanted the world to know it wasn't him only thing he could afford to know, was Bush said. He took Craig Fuller off other dropped the ball. Bush had gone at all of that the president was for them? Why business—what other business was there them, spent the capital of loyalty he'd should he commit the act of overtly in- now?—to get to 011ie North and find out

24 THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE what the hell happened. He pulled Boyden weekend 011ie and Fawn were so busy Gray, his counsel, off the next big speech, with the shredder.) ANTHONY QUA the address to the American Enterprise It wasn't till Monday afternoon that FOR A FANTASTIC Institute, to find out whether any laws Meese finally came by to see Bush, and 144 were broken. He told his national security then only for about 10 minutes, just to man, Don Gregg, to find out what hap- drop this bombshell: The money from the pened in Iran. Facts, he wanted. And he Iran deal went to the contras. Swiss bank wanted them now. So, for days they ran account. 011ie had the number. Poindexter around like fevered gerbils, gathering had to know too. They'd both have to go. shreds of fact where they could, which There might be others. Meese was going they called in the same day, or they sent to tell the president that same afternoon. in memos, mostly to Fuller . . . No one Bush didn't sleep that night. He came in wanted to get in Bush's face when he got Tuesday, looking like a man who'd got bad like this. Atwater and the politics guys news on his cancer test. His mouth was a stayed away altogether. Bush was in a grim, lipless line. There was no expression state. If he did happen to pick up a phone in his eyes, no light of recognition when while they called in, they each, to a man, the staff said good morning, like Bush was felt they'd better talk fast. "Yeah. Yeah. looking at his own private blank wall. He What else?" Bush would snap on the other had pulled completely within himself. No end. They could almost hear his fingers one had to tell Bush what this meant: a drumming the desk. secret trail of money, had to be laws bro- LARGE 600 S.F. And every day or two, reporters would ken somehow, investigations, a special INCLUDES • call his press office with another story prosecutor, hearings in Congress . . . all • D.E. FILTER NIA • BRONZE PUMP . they were about to unleash. And his press they'd done for six years could go down • ELECTRONICS guy, Marlin Fitzwater, would have to • col the chute, along with his campaign. It was • LOVESEAT • UG walk into Bush's big office and coax a his ass out there now. They had to do • STEPS • PEF statement out of him. Usually, Bush was something to curtail the damage. They had • BENCH •3'-8' at his desk, working through papers, and • EXCLUSIVE WARRAN to move, and move fast, before this steam- • 450 S.F. CONCRETE F he'd push back from the desk with a de- roller crushed them . . . • 70 FT ELECTRIC HOC liberate shove of both hands, and slouch But at the 9 a.m. Oval Office briefing, it *SUBJECT TO ZONE AND SITE CO back in his leather chair, with his head was clear the president didn't know what down, fiddling with his pen. His eyes to do. Meese laid out what he knew of the ANTHONN P 141-8C #3389 would stay on the pen, which he rotated diversion. He said it was all in memos. MD (301) 7334557 VA (703 in his fingers, while Fitzwater told him (011ie put the damn thing on paper!) Poin- what the Wall Street Journal, or The dexter said he'd known that 011ie was up Post, wanted to know today. And Bush to something, but no one else did. Regan would listen with his head down, quiet, had already told Poindexter he'd have to RELAX! with the air of a man beleaguered, a man go. Regan wanted a commission, some who had to stay composed. Then, he'd say kind of blue-ribbon thing . . . appointed to his pen: today, announced at a press conference. "This is so unfair! Don Gregg had noth- They had to get out in front of this. But ing to do with this." Ronald Reagan wasn't sure . . . Or, simply: "Look. The president has At 9:30, instead of the National Secu- asked Ed Meese to fmd out what the facts rity Council briefing, Poindexter walked are. When we know the facts, we'll make in, with his undertaker's face, and told the them public." president he was sorry, he was resigning. And then Fitzwater would have to go Reagan didn't even ask what happened. at it again, until he got a statement he He just said, "I understand . . ." Then he could use. brightened, and with the brave smile you "So I can say, 'Vice President Bush was see at the end of war movies, he added: categorically not involved in' . . ." Fitzwa- "But it's in the best tradition of the Navy ter would look up from his note pad, hop- . . . the captain accepting responsibility ing the veep would fmish the sentence. . . ." There was a full NSC meeting COOL Ol But he'd always have to do it himself. scheduled after that, so they all went in, CELEBRATING Our 25t1 . . 