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September 1992
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September 1992
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Brent Scowcroft Papers
Brent Scowcroft Media Articles Files
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Collection/Office of Origin: Scowcroft, Brent, Collection
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Media Articles Files
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SEPTEMBER
sons of the American Revolution magazine Fall 1992
NY Chapter Honors General Scowcroft
General Brent Scowcroft, National Secur-
ity Advisor to President Bush, was present-
ed the Theodore Roosevelt Award during a
meeting of the Empire State Society's New
York Chapter attended by over 200 Compa-
triots and guests.
Named after our 26th President - who
was a founding member of the Chapter -
the award is given to "outstanding Amer-
icans without regard to political affiliation:
its objective is to acknowledge those who
B" KB7YX (center) was proud to present
have served our country with the same dedi-
the special heroism certificate to Andy
cation, integrity and love of country as Theo-
UA3AB (left) and Romeo 3W3RR.
dore Roosevelt and to encourage others to
follow his example." Established in 1985
Russians Saluted
by Compatriot Gynn, the award has been
given to such personages as Secretary of
Defense Dick Cheney (in 1990), former
During August, 1991 - while the world
Senator J. William Fullbright and astronaut
watched in wonder at the events that chang-
Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
ed history - two amateur radio operators
Among the guests were the Hon. Alistair
Presenting the Theodore Roosevelt Award
placed their lives on the line to provide
J. Hunter, CMG, British Consul General in
to General Brent Scowcroft (right) was New
communications to the outside while the
New York; Edward Luck, President of the
York Chapter President Edward J. Gynn.
Russian "White House" was under siege.
From inside, President Boris Yeltsin and
United Nations Association of the U.S.;
Capt. Donald J. Ferguson, Commandant of
emy and Vice Admiral Paul A. Welling,
others were able to get the only reliable
Midshipmen, U.S. Merchant Marine Acad-
USCG, Commander Atlantic Area.
word to reach many audiences throughout
Russia and the world via radio through the
combined efforts of Romeo Stephanenko
3W3RR and Andy Chesnokov UA3AB.
Northern Nevada was honored with a visit
by the two Russians earlier this year accord-
Nominations Due by December 31
ing to a report by J. B. Coats, at the time
serving as Vice-President General for the
Former President General George H.
also December 31.
Western District. They recounted their ex-
Brandau, M.D., Chairman of the Nominat-
Other Committee members, in accordance
periences and adventures at a meeting in
ing Committee, has announced that nomina-
with the Society's Bylaws, are: Former
Minden attended by over 60 Compatriots,
tions for 1993-94 General Officers must be
Presidents General James R. Calhoun, Nolan
radio hams and guests. On behalf of the
received by him with supporting data, no
W. Carson, Charles F. Printz and James R.
National Society, VPG Coats (KB7YX) pre-
later than December 31, 1992 at this address:
Westlake; State Society Presidents Larry D.
sented a special "Certificate for Distin-
3703 Olympia Drive, Houston, TX 77019.
Jester (AR), James A. McCafferty (MD)
guished Heroism" to the pair in recognition
Included must be a statement from each
and Allen W. Moore (IN); and National Trus-
of "Outstanding Bravery and Self-Sacrifice
proposed candidate that he assents to the
tees William H. Lees (IA) and Thomas R.
in the face of imminent danger during the
nomination and agrees to serve if elected.
Topping (NC).
attempted coup upon the Russian White
Endorsements by Districts, State Societies,
Each year the Council of State Presidents
House in August 1991 thus exemplifying the
Chapters or Compatriots may also be sent
elects three of their members, while the
high ideals and principles which motivated
to the Committee; the deadline for these is
President General names the Trustees.
and sustained our own patriot ancestors."
TENDER LOVING CARE - Virginia Frost Jillson, a Maine DAR and
remnants of the stone, thus facilitating the restoration and installation
wife of Maine Society Compatriot Ephraim Jillson, recently
accomplished by her parents. According to information for this story
discovered that the tombstone of her Revolutionary War ancestor,
supplied by Society Secretary Harry W. Kinsey, Jr., the stonecutter
Elkanah Dyer, had been knocked over and vandalized. To rectify the
spelled the soldier's name differently from his records. He
situation, the couple took the steps shown in these photos. LEFT:
emphasizes that "this provides a reminder that spelling rules and
Compatriot Jillson dug a hole for the form preparatory to setting the
concerns were developed in the mid-1800s and that, before then,
stone in concrete. CENTER: Mrs. Jillson checked his work to see
people spelled phonetically; when the names were unusual, so
that the stone was standing properly. RIGHT: The couple and their
frequently were the inscriptions."
daughter, Patricia, admired the handiwork! Patricia had located
FALL 1992
5
Ban on F-16 Sales to Taiwan May End
Bush Move Would Save 3,000 Jobs in Texas, a Prize Election State
W.PoSt 9/2/92
already quietly warned against the
The sale of 120 to 180 F-16s
By Daniel Southerland
proposed sale in a meeting with
could be worth as much as $6 billion
Washington Post Staff Writer
State Department officials, one
over a six-year period, according to
President Bush, facing election-
source said.
