Walsh: Opening Remarks OPENING REMARKS

Jogging with George The president leads (in sweats and a tee).

ne sunny November m orn­ Reporters who cover Bush, most at least BY RIC H ARD B ENE D ETTO ing last fall, shortly before two decades younger than him, often marvel election day, my o ffi ce 28-foot cigarette boat Fidelity across the at his stamina and his unwillingness to sit 0 phone rang and a woman on chilly Atlantic waters off the rocky Maine still, even when on vacation. On a trip to· the line identified herself as coast. Texas last spring he got up to jog at 6 a.m. President Bush's secretary. "T he president would like to know if you would go jogging w ith him this noontime," she said rather routinely. As a White House reporter, I'd had several opportunities to jog with the president, mostly while he was vaca­ tioning at his seaside home in Ke n­ nebunkport, Maine. But never had I received a request directly from the Oval Office. Without even asking my editor if he had other plans for me that day, I quickly accepted, hung up, a nd dashed off to get my running gear, casually s houting over my s houlder that I was going o ut to jog with the president.

espite his 66 years, George D Bush i s a r emarkable a nd highly competitive athlete. As a left-handed first baseman h e captained the Yale baseball team in the late 1940s. In addition to jog­ ging-usually around two miles in 20 minutes- he's an avid golfer, plays a mean set of d oubles tennis, pitches horseshoes, swims, dabbles a t soft­ ball, hunts for quail, fishes with limit­ ed success, and races his sleek, blue,

... RICHARD BENEDmo, shown on a Kenne­ bunkport jog with the president, is the White House correspondent for USA Today and writes a weekly political column for Gannett News Service, which serves 83 daily newspapers. Benedetto holds degrees from SU's Utica Col­ lege and the Newhouse School. the latter an M.A. in newspaper journalism that he received in 1971. He has written for the Buftalo(N.Y.) Evening News. the Utica(N.Y.) Daily Press, and the Utica Observ­ er-Dispatch. He had been working in the Albany, New York, bureau of Gannett News Services, cover­ ing political affairs, when he was tapped to join USA Todajs founding staff.

2 • S YRACUSE UNIVERS I TY MA GA Z I NE Published by SURFACE, 1990 1 Syracuse University Magazine, Vol. 6, Iss. 4 [1990], Art. 2

and was amazed that no reporters joined sirens. As we drove out the White House of soldiers was playing a heavy game of him. He labeled the press corps "lazy" and gates, open-mouthed tourists lined both volleyball. "We've got a place for you here, exhorted them to get in shape. (I wasn't on sides of the streets, shocked to see Bush, Mr. President," called one near the net. that trip.) in a sweatshirt, waving to them from the "Try a real sport: running!" called back Bush likes athletes and their company. bunker-like limo. Bush with a chuckle. Muscleman-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger Much of the conversation between Three jogging, skin-headed officers is a frequent White House guest. On the Bush and Catto focused on British Prime approached and Bush invited then to join hustings, Bush often slips the name of the Minister Margaret Thatcher's political him. They saluted and "sir-ed" him pro­ local team or star athlete into his speeches, problems. Bush referred to her as "Mag­ fusely as the commander in chief asked a slick move that usually draws big cheers. gie," as all of Washington does in casual their names, where they were from, and He truly enjoys inviting national champi­ conversation. He would never do it in pub­ what their jobs were. "You guys are doing a onship teams to the White House, as he lic, however. His conversation with me great job and we all really appreciate it," did the Syracuse University lacrosse team touched on the comings and goings of var­ he said. this June. ious members of the White House press Bush asked Catto how he was getting At a White House dinner for Italian corps, catching up on a little gossip and along with the British press corps. Catto President Francesco Cossiga, Bush intro­ some of the "crazy" questions he got at the told of a formal dinner in London where duced me to the guest of honor as "a last press conference. All was in a light­ he received an award. Just as Catto had reporter who jogs with us once in a while." hearted manner with plenty of laughs. started his acceptance speech, a journalist To that same dinner Bush invited Los At Fort McNair, military personnel seated at the head table began to get sick. Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy La­ saluted smartly as the president jogged Bush began howling, "Your speech was sorda and ex-New York Mets manager past. He returned the salutes and shouted that bad?" Davey Johnson. Bush, a Mets fan, had out "Great day!" or "At ease, gentlemen!" Back in the limo, the president handed Johnson sit at his table. "Mr. President, Hungary loves you," his sweating guests chilled bottles of Feeling extra spunky one sunny Sun­ shouted a man in a thick accent. spring water. "Leave the air conditione r day in Kennebunkport, Bush engaged in "Thank you," beamed Bush. off," he told the driver. "We smell like five sports: fis hing, golf, tennis, swim­ Two women on a lunchtime walk goats, but we'll sauna it back to the White ming, and softball. In the softball game approached the running entourage and House. If it gets too bad we can open the against reporters he lined a shot over first shyly waved to the president. "Pick up the window." base into right field and, running full tilt, pace, ladies!" he shouted. About halfway back, he did. legged out a double. Standing on second, As we passed an athletic field, a group only slightly out of breath, he clapped his hands and urged his Secret Service team­ mates to drive him home. After the game he boasted of his five-sport feat, calling it his "pentathlon." But a day later he com­ People You Already Know plained of "a little stiffness" from overdo­ ing it. Yet it didn't keep him off the golf course in the morning, and from jogging in the afternoon. our times each year, Syra­ F cuse University Magazine n that November jog to which 0 I'd been invited, the president reaches 130,000 readers who brought along old pal Henry share-in addition to their SU Catto, the U.S. ambassador to Great Brit­ affiliations-breadth of knowl­ ain. A motorcade had formed in the drive­ edge, civic involvement, and way near the Rose Garden to take the professional means. joggers to Fort McNair, an Army base Because you're one of them, about two miles south of the White House you know that Syracusans are where the run would take place. To jog on achievers and decision-makers. Washington streets would cause too much Now you can reach them all of a security risk and would clog traffic for with an ad in Syracuse Univer­ hours. After doing a few stretching exercises, I sity Magazine. Our audience offers the quality of America's finest consumer mag­ prepared to enter the press van for the ride azines. And our rates are far more reasonable. over, only to hear Bush call me and tell me to get into the limousine with him. This For more information, write: raised more than a few eyebrows among my colleagues, who were going along to National Advertising cover the event. Syracuse University Magazine The president, in blue shorts and a red­ and-white baseball shirt, settled back in 820 Comstock Avenue, Room 308 the plush seats, waved me in, and off we Syracuse, New York 13244-5040 went. He told the Secret Service agent who was driving to instruct the motorcade Or call us at (315) 443-4171. Our fax number is (315) 443-5508. to stop at traffic lights and not use any

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