Uncle Donnie
04-10-2005, 01:50 AM
Three Amigos in Rome (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7444176/site/newsweek/)
Behind the scenes at the papal funeral, Bush, Bush and Clinton were inseparable
By Holly Bailey
Newsweek
Updated: 2:32 p.m. ET April 9, 2005
April 9 - A year ago, it would have seemed so improbable. Then came the death of a president, an election with a clear outcome, a tragic tsunami. It all paved the way for what was, nonetheless, a remarkable scene enroute to the funeral of Pope John Paul. Three presidents-one current and two former-kicking back on Air Force One, trading stories about life in the White House over a meal of burgers and onion rings.
The camaraderie continued as the official U.S. delegation to the funeral—President Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, among others—took in the sights both ceremonial and not during three days in Rome last week.
Upon their arrival late Wednesday night, the group went directly to St. Peter’s, where they kneeled and prayed at the body of the late pontiff. On Thursday morning, the former presidents accompanied Bush as he paid a courtesy call on Italian President Azeglio Ciampi. Later that afternoon, they entertained a group of American cardinals and bishops at a reception at Villa Taverna, the American ambassador’s residence. That night, the presidents had dinner with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Bush even invited his father and Clinton to sit in during his daily intelligence briefings, prompting what one administration official described as a “wide-ranging discussion” of foreign policy with Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
Bush and the ex-presidents spent so much time together on the trip that one White House official jokingly referred to the trio as the “troika.” Even when they weren’t in the company of President Bush, Clinton and Bush 41 were often spotted mingling together outside the American embassy and in the lobby of their Rome hotel.
In a free-flowing interview on Friday as Air Force One departed from Rome, the president had an almost mischievous smile as he described what the three had been up to. “It was really a lot of fun,” the president told the seven reporters who had accompanied him on the trip. “We share war stories, you know. A lot of talking, a lot of interesting experiences about different world leaders that… all three of us have met. Just different experiences that my dad might have had or President Clinton might have had.”
Bush spoke openly about his decision to invite the former presidents to his CIA briefings, explaining that he had wanted to update the pair on his administration’s policy and strategy “in dealing with particular issues.” “It’s interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in different countries,” Bush said.
In a free-flowing interview on Friday as Air Force One departed from Rome, the president had an almost mischievous smile as he described what the three had been up to. “It was really a lot of fun,” the president told the seven reporters who had accompanied him on the trip. “We share war stories, you know. A lot of talking, a lot of interesting experiences about different world leaders that… all three of us have met. Just different experiences that my dad might have had or President Clinton might have had.”
Bush spoke openly about his decision to invite the former presidents to his CIA briefings, explaining that he had wanted to update the pair on his administration’s policy and strategy “in dealing with particular issues.” “It’s interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in different countries,” Bush said.
In a free-flowing interview on Friday as Air Force One departed from Rome, the president had an almost mischievous smile as he described what the three had been up to. “It was really a lot of fun,” the president told the seven reporters who had accompanied him on the trip. “We share war stories, you know. A lot of talking, a lot of interesting experiences about different world leaders that… all three of us have met. Just different experiences that my dad might have had or President Clinton might have had.”
Bush spoke openly about his decision to invite the former presidents to his CIA briefings, explaining that he had wanted to update the pair on his administration’s policy and strategy “in dealing with particular issues.” “It’s interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in different countries,” Bush said.
In a free-flowing interview on Friday as Air Force One departed from Rome, the president had an almost mischievous smile as he described what the three had been up to. “It was really a lot of fun,” the president told the seven reporters who had accompanied him on the trip. “We share war stories, you know. A lot of talking, a lot of interesting experiences about different world leaders that… all three of us have met. Just different experiences that my dad might have had or President Clinton might have had.”
Bush spoke openly about his decision to invite the former presidents to his CIA briefings, explaining that he had wanted to update the pair on his administration’s policy and strategy “in dealing with particular issues.” “It’s interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in different countries,” Bush said.