'directing or overseeing the contra except Poindexter. Alton Keel, his dep- Featuring resupply'? . . ." —AUTOMATED- uty, ran the meeting in his stead, and no And Bush would say quietly, head one said anything about it. That's what Win • SAFETY COVERS down, to his pen, or off to the side, to one was driving Bush crazy: They were acting B • CLEANING SYSTI of his desk drawers: "Absolutely." so normal. At the end of the meeting, he M • CIRCULATION SI ducked back into his West Wing office for • COMPUTER CON IT WAS THE WEEKEND AFTER THE COMPETITIVELY MCI a minute, stood at the fireplace mantel, 10096 FINANCWG AVAILAE0 press conference that Bush got the word: leaned on it like it was holding him up. Meese wanted to see him. He waited at What the hell was going on? Was he cra- MBC POO] the residence for two days. He couldn't zy? The ship was going down and they VAI 703-690-7076 MD 30 even sit still to read the papers. But kept on dancing! Meese never showed up. It turned out Bush said to Fuller: "This is disaster I Addre'sci Meese was closeted with 011ie North, to . . . We don't even know who handled the State Z1F clean up "the chronology." (That was the Mwne Mail to money . ." 19_205-E Enterprise Ct. Manassas, VA 22111 A

AUGUST Fuller started to tell him what he'd out there to take the heat, they'll clobber you could almost hear. The leaders, the picked up from his friend Al Keel that Reagan, he doesn't understand, thinks its speaker, looked at one another in silence. morning. Total weirdness! Poindexter had a movie . . . they71 kill him! . Lieutenant colonels didn't do deals on some early meeting, so Al ran the normal By the end of the day, it was screaming their Own. The only thing Reagan added 7:30 NSC staff meeting. About 8:30, Keel in his head. It was surreal, the way no one was that Poindexter knew about it . . . walks into Poindexter's office to brief him said anything—like it would all go away if and so, in the best tradition of the Navy on the staff meeting. And Poindexter's they went to their meetings! Like the . . . you know, the captain taking respon- sitting there, eating a yogurt at his desk. Blob That Ate Cleveland didn't exist! By sibility . . . Keel's reporting, and Poindexter just the end of the day, Bush was back in his Reagan didn't understand. There's says, "Uh huh, yeah, uh huh," eating yo- office, at his desk, his eyes on the blotter, only one captain in the White House. Only gurt. Then he says: "By the way,. Al, I'm head in his left hand, staring down, not one man could take responsibility . . . resigning today." seeing . . . Watergate . . . Dole remembered his Bush, still with his eyes down, with- "It's like they don't realize . . . what's friend Bryce Harlow, in an office just drawn into the gloom in his own head, going on," Bush said to the desk. down the hall from this Cabinet Room. seemed hardly to hear the story. Fuller said, across the room: "Or that it Harlow was a Washington sage, an insid- "I've got to go back," Bush said. "Got is going on." er, adviser to Nixon, a man Dole looked the leadership meeting. Jesus. This is the And Bush looked up with his lips white, up to. "That break-in story doesn't have worst." all the pain apparent now in the long lines any legs," Harlow said, back in '72. Dole So he went back to the Cabinet Room of his face. was head of the party, and he wanted to for the meeting with the leaders of Con- "Don't they realize what this means?" say something, to let people know the gress, and then back again, after the pres- Republican Party had nothing to do with ident's noon press conference, for a lunch WATERGATE . . . WAS THE FIRST THING Watergate. But Harlow advised him: "It'll with Reagan and the Supreme Court, and that flashed through Bob Dole's mind, in fade in two or three days . . ." So Dole then to the afternoon National Security the Cabinet Room, at the leadership brief- didn't make any statements, tried to pass Planning Group . . . He walked through ing, when Meese dropped the bomb about it off with a joke. the-day like the rest of them: reading off the diversion. Dole stopped in at the Dole sat up at the table now, his eyei the cards in their pockets, going through White House to catch the briefmg on his shifting from face to face. He was trying the schedule, through the motions, acting way to the airport. He had to get to Bos- to see the whole court. Jim Wright, leader like the ship was still afloat . . . But ton, then to Iowa, for the Other Thing of the House Democrats, was already on he couldn't stop the baneful monologue in . . . plane was waiting. that portentous question: his head: Meese ran through the tale, said 011ie Was this done with knowledge or ap- Disaster . . . everything they'd done, the North did the deal on his own. That fell proval of others? second term, the campaign, George Bush onto the long, gleaming table with a thud Who else in the White House knew?

