AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE

On an icy night at the close of the fall semester, former White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. treated Stonehill students and faculty to an intimate, inside look at the Bush White House and the decision-making process that led to the Iraq war.

More than 200 people gathered in the Martin Institute on December 10^th as Card, who has been a Stonehill trustee, visiting lecturer and commencement speaker, joined Institute Director Peter Ubertaccio on a small stage in an informal setting that resembled a television talk show.

Andrew Card: Confidante to President Bush
"In his role as chief of staff and confidante to the president, Andrew Card has played an important role in some of the most significant decisions made during this presidency: the response to Sept. 11^th, Iraq, domestic surveillance, two appointments to the Supreme Court, and a domestic agenda from national education standards to an overhaul of Social Security," Ubertaccio said.

Card was Bush's chief of staff for more than five years. He supervised a White House staff of 1,600 and was responsible for "the care and feeding of the president," making sure Bush heard from all sides when formulating policy, and communicating the president's decisions to others.

Card said the job "changed an awful lot" the day he whispered in the president's ear.

Recalling September 11^th
That was Sept. 11, 2001. The Stonehill audience sat hushed as Card recalled the perfect, cloudless morning when he accompanied Bush to an elementary school in Sarasota, Fla., and learned just after Bush entered the classroom that a second plane had struck the World Trade Center in New York and that the carnage no longer looked like an accident. 

Card said that he had to decide on the spot whether to tell the president and what message to communicate to him.

He said that he entered the room of "very young children" and spotted a crowd of reporters in the back. He waited for a break, then walked to the front and whispered to Bush, "A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack."

Bush did not visibly react, which Card said was appropriate, since he did not want to betray fear or alarm to the children or to the media, which could transmit that image around the world.

But Card said that, as he stepped out of the room to call the motorcade, he thought Bush must have been remembering the oath he took in January, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

In that oath, there are "no conditional clauses," Card said, "no if the wind blows the right way, if France is on board, if the UN gives you permission."

American foreign policy changed that day, Card said. Bush decided the United States had to be proactive to prevent terrorism and told the world, "You're either with us or against us," Card related.

The cooperative General Musharraf in Pakistan became an ally, while the defiant Saddam Hussein became an enemy. Card said the administration worried about Hussein "playing footsie" with Al-Qaeda.

"We were appropriately paranoid about Saddam Hussein, so I don't accept the argument that we should have had a passive concern about Saddam Hussein," said Card.

Responding to Protest
Some Stonehill students held green information sheets that read "Dis Card" with a peace symbol below. While they did not interrupt Card's talk, he did refer to them at times.

"Can you suspend your emotions of the moment and go back to the emotions of Sept. 11^th?" Card asked at one point.

"I don't think you know what to dis me on or how to discard me," he said.

Most Memorable Day with President Bush
Card said his most memorable day with the president was Sept. 14, 2001. It began with meetings in Washington, included a prayer service at the National Cathedral, and was followed by a flight to New York, where Bush stood on a crushed fire engine at Ground Zero and spoke to rescue workers through a bullhorn.

Later, meeting with families of missing police and firefighters, Bush was given a badge by one mother that he carries to this day, Card said.

"It was a day that taught me what the job of a president is," Card said. "Knowing the president carries that badge and will never forget that day says an awful lot." 

Answering Audience Questions
Ubertaccio asked if Card was frustrated by Bush's low approval ratings. Card said he is not troubled by polls. Harry Truman was an unpopular president in his time, but is well-regarded today, Card noted. 

"I don't think contemporary journalism defines history," Card said.

He added that he believes the most important characteristic a president can have is the "courage to be lonely." 

"Most (presidential) decisions are lonely decisions, not decisions that make friends," Card said.

Students asked Card how he dealt with ideological differences with Bush, whether the president should go against the wishes of the American people, and whether Card's time as a state representative from Holbrook prepared him for the role he played in the White House.

Card Encourages Active Citizenship
Card reminded them that most Americans are citizens by accident of birth. "Those of us born here don't understand the obligation of citizenship," he said.

He urged students to participate in democracy not just by speaking out, but by voting and running for public office.
"Put your mouth where the action is," Card said. "If you can't be a candidate, vote."

In fulfilling his oath as president, Bush is helped by "his Cabinet, Congress, and ultimately people your age, 18 or 19, 20 years old, and every one of them is a volunteer," because there is no draft, Card said.

"Don't forget the sacrifice people your age are making so you can protest or be upset," Card said. "You can have positions and anger and frustration; but remember, it's worth fighting for, it's worth protecting, and the oath is worth keeping."

12/12/07