There used to be no love lost between the three presidents. During his hard-fought 1992 presidential campaign, Bush 41 once referred to Clinton as a “bozo,” while Clinton in turn called the elder Bush “personally dishonest.” In 2000, Bush campaigned on an election promise “to restore honor and dignity to the White House”-a dig at the scandal-ridden Clinton administration.
Yet, Bush warmed to his father’s political rival after 2000 and the feeling appeared to be mutual. Even when Clinton was campaigning to boost John Kerry’s candidacy for the White House last fall, he criticized Bush’s policies, but still described the 43rd president on the stump as “a great man.”
The relationship seemed to strengthen during the days around the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan. And with the November election behind them, relations warmed significantly during the November opening of the Clinton Library. In January, Bush sent his father and Clinton to Tsunami-torn Indonesia and asked them to chair fundraising efforts for the region.
Last week, the Bushes and Clinton seemed to officially embrace their membership in the exclusive club of American presidents:
On Thursday night, Clinton did venture out alone, joining Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko for a late-night dinner at a restaurant near the American Embassy. Several White House staffers, American reporters and members of the Secret Service happened to be dining at separate tables throughout the establishment. At the end of the night, Clinton picked up the tab for all the Americans dining at the restaurant. When one reporter protested, an observer says Clinton replied, “Oh, I’m barely a public official now. I can buy you dinner.”
In fact, both Bush 41 and Clinton frequently chatted up reporters on the trip. The bonhomie seemed to rub off on the president himself, who invited reporters to join him in his Air Force One conference room for the Friday interview. Bush rarely speaks to the reporters who travel with him. Friday’s session lasted 47 minutes and was all on-the-record.
In fact, Bush seemed positively Clintonesque. Several times, he moved to leave the room, but then held back, to discuss the book he’s reading (”Peter the Great” by Robert K Massey), rivers that flow near his Texas ranch and what is expected, in the president’s words, to be a “spectacular” season for Texas wildflowers. Even as his aides gently nudged him down the hall, Bush couldn’t stop talking. Finally, after a glance from White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, the president got the hint. “Oh, I’m leaving. Gotta go,” Bush said, smirking at the reporters.
© 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
====================================
So who is the bigger traitor to their party? :spin
Behind the scenes at the papal funeral, Bush, Bush and Clinton were inseparable
By Holly Bailey
Newsweek
Updated: 2:32 p.m. ET April 9, 2005
April 9 - A year ago, it would have seemed so improbable. Then came the death of a president, an election with a clear outcome, a tragic tsunami. It all paved the way for what was, nonetheless, a remarkable scene enroute to the funeral of Pope John Paul. Three presidents-one current and two former-kicking back on Air Force One, trading stories about life in the White House over a meal of burgers and onion rings.
The camaraderie continued as the official U.S. delegation to the funeral—President Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, among others—took in the sights both ceremonial and not during three days in Rome last week.
Upon their arrival late Wednesday night, the group went directly to St. Peter’s, where they kneeled and prayed at the body of the late pontiff. On Thursday morning, the former presidents accompanied Bush as he paid a courtesy call on Italian President Azeglio Ciampi. Later that afternoon, they entertained a group of American cardinals and bishops at a reception at Villa Taverna, the American ambassador’s residence. That night, the presidents had dinner with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Bush even invited his father and Clinton to sit in during his daily intelligence briefings, prompting what one administration official described as a “wide-ranging discussion” of foreign policy with Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
Bush and the ex-presidents spent so much time together on the trip that one White House official jokingly referred to the trio as the “troika.” Even when they weren’t in the company of President Bush, Clinton and Bush 41 were often spotted mingling together outside the American embassy and in the lobby of their Rome hotel.
In a free-flowing interview on Friday as Air Force One departed from Rome, the president had an almost mischievous smile as he described what the three had been up to. “It was really a lot of fun,” the president told the seven reporters who had accompanied him on the trip. “We share war stories, you know. A lot of talking, a lot of interesting experiences about different world leaders that… all three of us have met. Just different experiences that my dad might have had or President Clinton might have had.”
Bush spoke openly about his decision to invite the former presidents to his CIA briefings, explaining that he had wanted to update the pair on his administration’s policy and strategy “in dealing with particular issues.” “It’s interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in different countries,” Bush said.