analysts. One congressional special-
year pressure in Texas, plans to
But some Chinese specialists say
ist said the F-16 sale would open
announce the lifting of a ban on the
Beijing is likely to avoid a break
the door to other types of arms
sale of F-16 fighter planes to Tai-
with the administration because
sales to Taiwan, including tanks and
wan during a visit to a General Dy-
Chinese officials would much prefer
armored personnel carriers.
namics plant in Fort Worth today,
to see Bush remain in the White
Bush is also expected soon to rec-
Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.) said
House, given the moderated policy
ommend a $5 billion sale of 72 F-15
yesterday.
he has pursued toward their coun-
fighters to Saudi Arabia. But unlike
A White House spokesman de-
try. By contrast, Democratic pres-
the Taiwan deal, this sale would
clined to confirm the report, but
idential nominee Bill Clinton, during
likely trigger a major political bat-
congressional sources said the pres-
his acceptance speech at the Dem-
tle, given opposition to it from sup-
ident's decision to go ahead with
ocratic National Convention in July,
porters of Israel in Congress and
the controversial sale would save at
spoke of the "tyrants" in Beijing.
elsewhere in the United States.
least 3,000 jobs in Texas and as
Brent Scowcroft, the president's
In pursuing the Saudi sale, Bush
many as 7,000 jobs elsewhere in
national security adviser, in an ap-
is likely to be helped by a statement
pearance on the NBC program
the nation.
from Clinton, who said a week ago
"Meet the Press" last Sunday, said
Taiwan has been barred from
that the United States is now in a
the administration had decided to
purchasing F-16 fighter jets from
review its policy of not selling F-16s
position to conclude the proposed
General Dynamics for the past dec-
to Taiwan mainly because China
F-15 sale to Saudi Arabia provided
ade because of a 1982 U.S.-China
had purchased advanced fighters
some curbs are placed on the type
agreement under which the Reagan
from Russia.
of technology in the aircraft sold SO
administration pledged to reduce
Scowcroft also noted that France
as not to violate security commit-
and eventually phase out arms sales
is negotiating over a possible sale of
ments to Israel.
to Taiwan as tensions eased be-
fighters to Taiwan. Taiwan has in-
Officials at McDonnell Douglas,
tween mainland China and Taiwan.
dicated it would buy the more ex-
the St. Louis-based aircraft compa-
But the congressionally mandated
pensive French Mirage 2000 fight-
ny, have said that as many as
Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 said
er if the proposed F-16 sale does
20,000 jobs could be lost if the
that the United States reserved the
not go through.
United States fails to go ahead with
right to sell arms to Taiwan to
Taiwan is also said by informed
the Saudi sale. The company has
maintain the island's security.
sources to have been negotiating
been hit hard by reduced commer-
China is expected to react
over the possible acquisition of ad-
cial airplane purchases and cuts in
strongly against the F-16 sale.
vanced fighter plane technology
defense spending resulting from the
Chinese Embassy officials here had
from Israel.
end of the Cold War.
It's on the Record. Why/diduhe say
that
On Meet the Press Lasked Scow:
croft, who was one of the thr mem
bers of the Tower Commission which
did the first inyestigation of the Iran
contra affair, what he made of it He
said the commission had not seen this
memo and "we had no indication he
Post 9/2/92
Bush was an active player in this.
Since he knew Shultz and Weinber
well Tasked did he think Bush's
wid S. Broder
statement was truthful?
It was an uncomfort ble moment
Scowcroft answer: think it's quite
The
possible it was a truthful statement.
Possibly true. What an artful
phrase Possibly true but obviously,
Possible
by implication, possibly not
Bush himself last week brushed
aside. a news conference question
about the Shultz memo, saying he had
ruth'
not bother to read the news stories
about it and adding, (T see no reason
to contradict myself at all. But the
contradictions to his accounts of his
was a-mean thing to do to one of
hington's straight-shooters. But
non-involvement in the biggest scan-
sumably when Gen. Brent Scow
dal of the Reagan years are many. He
the White House national secu-
has denied any direct role in the
adviser, accepted the invitation
decision to sell arms, even though
NBC TV's Meet the Press," he
others say he was an advocate and
that the questions would not be
was present when the issue was de-
bated. And he has denied knowing
anything about the diversion of funds
any event, Scowcroft came up
to the contras, even though some of
a very useful phrase as he was
at one point about fresh evi-
the principals in that diversion were
challenging President Bush's
in regular contact with Bush's own
national security adviser, Donald
of his role, as vice president,
Iran-contra affair.