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26 THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE

Did the CIA know? never did deal with the issue, head-on. "I'M JUST NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING Meese was trying to convince him that Nobody did. And they paid. It drove a now," Bush snapped. He'd been through 011ie was the only one who really knew. president from office. Almost beat Dole, this, explained it a million times. Why Poindexter only knew 011ie was up to two years later, back in Kansas. The couldn't they understand? His own staff, something. Israel handled the deal, whole party paid in blood, for eight years. guys who ought to know him . . . they Meese said. The Israelis thought it up, did A stain they never could wash off . . . still were coming at him again on this AEI the deed without any help . . . hadn't recovered, not all the way. speech, the American Enterprise Insti- Dole could see Wright didn't believe it. Well, nobody was going to tar Bob Dole tute, the perfect chance to distance him- Who would believe it? He looked down the with that brush now—no way. Sure, he'd self from the whole Iranamok mess. In his line to Bob Byrd, his colleague, leader of support the president, as much as he office in the West Wing, Bush spoke to the Senate Democrats. Byrd would have a could. That was his job, and he'd do it. the speech draft that was fanned out on field day, his legalistic way . . . hearings, But Reagan had to get the facts out. And the desk in front of him. "Look, I've spent three or four committees . . . he'd never if heads rolled, well, so be it . . . Dole six years being loyal to this president . . ." let it go, the whole next Congress, it'd eat wasn't going to let them shove the party Bush's voice was high, petulant with his up the session, the whole campaign, the down the toilet for another eight years. sense of injustice. Other Thing, '88 . .. Maybe Reagan Not this time. This was his time. "This doesn't abandon the president," thought they'd help him, put it behind, Dole was back in his Town Car within Fred Khedouri said. Khedouri was writing move on. But Reagan didn't understand. 10 minutes. "Get the office," he snapped. the speech—or trying, at least. He'd been Byrd always spoke with the air of the And then, over the car phone, on the way back and forth with it a half-dozen times. statesman, but don't get in a dark alley to the airport and the Other Thing, he He'd write in a line about the Iran thing— with him . . . Hell, he was trying to take asked not for his chief of staff, not for his something innocuous, just an acknowl- Dole's office. Trying to throw his whole national security man, but for the press edgment that something went wrong— staff out! One of Byrd's guys took Dole on secretary. and Bush would balk, like a horse that saw a tour, to show him the "new rooms" his "Agghh, gotta get out a statement," he a snake. To Khedouri, it was so obvious: staff might use. They were coal bins! said. "They took the money from Iran, for If the VP stuck his head in the sand, it Walked Dole down into the basement, the missiles, gave it to the contras. sent a message that he was complicitous took him through rooms he wouldn't take Gaghhh, you b'lieve it? President's gonna . . . or lost in the same fog of know-noth- his dog in . . . unless it was raining, or announce it in an hour. Yeah, it's kinda ing denial that hung over the rest of the cold, dog wouldn't go out . . . If they bizarre . . wanta call it 'a bizarre twist.' White House. It just wouldn't play! He thought Byrd was going to cut them a Say the president's doin' the right thing, tried to keep his voice even: "There ought break, well . . . get all the facts out . . . support the pres- to be some recognition . . ." "Musta been my night off," Dole used ident . . . yeah, point is, it's all gotta The veep heard the edge under Khe- to say about Watergate, back in '72. He come out." douri's voice—like Bush was some thick-

