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American Morning

Bush Creates Presidential Style All His Own

Aired May 04, 2001 - 10:36   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The president has completed his first 100 days, and is now into the second 100 days, trying to carve out his niche and his image.

Our senior White House correspondent John King takes a look at that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Out here, he likes to clown around, and on the ranch, boots and jeans suit the president just fine.

But this is one scene you won't see in the Bush White House: no casual -- not even business casual -- when it comes to the Oval Office.

ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: He expects men to wear ties and have a sports coat or a suit coat on, and women should be appropriately attired. That's the way he is. He doesn't work in the Oval Office in shirtsleeves.

KING: Every president, every presidency, has a style of its own, and in the first 100-plus days of this administration, there has been a clear break from the Clinton years. Not long ago, things ran on Clinton time, meaning almost everything was late.

Now there's a premium on being punctual, and a recognition he is not in Austin anymore.

MARGARET LAMONTAGNE, DOMESTIC POLICY ADVISER: I used to pop into the governor's office and say, hey, what do you think about this or that, but of course, this environment doesn't lend itself to that.

KING: The comparisons with his predecessor are inevitable. Mr. Clinton, especially early on, preferred what aides called rambling bull sessions; Mr. Bush prefers short memos, shorter meetings. Mr. Clinton rarely relied on his Cabinet; top Bush aides applaud his willingness to delegate.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: And that's really what you want in an executive. That's what you want in a leader: It's not someone who is going to try to attend to every detail. KING: There are inevitable comparisons here, too: The 43rd president of the United States is much more conservative than the 41st -- much more at ease on the rope line, and much more comfortable playing to the cameras.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Is everybody in, Bill? Anybody not here, raise your hand.

KEN DUBERSTEIN, FORMER REAGAN CHIEF OF STAFF: You know, George W.'s genes belong to the Bush family, but I really think his heart is pure Reagan.

KING: He believes familiarity breeds trust. He likes to get acquainted before getting down to business.

BUSH: Well, we both use Colgate toothpaste.

KING: He doesn't like to be interrupted by cell phones...

BUSH: During the campaign, I said that we'll begin the process -- during the campaign, I said...

KING: Or by the reporters.

BUSH: Helen, I strongly separate the separation of church and state.

QUESTION: Now, you wouldn't have a religious office in the White House if you did.

BUSH: I didn't get to finish my answer, in all due respect.

KING: He occasionally treats English as a foreign language.

BUSH: Those who think that they can say we're only going to have a stimulus package, but let's forget tax relief, misunderestimate -- excuse me, underestimate -- just making sure you were paying attention.

You were.

KING: Mr. Bush is quick to say he doesn't take himself too seriously -- and he knows, in the end, he will be judged more on substance than style. But this president's view is that if people like what they see, they're more likely to listen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

This president comes into the office much earlier than his predecessor, as well -- usually by 7:00 a.m. And I asked the chief of the staff here, Andy Card, what his marching orders are: to keep anything that goes on the president's desk short, and to make sure the president has time not just for work, but "to eat, sleep, and be merry" -- Daryn.

KAGAN: It sounds like a good plan, John. If you looked closely in that Yankee crowd that we looked at before your piece, you could see White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. But before he went to hang out with the Yankees, I understand you had a chance to talk with him, to get an update on some more serious issues facing the White House today.

KING: That's right, the White House was reacting today -- Ari Fleischer is a big Yankees fan. He had his cap in the morning gaggle today.

But he was addressing several serious issues. First, the piece you aired just a short time ago, of the White House voicing disappointment that the United States has been voted off the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Mr. Fleischer said that it was a disappointment for this president and the administration, but that Mr. Bush and the administration will continue to speak out on human rights issues. The president did so in a speech here in Washington night. Also, we'll have observer status on that commission.

The White House press secretary also voiced concerns over the new unemployment report today, which showed the U.S. economy lost roughly a quarter of a million jobs last month. Mr. Fleischer said that is continued evidence of what the president believes, that the economy still has some weakness in it. He used the opportunity of that report today to once again urge the Congress to quickly enact the president's tax package. The budget resolution is still pending in the Congress. Mr. Fleischer says one way to help out is quickly to get the retroactive part of that tax cut back to the American people -- Daryn.

KAGAN: John King, at the White House -- John, thank you.

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