Gregg, and, on occasion, with Bush
himself.
bit of background: Five years ago
month, Bush told me in an inter-
Iran-contra is history even though
that in the critical period of
Weinberger, who honorably opposed
5-86 when the ill-fated arms sale
the folly, is being hauled into the dock
was being debated inside the
by the special prosecutor What gives
administration, he never
this episode its relevance is Bush's
effort to make "trust" a theme of his
in against it because he had
heard the objections being
reelection campaign.
by Secretary of State George
The Bush organization's prime ar
and Secretary of Defense Cas-
gument that challenger Bill Clinton is
Weinberger Not once but three
not to be trusted goes back to Clin-
ton's avoidance of the Vietnam War
he said in the interview that he
unaware of their arguments. If
draft, Clinton sought to preempt the
have sat there and heard George
attack in a speech to the American
and Cap [Weinberger] express
Legion last week. This time he began
trongly,' he said, maybe I would
with his getting a draft induction no-
had a stronger view, But when
tice while studying at Oxford Earlier
don't know something, it's hard
in the year before the press learned
of it, Clinton omitted that event from
We were not in the
his narrative and even claimed that
this event-a memorable moment for
he story on the interview ran in
millions of others had no special
Post on Aug 6, 1987, and last
significance to him, When he spoke to
for the first time, I learned
the Legion, it was front and center
the reaction had been. The spe-
What he didn't tell the Legion was
prosecutor who has filed charges
that he later thanked the colonel who
Weinberger introduced a pre-
had accepted his promise to join a
document quoting from a memo
University of Arkansas R O.T unit
dictated to his assistant the
for saving me from the draft, Nor
after the story ran,
did he acknowledge that in the letter
said; "VP Bush in papers
to Col. Eugene Holmes he had said
t[erday said he not exposed to
that he had finally "decided to accept
OF my arguments on Iran arms.
the draft in spite of my beliefs for one
called me and staild that terri
reason to maintain my political viabil-
He Bush was on the other side,
ity within the system."
And he certainly did not admit in
his Legion address that in the same
letter he wrote of "loathing the mili
tary, to which you and other good
men have devoted years, Quite the
contrary. 1 was never against the
heroic men who served in that war
Clinton told the Legion. (I honored
your service then and honor.it still.
Clinton speech to the American
Legion fits perfectly into Scower oft
category of the "possibly true,
The voters could better focus on
the alte natives the two candidates
are offering if Bush and Clinton could
find it in themselves to remove the
demeaning adverb from their ac-
counts about these episodes in their
pasts,
swer among officials
jections can be:summe
State Department
cares?"
as outside experts sai
certain how strong
to the sale will be,
ficial protests receiv
An official said it
whether China's
Deng Xiaoping, has
further serious
Sino-American relation
ic and substantive
elected Bush will
ging ties between the
h Campaign, Texas Lobbyi
swallow hard and
portance of ties with China in U.S.
eyes since Beijing's 1989 crack-
down on pro-democracy demonstra-
tors and the end of the Cold War.
Noting that arms sales to Taiwan
have been a major issue with Bei-
Jing since the 1970s, Harry Harding
of Brookings Institution said that in
today Washington climate the an-
and other senior seniort.officials. officials. At the
same time Texas Democrats, while
joining appeals to approve the sale.
began attacking Bush for caring
more about the communist regime
in Beijing than about jobs of work
ers in the Lone Star State.
Bush in announcing his decision,
said it does not change the com-
mitment of this administration and
its predecessors to the agreements
previously negotiated with China.
Ignoring the U.S promise to cap
and reduce arms sales to Taiwan,
Bush said that to him "the impor-
tance of the 82 communique on
arms sales to Taiwan lies in its pro-
motion of common political goals-
peace and stability in the area
through hrough mutualrestraint
The State Department, making
last year. The F-16 sale which will
be by far the largest and most im-
portant since the decade-old agree-
ment, would sharply reverse the
downward trend.
Several experts on U.S.-China
relations said Bush's decisionsis dra-
matic evidence of the reduced im-
the yesterday for the sale said
that the aging of Taiwan's air force
and China S purchase of Russian
SU-27 aircraft were among the fac-
tors considered in the president'
decision." Department spokesman
Joseph Snyder argued that it is now
impossible for the United States to
provide spare parts for Taiwan's
obsolescent U.S. warplanes and
thus "we re maintaining the quality
of that air force in the only way we
have available.
In answer to questions about the
level of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan
since the 1982 agreement, the
State Department provided figures
showing sales rising from $525 mil
lion in 1982 to $707 million in 1984
and then gradually declining on a
nearly steady path to $479 million
9 1/4/92
rdorfer
taff Writer
Joe Barton (R-
rgent plea from
orp.-executives
p reverse a 10
y limiting U.S.
exas jobs were
als said, in the
16 warplanes to
bastion off the
way of the $6
1982 Joint Com-
he United States
ided a tense and
etween the two
ng Taiwan Ne-
agan:administra
he United States
vious arms sales
either in qualita
e terms' and to
$ the sales over
ir briefing from
on telephoned WA
en deputy White
aff, to plead the
the controversial
in an interview
itely the National
staff and other el
/hite House con
d-dirty review of
hina- Taiwan arms
/ concluding that
of merit, Barton
fter, according to
extensive studies
the State and De-
is leading to a final
ew that was com-
week in time for
to make a formal
before cheering
General Dynamics
th Wednesday that
a been approved.