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AUGUST 16,1992 27 from all over the country," Bar confided in the receiving line. Bush's face twisted into his aw-shucks grin: "At least I didn't get thrown out," he said. The world was off his shoulders. He looked terrific. Everybody said so. How did Bar keep him looking so good? Bar said sweetly: "I beat him . . ." Hoo hoop! Isn't that Bar a stitch? And the next day, and the next, more wonn-derful reviews. And Larry Speakes said the president agreed with every word. And Lee Atwater told the networks that Republicans across the country were cheering. "The vahz pres'ent," Lee growled, "hit uh gusher!" The Era of Good Feeling lasted 10 days, until Don Gregg, the veep's national security man, gave his first interview to Believe it! August is the New York Times. Yes, he'd found out a hot time to buy America's best built pool - Sylvan! Take advantage about the contra resupply back in August, of low interest rates and Sylvan's special pool and accessory packages. Gregg acknowledged. His friend and fel- Best of all, build now and make no payments 'til 1993! So hurry in to Sylvan and get the low spook, Felix Rodriguez, had come to pool you've always wanted with the August Extras that are as hot as the weather! Washington specially to tell him how 'See Sylvan Sales Representatives for details. Concrete pools only. Cannot be combined with any 011w promotional offers screwed up it was. Then the next day, Call now or Annapolis; MD Area . (410) 5444500 UPI came out with unnamed White House Visit ME of *Perry Hall, MD (410) 255-9100 sources, alleging that Bush's offite knew our pool 9716 &lair Rd. puts todav! Easton, MD (410) 822 the contra gambit every step of the way. -2880, „„,e Laurel, MO (301) 490-1919 1 Pbm• 011ie North kept them posted religiously. OPEN 7 DAYS 0 Seed A VMEK 10840 Guilford Rd , Suite 406 I Address What did George Bush know? Rockville, MD (301) 294-9110 touimmto II FRE I By mid-December, that was the only • POOL ON DISPLAY Fairfax, VA (703) 5914055i GI" question anybody wanted to ask him. Now 10120 Lea Highway I sew ea ea" M.H.I.C. 3107 lied Is: Sybil Pub Bush had to issue his own chronology, Frededcksberg, VA (703) 8904916 1 PA. &a 159, Wee. MO 20725 well make public a series of contacts between ...... -. . -. his staff, 011ie North and the contras. "Let the chips fall where they may," he'd said in his big AEI speech. Who could have known they'd fall on him? Slee Sofas 1/2 Price Sale And now, every day, Fitzwater had to Retail 9599 to $799 Twin Apt. Sites from $299 march into the big office, and screw some Retal 3799 to 31199 Full & Queen from $399 statement out of Bush. Bush would say to RetaN 6999 to $129 Ful Si Queen horn $499 his desk or his pen: Retail $1199 to $1399 Queen She from $599 "I've answered that a million times." Storewide Clearance 33-60% Off •Or, "That's just not true . . . I had Largest Brand Horne Sofabed nothing to do with that." Selectione on the East Coast Or, "Salvador . . . Felix Rodriguez is a hero down there, to the people of Salvador.' Rockville 11711-0 Porldawn Dr. 881-3900 And Fitzwater would persist, gingerly: (At Nicholson La 2/3 rrt sad of Vohs Ph WO HAMILTONS "So I can say, 'Vice President Bush Falls Church 5928 Leesburg Plke 820-8000 never mi. 7 When Oalye XRds a Seven Canard Sofa C, dirty met with Felix Rodriguez' . . And Bush would stare at his twisting pen, silent, while Marlin had to finish the quote. ". . . 'except, uh, to discuss El Salvador'? ." And when, at last, Bush would glance SCHULZ Adjustable Beds up with that blank-wall look, even Fitz- HOMES Workers' Comp, RETIRE IN STYLEI AFFORDABLE CUSTOM SHELLS a TURNKEY • 10 different • water had to wonder what the hell was HOMES 000. 10000 sot Merry *cheesy plans and plans models M all Insurance, maw bedroom on 1st floor. Mild 150rnis rmlus. Building in 'Or sizes starting Medicare & behind that stare. Was there something She us will MODEL HOME & DEMON CENTER on RL 50 W. h he was unable to say? Was he culpable of Aldo, VA, lust 25 minutes west of Fair Oaks Mall a Rt. es W. at '599 Medicaid Invited. OPEN 12 -4SAT. a SUN., WEEKDAYS BY APPT. 703427-6036. SHOWROOMS knowing? Or just heartsick? Rockville Pike, MD (301) 230-1234 At the moment, Bush was only waiting Tyson Corner, VA (703) 356-0800 to see if Marlin was done. Was it over? Springfield, VA (703) 451-8226 SHOWROOM & CLEARANCE CTR. When would this be over? . . . He'd said New Carrollton, MD (301) 459-9480 more than he wanted already. More than OUT-OF-TOWN 1(800)728.6767 he ever should have. And what did it get him? . . . When Fitzwater didn't say any more, Bush replied, tersely: "Okay. Say that." 114 1114. Sat. 1114, 71x. 124

