When Things Went Right: The Dawn of the Reagan-Bush Administration

Chapter 5 “The President Has Been Hit!”

Chapter 5 “The President Has Been Hit!” Wednesday, 25 March 1981 Today’s media were full of a story how SecState Haig felt humiliated by the President’s decision (announced last night) to put GB in charge of “crisis management” in foreign affairs. Some rumors today even had Haig resigning in protest. GB is grateful to have the assignment and doesn’t view his getting it as the result of some great intramural battle. In fact, he thinks Haig has been childish, making this (and other things) “always such a test of manhood.” The Secretary had puffed himself up as the President’s “vicar” in foreign policy and literally puffed himself up for a photo on the cover of last week’s Time. I told GB that a generous, warm statement about Haig would do much to heal this most serious public rift in the Administration to date. But Bush brought the discussion to a close, saying with mock disgust, “I’ve got crises to manage.” This turned out to be greeting a group of gigantic high school basketball players and a bunch of student interns. Monday, 30 March 1981 I drove the short distance from my apartment house to the VP’s Residence. When GB finished his morning security briefing by the CIA, he took Jennifer and me with him in the limo to the helipad, located on the other side of the old observatory building from the residence. In light rain we boarded the Marine chopper, which lifted up over the British embassy and flew above a fascinating if drizzly panorama of Washington en route to Andrews Air Force Base. GB joked about dancing with Ginger Rogers last night at the Gridiron Show. When the helo touched down alongside the waiting , the rotors sent sheets of water hurtling away from us. It was then only a quick walk underneath umbrellas to Air Force . Aboard the jet were Congressmen Eligio (Kika) de la Garza (D-Texas), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Bill Archer (R-Texas), 40 chapter 5 inheritor of GB’s Seventh District seat.The VP greeted them but had [speechwriter ] Vic Gold, Jennifer, and me join him in the stateroom for a continental breakfast while we discussed some of the issues likely to confront him today in Texas. GB prefers oral briefings to written ones. Around : CST the jet came in over the broad North Texas plain, made green by generous early-spring rains that relieved last summer’s drought. It was a warm, sunny day, the perfect welcome back to Texas. We landed at Carswell AFB near Fort Worth, a major SAC base covered with black B-s. On the ground were a very thrilled Jack Steel and Betty Green of our Houston office, who would spend the middle leg of the day’s trip with us. [The VP’s Air Force aide] Lt. Col. John Matheny, [advanceman] Mike Farley, and I headed for the control car for the motorcade into Fort Worth. John grew up there and happily pointed out the sights. Our first stop was the old Texas Hotel, which Hyatt has converted into a shimmering showplace with funds invested by Texas oilman Ray Hunt, a major Bush backer. [John F. Kennedy spent the last night of his life there.] Outside the hotel, facing a tightly compacted crowd, the VP made brief remarks and unveiled a plaque, along with Mrs. H. L. Hunt, Ray’s mom. The motorcade then embarked on the short journey to the Tarrant County convention center, where the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association were meeting. There was lunch—beef, of course—after which GB gave a strong speech in support of the President’s economic program. Back at Carswell aboard Air Force , I shook hands with Fort Worth’s congressman, Jim Wright (D), the powerful majority leader of the US House. I took a seat with him and Bill Archer, and we chatted about the Legislature, in which we had all served and which the VP would address in about an hour. Also in the VIP lounge was Congressman Jim Collins (R) of Dallas. GB entertained Jack and Betty in the stateroom. Just as the big plane was taxiing down the runway, Secret Service agentin -charge Ed Pollard hurried up the aisle to the stateroom, saying something to Jennifer that she repeated blankly to us all: “An attempt has been made on Reagan, and two agents are down.” The thunk of...