Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

White House Stresses Teamwork

Aired May 02, 2001 - 11:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

C. BOYDEN GRAY, FMR. WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: ... more corporate model, the way Reagan did. And more so than even his father.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The approach was best on display during the standoff with China over U.S. surveillance plane. Secretary of State Colin Powell took the lead on negotiations for the crew's release. Afterward, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld followed up with a hard-nosed account of China's role in the midair collision. Together, they carried out the president's policy of tough engagement with China.

The White House hopes this kind of teamwork will emerge throughout the cabinet, but a former White House chief of staff says the results in the first 100 days have been mixed.

ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I think he's done a pretty good job of assembling a team of talented people. And then, the question is whether you can build them into a team that works with the White House staff, and really supports the goals of the president. And on that, I think, the jury is still out a little bit.

GARRETT: There have been some public disagreements. Mr. Bush overruled the head of the Environmental Protection Agency on whether to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, even though Christie Whitman merely restated a campaign promise.

And when Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson suggested there was administration flexibility on the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research, the White House said there wasn't.

And Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill lost influence when he said Mr. Bush's tax cut would do little to quickly boost the slumping U.S. economy. These clashes could impose discipline, but there could also be a price.

CARD: I think once cabinet officials put their hand on a hot stove and feel the burn of -- that can come from the humiliation of the White House undercutting your statements, they're less likely to go out and be bold and try to -- and try to advance their own policies.

GARRETT: Other cabinet secretaries have stayed on message and gained clout. Despite being a Washington newcomer, Education Secretary Rod Paige is a force on Capitol Hill. Attorney General John Ashcroft, whom the White House believes has been able to shake off the confirmation controversy, is a leading voice on crime and federal judges. Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, the only Democrat, has smoothed potential troubles with airline strikes.

GRAY: I think they're all doing a great job. And you'll see some of the ones that have been quiet emerge when their issues become part of the top tier of the agenda.

GARRETT: Other cabinet secretaries have yet to hit their stride. But White House officials say there have been almost no cabinet level leaks, and no policy back stabbing. By that standard, they say, the president is off to a very impressive start, one that can only breed success in the future.

Major Garret, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com