AUGUST 16, 1992 DOLE WAS NEVER OFF TV. THE ELEC- he was in Florida, he'd had a chat with with a nice picture of the senator, a big tion recaps rolled right into Iran-contra, Bob Strauss, Mr. Democrat, a real insid- one, above the fold. and every time you flicked on the tube, or er, another condo neighbor. Bobster told And that was only the beginning. That glanced at a paper, there was Dole. Dole Strauss he was thinking of a Special Se- day, as Dole emerged from the White by satellite, Dole on Koppel, Dole on lect Committee on Iran—like Sam Er- House, a meeting with Don Regan, he "Face the Nation" . . . Top story: "Dole vin's Watergate committee. Of course, he called for appointment of a special pros- knew the idea wouldn't stop with Strauss, ecutor. No, it was nothing against Ed says . . ." "Good evening, on Capitol Hill was awfully close to the today, the Senate majority leader . . ." and sure enough, when he got back, here Meese. But he Dole, Dole, Dole. No guest was supposed was Bob Byrd on the telephone: Maybe president. Republicans, Dole said, were to be on David Brinkley's Sunday chat- they could, uh, coordinate . . . So already "suffering damage" from the scan- fest more than twice a year—they they agreed, they'd both propose it, Byrd dal. That's what he told Don Regan. changed that policy for Dole. What else on "Face the Nation," Bobster on the We've got to cut our losses! It'll be good could they do? The guy made news. Brinldey-fest. That would surely be news for the president! "He didn't make mis- enough, but it might give Byrd equal bill- takes. The people around him made mis- Dole knew what those Sunday shows defend- needed as well as the panelists, the host, ing. So that morning, the Bobster pulled takes." Remember, Bob Dole was the producers. He knew he didn't have to the ace from his sleeve: He wanted a spe- ing the president! show up at 10, like the bookers insisted. cial committee to consolidate the hear- Sometimes, in the dust from the Bob- He'd roll in at quarter-after, 20-after, and ings, the information . .. but he ster's dancing shoes, it was hard to keep head straight for the makeup room. He wanted it now, this week! A special ses- track of whom he was defending. knew the girls by name, always had a sion of Congress! Convened by Ronald Nothing wrong with Meese . . . but Reagan to get the facts out! The first spe- when are we getting a special prosecutor? greeting to settle them down, make 'em George Shultz, a fine secretary of state forget he was late. "Agghhh, kinda hot . . . cial session since Harry Truman called Sam must be askin' all the questions. Congress back from the hinterlands, 38 . . . "But, I must say, when people say, Hegh hegh hegh." Someone would bring years ago! 'Why aren't you out there supporting the him a half-cup of coffee from the table set It was gorgeous, a master stroke, president?' . . . it's rather difficult with brunch. Dole never hung around to raised the issue to a full-scale crisis . . . when the secretary of state is not doing not since 1948 . . . Let the boys in the anything." eat. On the set, no matter what went out Bob Dole would certainly not be the on the air, it was always jokes and gossip White House gnash their teeth. Bob Dole during commercials: just a few Washing- was protecting the president, making sure one to tell the president to fire his chief of ton white men, sitting around like it was there weren't 10 committees holding staff . . . "But I think right now they lunch at Joe & Mo's . . . what the hell, hearings, calling for documents, wit- ought to circle the wagons—either that, they were all well known, in the know. nesses, all at once. And proposing that or let a couple of wagons go over the the president start it now, while Repub- cliff? Brinkley and Dole were neighbors in Flor- Meanwhile, lest the White House make ida, where Elizabeth owned a condo. licans (i.e., Bob Dole) could still control the Senate, keep a hand on the commit- good its intention to move on to other Brinkley was a friend, or close enough business, Dole was on the front page . . . And Dole always brought a nugget of tee. What was the matter with those guys in the White House—couldn't they see? If again, this time calling for a summit with news he could drop into the chat, some- European leaders, to reassure the allies where, enough to make the Monday Post they went along with Dole, then the action shifted to Congress, to the wrangle about U.S. foreign policy. print the sentence: "Dole made his pro- Meanwhile, lest anyone else miss the posal (charge, comment, remark) in an over the committee. It would take the heat off the president! point, Dole made a speech in New Hamp- interview on the ABC television program shire, and pronounced the whole Iran- 'This Week With David Brinkley' . . ." And, of course, it left Bob Byrd in the dust. But how could the Democrats contra gambit lust plain stupid." That, and maybe one catchy sound bite to He left Byrd and the Democrats