Barton said he
is lawmakers had
usly for the F-16
ations with Bush,
ef of Staff James A
al security adviser
, Acting Secretary
ice S. Eagleburger-
C
Baker's Fix-It Campaign
Becoming More Visible
Post 9/14/92
many newspapers. To deflect atten-
By Ann Devroy
tion from the speech, Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
cranked up the national security
When James A. Baker III and his
process to approve the sale of F-15
team took over the White House
fighters to Saudi Arabia in time for
operation two weeks ago, the pres-
Bush to make the announcement
ident had been committed for
early Friday to a cheering crowd of
weeks to address a convention of
defense workers in Missouri.
followers of Pat Robertson and his
The attention the new Bush team
Christian Coalition.
devoted to "fixing" the Robertson
Within days, the Baker team-
event is in microcosm the story of
convinced by results from their fo-
the changes underway in the White
cus groups and their own political
House since Samuel K. Skinner's
instincts that further public focus
departure as White House chief of
on Bush's courtship of the Christian
staff and his replacement by Baker.
right would be a mistake-moved
White House and campaign aides
to situate the speech among Fri-
said that last week and this week
day's presidential events in a way
will offer the full flavor of the Baker
that would restrict, if not eliminate,
operation designed to fix a presi-
massive media coverage.
dency many felt was going down the
The speech was timed for 7:40
drain.
p.m., 10 minutes after the last net-
It already is clear that the pres-
work news program and well past
ident, long disdainful of handlers,
the early weekend deadlines of
See BAKER, A10, Col. 3
Baker's Fix-It Operation Begins to Show
as an extremist, willing to sacrifice jobs for
Added to this group are Office of Man
BAKER, From A1
owls and tree toads.
agement and Budget Director Richard G
has turned himself over to Baker and his
On Tuesday Bush will fly to Utah to ad-
Darman, a longtime Baker aide; press sec
team, who determine where he goes, what
dress a convention of National Guardsmen.
retary Marlin Fitzwater; and national secu
he says, how it looks and how it all is exe-
Vice President Quayle had been scheduled
rity adviser Brent Scowcroft. The two top
cuted.
to address the group, but Baker decided on
campaign officials, Robert M. Teeter and
Said one of the pre-Baker occupants of
Friday to have Bush directly enter the de-
Frederic V. Malek, are included in the early
the White House: "It was a bloodless coup.
bate over Clinton's military service record.
morning meeting that Baker is said to run
Most of us don't know what's going on any-
"With fewer than 50 days left to the elec-
from a strict agenda that leaves little room
more, aren't asked for our opinions, and
tion, the time for surrogates on an issue like
for argument or wide discussion,
don't much care. When there's blood in the
this before an audience like that is past,"
Zoellick, who is deputy chief of staff, runs
streets, a dictator can look pretty good."
one official said. Senior campaign and ad-
the daily senior White House staff meeting
The signs of the Baker takeover are ev-
ministration officials said the president's
and hands out assignments. Much of the sen-
erywhere. Over the past three weeks, the
point will not be to call Clinton a draft dodg-
ior staff, not part of the Baker circle, rarely
team has seized control of the speechwriting,
er but to suggest he is not offering the full
meets with him. A brainy policymaker, who
scheduling and advance operations, bringing
story of his history.
loves five-part plans and six-point programs
longtime Bush confidant and former Cabinet
Since Labor Day, the president has been
and the interconnectedness of the global
secretary David Bates back from his law
"seeding," as one aide put it, his speeches
economy, Zoellick supervises the speechwrit-
practice to head a small team on Bush's plane
with questions about Clinton's credibility,
ing apparatus and is one of three "concep-
assigned to execute the decisions made by
accusing him of "waffling and wavering" on
tualizers," in the words of one white House
the policymakers back in Washington.
issues ranging from the North America Free
aide. Darman and Ross are the others.
The Baker team has ordered revisions in
Trade Agreement to the Persian Gulf War.
They join with Baker in the "big-picture"
how the campaign budget will be spent and
On a broader front, Baker has used all the
efforts to conceive major addresses, such as
has begun revamping the campaign adver-
advantages of incumbency. "There is going
the one Bush gave on the economy Thursday,
tising operation. Baker also has taken con-
to be one Santa Claus this election season,"
repackaging a variety of his proposals under
trol of strategic political issues such as
said one GOP official, "and Baker is deter-
when to debate, under what conditions and
a new "agenda for economic renewal" rubric,
mined it will be Bush." The effort is visible
Tutwiler is the new communications di-
what message Bush will deliver each day, as
in the announcement of government con-
well as ensuring that the White House and
rector, but her real job appears to be an
tracts in states where jobs are affected and
campaign work in unison to keep anyone
insider fix-it role, arranging systems that
in the decision to commit massive federal
else from overshadowing or interfering with
keep the trains running, forcing the deci-
resources to hurricane-stricken Florida.
