Historic Whispers: Bush and the Florida Recount

This week we looked back eight years to the beginning of the George W. Bush's presidency. While Bush was settling into the White House , there was still a lot of chatter over the Florida recount , and rival Al Gore's name was mentioned often in Whispers. Hillary Clinton was figuring out exactly what her role would be in the Senate, and First Dog Barney was getting house-trained.

• Plotting GOP gains for 2002 It may seem too early to talk ballots and campaigns, but congressional Republicans and the White House, led by Bush adviser Karl Rove, are already weighing the impact of the president's initial actions on voting groups key to expanding GOP control after the 2002 midterm elections, sources say. The goal: reaching out to independents, especially so-called McCain voters, and the party's conservative base. "They run the show and are the core primary voters in midterms," says a Bush associate. Luring them was partly why President Bush played education and taxes in Week 1. Insiders say the education initiative targets poor and middle-income Americans, especially blacks, Hispanics, and Catholics. And his $1.6 trillion tax plan even won support in some Democratic quarters. Add to that his plan this week to propose a "faith-based initiative," which reaches out to Christian conservatives, and his friendly meeting with Sen. John McCain on campaign finance reform, and you've got "the start of our winning congressional election strategy," says one insider of the White House plan. (Feb. 5, 2001)

• PB&J President Bush apparently feels everyone should enjoy his lunch fave: peanut butter and jelly. Aides report that PB&Js have been placed at every table in the executive mess. An accompanying note reads: "Compliments of the president." (Feb. 5, 2001)

• New tricks for the 'Caterpillar' He's the new baby in the family, so naturally his parents are spoiling him. But training lessons in the Rose Garden? Well, of course, when you're the new presidential pet, Barney, a 4-month-old, jet-black Scottish terrier whose hair-dragging good looks led nickname-loving President Bush to dub him "Caterpillar." Each day he heads to the White House back yard for a walk and some training with the president, Laura Bush, or an aide. We're talking basic stuff: heeling and potty training. Spot, Bush's 11-year-old springer spaniel, leads by example. But being a girl, she can only help with the heeling. It's working. Both dogs walk with the Bushes off the leash. But the housebreaking is slow going. Which means Spot gets her own chair in the first couple's bedroom while Barney sleeps in a training crate in the upstairs kitchen. "When he's housebroken, he'll graduate to the bedroom," says an aide. This clearly isn't Buddy's house anymore: Rules are rules. One warning to staff. Watch the treats: They're on a strict diet of dry doggie chow. (Feb. 12, 2001)

• Never say never Everyone involved says winning an ambassadorship had nothing to do with Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris's dogged efforts to shut down the Democrats' continued recounts of the presidential vote. But is the door closed? Absolutely not, say Bushies. All of which makes her latest club membership more intriguing: She's just been elected as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the tony policy group whose members included the first President Bush. (Feb. 12, 2001)

• Another f irst The new president seems to be taking this bipartisan stuff seriously. Not only is he meeting with Democrats, but there's talk he might even campaign for a friendly Democrat next year. Of course, it would have to be for a conservative-leaning Democrat in a safe district. The benefit: It could lessen the cry from Democratic leaders to replace Republicans if President Bush shows he can work with both sides. (Feb. 12, 2001)

• Meow mix He may have been abandoned by his owners, but Socks isn't taking it out on the Democratic Party. The former first pet—whom former President Clinton fobbed off on secretary Betty Currie before leaving town—is the cover cat of the latest Democratic National Committee fundraising tool: a calendar of the party's first pets. The colorful menagerie—Socks, Buddy, Fala, Yuki, Macaroni —comes with a solicitation for $200. (Feb. 12, 2001)