gasping run on CNN all day, then on the Monday squawk? Dole wasn't trying to outmaneu- ver anyone. "Agghh, been around too long for air. The Bobster carried the ball for "Today" show. both sides. As for rival candidates for the So, on the Sunday after the diversion for that." No, he'd be glad to let the committee reflect the lineup in the new Sen- Other Thing, they could only stand by, was announced, Dole rolled into the stu- biting their tongues. Jack Kemp's press dio for the Brinldey show, with just time ate, to convene next year, the Democratic He looked majority . . . How could they oppose this? secretary made the papers one day with a enough. "Howy' d000nn? . . ." warning that Dole was "too eager to make terrific, tanned and healthy from his big Were they trying to drag out the issue? Didn't they say they wanted all the facts news over the corpse of a popular pres- vacation, two days for Thanksgiving at ident." But that weekend, when Kemp the condo in Florida. Makeup had him in out? . . . Well, let's get going! The white men on the Brinkley set hoped to appear on "Face the Nation," and out in a minute—just powder. He Lesley Stahl wanted Bob Dole instead. looked fine. "Aghh, shoppin' done?" The were trying not to grin, like cheap law- yers at a 10-car pileup: Uh, did that mean After that, the New York Times ran a Bobster was all holiday cheer. The music Page 1 R.W. Apple analysis that began: was playing in his head, the overture of Senator Dole didn't think all the facts hem! . . . were out? Didn't he believe the White "Bob Dole of Kansas, the Senate majority the Other Thing . . . and, leader who will become minority leader here's an issue plopped onto the ground House, that North and Poindexter were the only ones who knew? next year, has seen his prospects of win- before him like a Mexican sombrero, an ning the 1988 Republican presidential invitation to the dance! A big beautiful The Bobster dropped an eyebrow and rasped: "Aghh, don't think Ripley'd be- nomination enhanced . . ." That signaled Washington hat dance! No one could do it the rest of the nation's press to pile on. like Bob Dole. He had news to make this lieve that." Eureka! The sound bite! "Mr. Dole may be the man with the most morning and a network to air it . . . The to gain," the Wall Street Journal reported White House in trouble! Bush under a The next day, The Post had the story of President Reagan's first defiant reac- the next week. And the week after that, cloud! What did they know and . . . da came The Post: "Polls and political strat- dum! . . . He was ready to dance . . . the tion to the scandal of the diversion. But that didn't lead the paper. The lead story egists indicate that, partly because of Washington Dance of Death! his recent high-profile performance, he He'd worked to get this nugget: While was Dole's call for a special session, along

THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE

has moved within striking distance of the kind of guy Bush loved, a secret op Bush . . ." with an air of action about him, came from Striking distance! It was soft-shoe on a good family . . . made his name in Viet- Maryland Pools the coffin lid! Up in New Hampshire, nam, where one of his guys, his top men, BUILDERS OF which is where it counted, the organ of was Felix Rodriguez. He was the link . . . SMART POOLS the mad-dog right, the Manchester Union And when that CIA plane went down in Leader, was getting tired of Republicans Nicaragua, who got called? Felix Rodri- FOR SMART PEOPLE, who failed in their duty to defend the guez! And where did he report? To HAS ONLY ONE AMBITION president. So the Union Leader, as it was George Bush's office, to that other spook TO BE THE BEST! wont, launched a foam-flecked attack on who worked for him, Gregg! . . . George Bush! The headline: "More It was so obvious! And it had to come Mush From the Wimp." out. Maybe not now, or even soon. But it Of course, Bob Dole couldn't focus on would come out, and the committee would the primaries now, not with the White prove: George Bush knew all about it! House under assault, the credibility of the But even Dole failed to calculate the U.S. at stake. He had to appoint the mem- capacity for knowing-not-knowing. Even bers of the special select committee, sen- he, the most able inside player in the U.S. ators of energy and intrepid judgment Congress, underestimated George Bush's who would get to the bottom of this sorry Washington art. Even while Dole danced CALL NOW affair and restore government to its prop- his spectacular tarantella on the