the message. He has established "quick-
sion-making process, holding hands with
The exercise of incumbency also involved
turnaround" systems to move Bush swift-
key Republicans outside the White House to
last Thursday's use of one of the powerful
ly-both physically and rhetorically-from
get their problems handled, and advising
symbols of the White House, the Oval Of-
one direction to another, an essential capa-
Baker and the rest of the team on Bush's
fice, for a five-minute Bush commercial on
bility in a fast-moving campaign.
message, The closest of Baker's political
The Baker team is embarked on a two-sid-
his economic plan.
aides, Tutwiler, as one assistant puts it,
Part of Baker's influence can be seen in
ed effort to draw voters back to the presi-
"had the mandate to add her two cents'
his pulling back to the White House the ad-
dent. It hopes to win support for Bush by con-
worth" in virtually everything, She has,
vance apparatus, which selects sites for
vincing voters that he has a "coherent" plan
however, deliberately stepped out of the
Bush events. Several weeks before Baker
to mend the economy and a commitment to
came on board, the White House had given
picture in direct press relations. "That is
carry the plan forward, and to pull voters
Marlin Fitzwater's job," she said. "He does
away from Bill Clinton by raising questions
away to the campaign much of that advance
not work for me, and I hope I don't inter-
about Clinton's credibility on character and
operation, which is vital because it controls
fere."
how events look on television. Now Gary
substance.
Foster, a skilled advance man, has returned
Mullins, the other politician in the group,
White House and campaign officials called
Bush's speech to the Detroit Economic Club
to the White House staff. Karen Groom,
is political director, supervising the directly
who led Baker's advance operation, came
political operation and keeping constant
last week an effort to assemble a "coherent"
with him to the White House. John Keller,
contact with the campaign.
economic plan.
The same aides acknowledge it will be
another skilled advance man who was un-
Tutwiler and Mullins both bring to the
White House what one outside friend of
more difficult to convince voters that he ac-
dersecretary of commerce, also was pulled
tually will follow the plan and that the
into the White House operation.
theirs-a woman-called the "chick check,"
changes he brings will be better for them
The White House under Baker bears little
a female sensibility. Both were said by oth-
than Clinton's. "You may not like what he
resemblance to the operation under Skinner
ers to have staunchly objected to the con-
or his predecessor, John H. Sununu. It also
vention attacks on Hillary Clinton, saying
said, but you cannot say he has no plan," said
one official at the end of the week. "We
does not look much like the one Baker ran in
they would likely turn off women voters,
needed to get the campaign off the theme
Ronald Reagan's White House when he had
Both have stressed that it is important for
that Bush was for status quo and Clinton for
to share power with Michael K. Deaver and
Bush to take actions that show concern for
Edwin Meese III, the two other members of
average people rather than simply saying he
change. The point of the exercise was to say
the ruling triumvirate in Reagan's first term.
is concerned. For example, Bush went to
change will occur under both men, but our
kind of change is better for you than his,"
Instead, it resembles the Baker State
Florida after the hurricane and is "following
That is a real message of car-
This week will offer a flavor of both sides
Department in its tight structure, closely
through.
of the Bush campaign coin-economics and
held information, love of strategic surprise,
ing," said one official, describing the differ-
character.
and attention to controlling news media
ence between what Bush might have said
The president, who left for the West
coverage. Baker meets daily at 7:30 a.m.
two months ago and the way he is respond-
Coast yesterday, will offer himself as an
with his four top aides, all of whom came
ing now,
example of reasonable balance on one ele-
with him from the State Department and
Ultimately, outside Republicans and Baker
ment of economic renewal, environmental
had worked in Bush's 1988 campaign-
aides themselves say a smoother White
issues. Bush, his aides said, will make his
Robert B. Zoellick and Dennis Ross, the
House operation will not determine the elec-
case for a "balanced" approach on environ-
senior policy advisers, and Margaret Tut-
tion. "Everyone says we would have lost
mental issues that takes into account job
wiler and Janet G. Mullins, the implement-
without it," said one administration official,
THE WASHINGTON POST
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1992 A7
Among White House Staffers, Salaries Range From $12,385 to $125,100
By Kenneth J. Cooper
pervisors earned significantly less
expenditures for the White House
The White House submitted the
less there's something they don't
A gender disparity is also evident
Washington Post Staff Writer
than men with apparently similar
ought to be public, just as House and
salary list with each page stamped
want the public to know."
in salaries of people who look after
responsibilities.
A House subcomittee has fired an-
Senate expenses are. Agreeing with
"not for publication" in two places
Just like power in the Bush White
the First Family's living quarters.