In a free-flowing interview on Friday as Air Force One departed from Rome, the president had an almost mischievous smile as he described what the three had been up to. “It was really a lot of fun,” the president told the seven reporters who had accompanied him on the trip. “We share war stories, you know. A lot of talking, a lot of interesting experiences about different world leaders that… all three of us have met. Just different experiences that my dad might have had or President Clinton might have had.”
Bush spoke openly about his decision to invite the former presidents to his CIA briefings, explaining that he had wanted to update the pair on his administration’s policy and strategy “in dealing with particular issues.” “It’s interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in different countries,” Bush said.
In a free-flowing interview on Friday as Air Force One departed from Rome, the president had an almost mischievous smile as he described what the three had been up to. “It was really a lot of fun,” the president told the seven reporters who had accompanied him on the trip. “We share war stories, you know. A lot of talking, a lot of interesting experiences about different world leaders that… all three of us have met. Just different experiences that my dad might have had or President Clinton might have had.”
Bush spoke openly about his decision to invite the former presidents to his CIA briefings, explaining that he had wanted to update the pair on his administration’s policy and strategy “in dealing with particular issues.” “It’s interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in different countries,” Bush said.
In a free-flowing interview on Friday as Air Force One departed from Rome, the president had an almost mischievous smile as he described what the three had been up to. “It was really a lot of fun,” the president told the seven reporters who had accompanied him on the trip. “We share war stories, you know. A lot of talking, a lot of interesting experiences about different world leaders that… all three of us have met. Just different experiences that my dad might have had or President Clinton might have had.”
Bush spoke openly about his decision to invite the former presidents to his CIA briefings, explaining that he had wanted to update the pair on his administration’s policy and strategy “in dealing with particular issues.” “It’s interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in different countries,” Bush said.
There used to be no love lost between the three presidents. During his hard-fought 1992 presidential campaign, Bush 41 once referred to Clinton as a “bozo,” while Clinton in turn called the elder Bush “personally dishonest.” In 2000, Bush campaigned on an election promise “to restore honor and dignity to the White House”-a dig at the scandal-ridden Clinton administration.
Yet, Bush warmed to his father’s political rival after 2000 and the feeling appeared to be mutual. Even when Clinton was campaigning to boost John Kerry’s candidacy for the White House last fall, he criticized Bush’s policies, but still described the 43rd president on the stump as “a great man.”
The relationship seemed to strengthen during the days around the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan. And with the November election behind them, relations warmed significantly during the November opening of the Clinton Library. In January, Bush sent his father and Clinton to Tsunami-torn Indonesia and asked them to chair fundraising efforts for the region.
Last week, the Bushes and Clinton seemed to officially embrace their membership in the exclusive club of American presidents:
On Thursday night, Clinton did venture out alone, joining Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko for a late-night dinner at a restaurant near the American Embassy. Several White House staffers, American reporters and members of the Secret Service happened to be dining at separate tables throughout the establishment. At the end of the night, Clinton picked up the tab for all the Americans dining at the restaurant. When one reporter protested, an observer says Clinton replied, “Oh, I’m barely a public official now. I can buy you dinner.”
In fact, both Bush 41 and Clinton frequently chatted up reporters on the trip. The bonhomie seemed to rub off on the president himself, who invited reporters to join him in his Air Force One conference room for the Friday interview. Bush rarely speaks to the reporters who travel with him. Friday’s session lasted 47 minutes and was all on-the-record.
In fact, Bush seemed positively Clintonesque. Several times, he moved to leave the room, but then held back, to discuss the book he’s reading (”Peter the Great” by Robert K Massey), rivers that flow near his Texas ranch and what is expected, in the president’s words, to be a “spectacular” season for Texas wildflowers. Even as his aides gently nudged him down the hall, Bush couldn’t stop talking. Finally, after a glance from White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, the president got the hint. “Oh, I’m leaving. Gotta go,” Bush said, smirking at the reporters.
© 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
====================================
So who is the bigger traitor to their party? :spin