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)
- Hillary's chillin' new groove The catty rumors have been around for weeks: Newly crowned Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton would take over social Washington by shoving aside hostess queens and making her spacious new digs on Embassy Row the hot spot for lavish political parties. Well, girls, take a chill pill. Yes, parties are planned for the mansion Clinton finally moved into last Thursday. But it won't be an every-week thing, and most will be staid fundraisers for her leadership political action committee and up-and-coming Dems. In fact, the shindigs will occur during the week when other members of the Senate club can join in. Her party-girl goal: not running for higher office but helping friends and building influence in the Senate. It's strictly a facilitator role, mostly because New York's junior lawmaker really digs the Senate, where she is having fun chewing on policy issues. Believe it or not, she doesn't miss the White House spotlight. She is even hanging out upstate with—gasp!—the locals in a bid to expand her base for re-election in 2006. (Feb. 26, 2001)
- Eat on command He stays fit and doesn't mow down everything in sight like a certain predecessor, but President Bush played the good soldier in a Fort Stewart, Ga., mess hall last week. Tray in hand, he asked for "a little of the lasagna" and was rewarded with a huge brick. As the chef plopped a mountain of mashed potatoes beside the pasta, Bush kind of joked, "How'd you know I wanted potatoes? I do now." No food wimp he, Bush added a roll and a slice of cake before hoofing it to the table. (Feb. 26, 2001)
- Revising the old rules a bit Rules are rules, right? Well, not always—especially when you're the author. Take, for example, "Rumsfeld's Rules," the famous life collection from repeat Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He first issued them in 1974, while head of former President Ford's transition team, and updated them in 1980. The general thrust: Work hard, be invisible. My, how things change when the prez is your pal. In rereleasing the list, Rumsfeld cut a few that could have bitten him on the you-know-what. Gone: "Don't stay on the job too long." Also axed: "Consider keeping your relationship with the president professional." He also cherry-picked this perk attack: "Work continuously to reduce the number of people who have White House phones, White House stationary, White House mess privileges, and the like." But not all the edits were erasures. Here's a newbie and a hint to staff: "Don't blame the boss. He has enough problems." He still has his wit, though. Kept in his lengthy rewrite: "If you develop rules, never have more than 10." (March 5, 2001)
- Four more of 'We wuz robbed' New Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has an apology for President Bush: Sorry if you're offended by claims the Brothers Bush robbed the Florida vote. "But I will keep talking about Florida...We won that election, and they stole it." That may sound stupid to some, but even GOP pollsters say it's a winning theme—and one driving McAuliffe's high-energy revamp of the DNC. "The desire for revenge is a motivator of the base," says pollster Frank Luntz. After a few weeks on the job, McAuliffe is rolling out his four-year plan, and he invited Whispers to his first presentation. Top goals: Raise $50 million this year; win key guv races, especially New Jersey, where he just committed $800,000; railroad the GOP in 2002 congressional redistricting; dog every Bush decision; and become message and issue central for all Dems after the loss of the White House bully pulpit. Unsaid: Past DNC leadership didn't have a clue. Bust mostly it's about payback for Al Gore's eyelash-thin loss last year. Which explains his final slide on his presentation: "Like father, like son—one term." (March 12, 2001)
- Joe's on deck Al Gore may have put his presidential plans on hold as he recovers from his Florida flameout, but not former running mate Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. Associates say he's laying the groundwork for a bid in 2004. He's not alone. At last count, the list of likely Democratic candidates totaled 13, including Gore, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, and even Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. (March 12, 2001)
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