Over White House objections, the
other shot in the "perk wars" be-
the Democrats was the panel's rank-
and asked the subcommittee not to
House, compensation in 1991 was
The chief usher was paid $83,141
House Post Office and Civil Service
ing Republican, Rep. Dan Burton
release the information.
ween Congress and the White House
more heavily distributed to men
and the executive chef, $67,806.
human resources subcommittee,
(Ind.), who at other hearings has de-
by releasing a list of salaries for
A White House spokeswoman ac-
than women.
Female supervisors in fiscal 1991
which earlier questioned President
nounced inquiries about executive
White House employees, ranging
cused the subcommittee of playing
A total of 15 men received the
earned less: the curator, $57,646;
Bush's travel expenses, decided
from high-powered advisers to tele-
travel expenses as partisan, election-
politics in releasing the kind of infor-
top pay, compared to two women-
the executive housekeeper,
Thursday to make public the sala-
year attacks.
phone operators and maids.
mation it has kept confidential since
Cabinet Secretary Edith E. Holiday
$55,185; and the chief florist,
ries of more than 1,000 White
"His salary and our salaries are
The 60-page list shows that the
1978. "Why did they choose to dis-
and then-personnel director Con-
$54,037.
House employees during fiscal year
public record, and people can look
top employees were paid $125,100,
regard their 14-year practice of not
stance J. Horner.
Besides student assistants, work-
1991. The pay figures were first
that up. So why not the White
more than 10 times as much as the
publishing names?" asked Judy A.
The top-paid men included then-
ers who earned the least included a
disclosed by States News Service.
House?" Mark A. Walker, a spokes-
lowest paid "student assistants," who
Smith, White House spokeswoman.
chief of staff John H. Sununu, press
"labor foreman" at $13,350, tele-
The human resources subcommit-
man for Burton, asked.
"President Bush has been cam-
received $12,385. Full- and part-time
secretary Marlin Fitzwater, then-
phone operator trainees at $15,677
tee also endorsed legislation that
One Democratic subcommittee
paigning on the basis that Congress
employees are not clearly distin-
deputy chief of staff Andrew H.
and "correspondence review ana-
would mandate the White House dis-
aide described the release as "full
guished on the list, which includes
is full of perks and privilege,"
Card Jr. (now transportation sec-
lyst" at $16,973.
close salary and operating expend-
disclosure," the same slogan that Re-
Moran said. "If there's more perks
political appointees and civil ser-
retary), counsel C. Boyden Gray,
The names of about 90 employ-
itures twice a year.
publican members used to press the
up in Congress than in the White
vants.
national security adviser Brent
ees detailed to the White House
Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski (D-Pa.), the
House to divulge the names of mem-
House, he should be willing to dis-
More men than women receive
Scowcroft and Sigmund Rogich,
from other agencies are included in
subcommittee's chairman, and Rep.
bers who had at least one overdraft
close [the list]
I don't see who
top salaries, and some female su-
who was then "assistant to the pres-
the list, but their salaries and home
James P. Moran (D-Va.) argued that
at the now-closed House Bank.
gets hurt by public disclosure un-
ident for public events."
agencies are not specified.
THE U.S. CAMPAIGN
No
Miracles
Yet
The organization is
tighter, the decisions
come quicker, but Baker
is still struggling to
inject a much needed jolt
into Bush's re-election
campaign
By MICHAEL DUFFY WASHINGTON
OST REPUBLICANS BREATHED A
M
sigh of relief when former
Secretary of State James Bak-
er took over the White House
in August. Baker and his
team, it was said, could make quick deci-
sions. They could stop the leaks. Baker
could talk straight to the stubborn Presi-
dent. As the engineer of Bush's 1988 win,
Baker seemed just the political wizard
that the President's often incoherent re-
election campaign needed.
With seven weeks left before the elec-
tion, it is clear that neither Baker nor his
boss is working miracles-yet. Baker does
deserve credit for making Bush focus on
his biggest weakness and the voters' over-
riding concern: the Administration's han-
dling of the economy. In an appearance be-
fore the Economic Club of Detroit, Bush
offered his clearest prescriptions so far.
True, the Baker plan provided little new
substance. But viewed as a campaign doc-
ument rather than as a bold new policy
manifesto, Baker's speech at least re-
22
positioned Bush as a man with a plan.
consistent. "For the first time in months,"
DIANA FOR TIME
The first task Baker and his aides faced
said a senior campaign official, "we are
when they arrived at the White House was
able to stay on our message for more than
to impose order on a chaotic political opera-
12 hours."
tion. Decision making had ceased. Top-
Baker's team has already taken credit
level meetings took hours and accom-
for toning down the party's overheated
plished nothing. Second guessing and fin-
family-values rhetoric following the Repub-
ger pointing were rampant. Advance men
lican Convention. After watching conserva-
were refusing to journey to sites of future
tive speakers bash gays and Hillary Clinton
Bush events out of fear that they would be
in Houston, the Bakerites immediately
canceled en route. Bush had little confi-
sensed that the theme was, as an aide put
dence in his top advisers, and the strain
it, "exclusionary, rather than inclusion-
was evident to anyone who watched him on
ary." Within hours of taking over at the
television. Baker has told friends that be-
White House, Baker team members re-
fore returning to the White House, he had
quested poll data to back up their hunch.