White 301-621-3319 er business. Not that there was any short- House, the Congress, his fellow candi- 1-800-252-7946 age of candidates. These hearings could dates . . . he made one fatal error of judg- BANK FINANCING AVAILABLE make a man Well Known! So, the leader ment: He thought George Bush must be MHIC 6694 weighed probity, experience, intellect, something like him. If Bob Dole had sat in savvy . . . and from among all the eager the VP's chair every day as the little man Maryland Pools volunteers, he selected as the ranking with the briefcase retailed the covert 9515 Geivoig Ln. #119 Columbia, MD 21046 Republican member . . . Warren Rudman, p Please send LITERATURE news of the world, or as the NBC staff in CI Have a salesperson CALL of New Hampshire. the Oval Office outlined the "initiative to I3 What is a SA/MT POOL??? No politics about it! It was well known Iran" . . . there was no way Bob Dole NAME that Rudman was lined up for '88 with his would not commit an overt act of know- ADDRESS friend, the former senator from Tennes- ing. There would be not one day when CITY ZIP see, Howard Baker. (Everybody knew Dole could maintain he was Out of the PHONE Baker was running.) And Rudman did Loop. As he said, in mid-dance, to one MD, DC, VA, WVA, DE, PA bring to the job a fine set of qualifications: group of admiring reporters: "Agh, m'not He was well informed about foreign pol- one to sit on the sidelines." icy, national security. And he had expe- So, he said nothing about George Bush. rience as a prosecutor, as a former attor- Why should he? Reporters were telling ney general of his great state. In fact, him privately that Bush was dead. All Great Prices On three of the five senators selected by Bob Dole had to do now was beat Jack Kemp. Dole had been prosecutors. Dole meant to Hah! And not just reporters. Big guys, Beautiful Pools! make sure all the facts came out—he insiders, the kind Dole listened to, were wouldn't have to say a thing. coming on to him. Looked like John Sears, That's why, in all the reams of his pub- the guy who started Reagan in 1980, was lic comment, in November and Decem- going to run Dole's campaign! By mid- ber, about the Iran affair, there was not December, the Iowa poll from the Des one mention, not one word attachable to Moines Register had Dole, for the first Bob Dole's name that pointed in any way time, in the lead over Bush! So Dole kept Complete your home with... to the vice president, George Bush. It dancing. • Freeform and classic shapes, was the highest triumph of the Be Nice There he was with all the cameras natural stone and lap pools rule. He knew the wise guys were waiting again, on December 16, announcing Rud- • Exercise pools, spas and waterfalls for him to say something nasty—just one • No cost site and design consultation man's name and the other members of • Specialists in small and steep yards misstep in the Dance of Death . . . and it the new committee. "A Watergate-style • Tax deductible financing at low fixed was over. committee" is what the papers called it. rates. But why would he? Bob Dole never had And there, in the press conference, one of Package just one source on something he wanted the young anchormen-to-be had a ques- prices $12,950. to know. The White House briefings and starting at tion for Dole, the big question now . . . Fiberglass • Gunite • Polymer meetings with Regan were not his only Hasn't this endless trauma destroyed avenue of inquiry on Iran-contra. And Rockville the Republicans' chances in 1988? Doesn't (301) 983-8330 Dole was convinced: Bush was in the it make the nomination . . . worthless? Car free'- soup. All the connections were clear in Fairfax 0015 Dole imperceptibly shrugged one (703) 591-1212 oo Dole's head. The whole push on the hos- shoulder and a little smile softened his tages, the whole deal with Iran, had to do CHIC 524594 VA CLASS A #27251 D.C.Hic #1728 face. He said: I'm Interested M a Carefree Lifestyle. with the kidnapped Beirut CIA station "I'll take it." • YeS...Please send a free brochure. chief, William Buckley. There was word, NAME: breathed into Dole's ear . . . the White This article is excerpted from Richard Ben PHONE: Home/Wait House had a videotape: Buckley under Cramer's What It Takes: The Way to the ADDRESS: torture . . . that's when the deal was White House, recently published by Ran- CITY/STATE/ZIP: cooked up. Buckley had worked for Bush, dom House. Mall to: Carefree Pools 10220 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854 '

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