discounted complaints about how sclerotic
When they got them, they moved to more
the operation had become. Once he got
closely tie Bush's talk of family values to
there, he confessed that he'd "had no idea
his policies. "There was just a consensus,"
how goddam bad it was."
said an official, "that we were eventually
As luck would have it, Baker's arrival co-
going to hurt ourselves if we weren't care-
incided with Hurricane Andrew's. He ini-
ful about how we handle it."
tially won high marks for persuading the
Baker, who ordered the campaign to
ever cautious Bush to fly to both Florida and
buy five minutes of television time on four
Louisiana within hours of
networks last week to re-
the storm. But at a time
cap the main points of the
when Bush was trying to
pose as a giant in domestic
So far,
Detroit speech, knows that
the key to tough cam-
affairs, he goofed by allow-
Baker has
paigning is, as he once put
ing three days to pass be-
it, "repetition, repetition
fore he took control of one of
not brought
and repetition." Instead of
the worst natural disasters
12 separate lines of attack
in the nation's history. As
one Baker aide put it, "It
much new
on Clinton, says Jim Pin-
kerton, a counselor to the
was a tough first week."
campaign, "we've boiled it
Baker quickly redistrib-
substance
down to 'You can't afford
uted power in the hands of a
Bill Clinton, and you can't
core group of advisers:
to the
trust him.'
longtime aide Margaret
It was the attorney in
Tutwiler, communications
chief Robert Zoellick, do-
campaign
Baker that told Teeter two
weeks ago to take another
mestic policy chief Dennis
look-"the way a trial law-
Ross and political aide Ja-
yer would"-at Clinton's
net Mullins. All four had worked closely un-
contradictory descriptions of his draft rec-
der Baker at the State Department and on
ord. Baker felt that the real value of the
the 1988 campaign; they trust one another
draft issue was not SO much Clinton's be-
implicitly and, as they are quick to point out,
havior as a 23-year-old but his waffling
often "finish one another's sentences." Like
and incomplete accounts of his actions
Baker, they work 16-hour days, are in con-
and motives, and the questions they raised
stant communication and carry little pocket
about his trustworthiness.
cards listing the things to do before they go
In the past the Bush team had undercut
home that night.
its attacks on Clinton's draft record by
Each morning and night, Baker and
couching them in ridicule and bombast. Un-
his team meet with five other officials:
der Baker's orders, Teeter asked campaign
Budget Director Richard Darman, cam-
counsel Bobby Burchfield to pull together
paign chairman Robert Teeter and manag-
the record in a clear, undramatic fashion
er Fred Malek, National Security Adviser
and let the public judge. Burchfield turned
Brent Scowcroft and press secretary Mar-
out a lengthy, side-by-side comparison of
lin Fitzwater. Baker makes most of the de-
Clinton's comments over the past year that
cisions on scheduling, speeches and lines
fueled numerous news reports. "Basically,"
of attack; he demands same-day execution
says Burchfield, "this is a situation where
from his nine aides. "Once decisions get
the histrionics could very easily get in the
made," says Malek, "they stay made."
way of the message we're trying to put out,
The most dramatic effect Baker has
which is look at what the guy has said over
had SO far is on the mood and performance
the years. We're not going to dress it up in
of the President. Just knowing that his old
any sort of politicized way. We're just going
friend is at his side, thinking through his
to put it out there."
every move, has put some badly needed
The draft was not the only cudgel the
spring back into Bush's step. All of Bush's
Baker forces were wielding against Clin-
speeches are now clearer, better written,
ton's integrity. Bush has begun to assert
more substantive and, most important,
with increasing intensity that Clinton's
TIME, SEPTEMBER 21, 1992
23
record on the Gulf War, the North Ameri-
don't add up, and the choices are in most
paign insiders believe his biggest chal-
can Free Trade Agreement and even fuel
cases false. But to a struggling Bush cam-
lenge remains giving lasting substance to
economy standards for new automobiles is
paign, what matters is whether voters buy
a presidency that never stood for much in
riddled with inconsistencies.
it. As an Administration official put it
the first place. "Yes, things are organized
None of those are new lines of attack.
bleakly, but candidly, "It doesn't make
much better, and the work seems more
But Baker has rearranged them under a
much difference what's in the economic
channeled," says a White House official.
simple and potentially devastating strate-
plan because he's not going to follow
"But it's hard to point to tangible progress
gic framework: Whom do you trust? If
through on it anyway."
on what we need, which is something to
Bush can reframe the campaign about
Baker is also relying on old-fashioned
run on, a banner to charge forward under,
trust rather than change, his aides believe,
presidential pork to buy votes. But several
or a reason to vote for George Bush."
he will win: Conservatives in the Republi-
campaign officials note that it is incongru-
There is growing talk in Republican
can Party criticize the approach as unin-
ous for the President to rail against a gov-
circles that Bush should announce that
spired and unconventional but as a mem-
ernment that "is too big and spends too
Baker will stay on as chief of staff for a
ber of the White House inner circle
much" while he is running around the
year after re-election. On that proposal,
retorted, "we don't have time to reinvent
country doling out billions. Bush an-
both Bush and Baker are mum. Bush re-
the wheel, and we're not trying to."
nounced $8.6 billion in hurricane aid to
sented having to ask Baker to bail him out
That attitude was certainly evident in
Florida and Louisiana and export subsi-
one more time, and Baker was not keen to
the Detroit speech. Though Baker's plan
dies to farmers two weeks ago. When he
return to a job he had for four years under
consists of the same warmed-over ideas
cannot tap the U.S. Treasury, he is pre-
Ronald Reagan. "In the next two months,"
Bush has been peddling for years, they are
pared to tap the reserves of foreign gov-
said a longtime Baker watcher at the cam-
repackaged in a fashion that turns every
ernments. Last week Bush made a special
paign, "we're going to find out whether
Bush position into a less-or-more proposi-
trip to St. Louis, home of McDonnell Doug-
this is just another case for Jim Baker to
tion: Do Americans want less government
las, where he backed a $9 billion sale of 72
win a verdict on or whether it's a
or more, less bureaucracy or more, less
F-15 fighters to Saudi Arabia.
mission."
-With reporting by Dan
taxation or more? Of course, the numbers
Will Baker's magic work? Many cam-
Goodgame/Washington
What Did Bush Know?
HENEVER GEORGE
W
of my views." Bush, Reagan,
Bush is asked about
William Casey and Poin-
his role in the Iran-
dexter "all had one opinion,
contra affair, his standard re-
and I had a different one,"
THER
ply is that he has said all
Shultz said.
there is to say. In fact, Bush
Bush has said he thought
has said little on the subject-
TERRY ARTHUR-THE WHITE HOUSE
arms were being sold to
and much of what he has said
Iranian "moderates." But
is not true. A newly released
Amiram Nir, Israel's point
memo by former Secretary of
man for the arms sales, told
State George Shultz directly
him in July 1986 that the
disputes a key Bush claim:
U.S. and Israel were dealing
that he had no idea Shultz
Reagan and Bush sift national security options in 1985
with "the most radical ele-
and former Secretary of De-
ments" in Iran. Bush told the
fense Caspar Weinberger had bitterly opposed arms deals
Tower commission that he had discussed counterterrorism
with Iran. "It's on the record," says the 1987 memo, which
in general terms with Nir but that there had been no talk
recaps an angry telephone call Weinberger made to Shultz
about arms sales to Iran. The commission later published a
after Bush told the Washington Post he had been in the dark
memo on the Bush-Nir conversation, written by a Bush aide
about this. "Why did he say that?" the Shultz memo asked.
who was present, showing that the Israeli had indeed given
Last week Bill Clinton challenged reporters to examine
Bush a detailed briefing on the Tehran arms deal.
Bush's truthfulness about Iran-contra as carefully as they
Though there is no evidence that Bush knew that pro-
had probed Clinton's statements about the draft.
ceeds from the arms sales were being funneled to the con-
Bush's fullest public account of his role appears in his 1987
tras, his claim that he didn't know other U.S. funds and per-
autobiography, Looking Forward, in which he claims to have
sonnel were being illegally used to support the contras is not
been "excluded from key meetings" on the Iran operation. He
plausible. A key operative in this supply network, Felix Ro-
later told a TV interviewer that he would have opposed the deal
driguez, was sent to Central America with the backing of
if he had known "what was going on." But the fact is that Bush
Bush's office. Documents released in the trial of Lieut. Colo-
attended key meetings at which the Iran arms deal was dis-
nel Oliver North, moreover, show that the U.S. government
cussed and authorized. He was briefed by National Security
offered Honduras increased economic, military and covert
Adviser John Poindexter on the finding that authorized covert
support in exchange for Honduran military aid to the con-
aid to Iran. There was even discussion in the White House
tras. This quid-pro-quo arrangement, whose existence
about sending Bush to meet the Iranians personally.
Bush explicitly denied in 1989, violated the congressional
Bush also claims in Looking Forward that he didn't know
ban on indirect U.S. military assistance to the rebels. Docu-
that Shultz and Weinberger "had serious doubts" about the
ments obtained by TIME show that Reagan approved the deal
Iran deal; otherwise, he says, he might have opposed it. But
and that a copy of the memo authorizing it went to Bush.
here is what Shultz told the Tower commission about the
Bush "concurred" in the stepped-up CIA funding that was
crucial January 1986 meeting at which he and Weinberger
part of the deal. And he personally gave the President of
made their last stand against the operation: "I expressed
Honduras the good news about U.S. aid.
-Reported by Jay
myself as forcefully as I could
Everybody was well aware
Peterzell/Washington
24
TIME, SEPTEMBER 21, 1992