George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography - Get a Free Blog

It's our family strength, being this close to the ocean. We'll figure it out." Bushwatchers
sensed that Bush's mental instability could only be exacerbated by this trauma. [fn 67]
Bush once again looked ghastly on this outing, and about as old as King Canute.
November 5: This was election day, and exit polls in the late afternoon showed a decisive
defeat of Thornburgh in Pennsylvania, reflecting rising popular resentment of the Bush
regime. The next day, Bush was scheduled to depart for a NATO meeting and Rome and
then for a meeting with the leaders of the European Community in The Hague. But,
abruptly and in time for the evening news programs, Bush announced that he was
cancelling a later 10-day trip that was scheduled to have taken him to Japan, South
Korea, Singapore, and Australia. The rationale offered for this reversal was that Bush
wanted to stay in Washington until the end of November and work on getting his
"domestic legislative package" through Congress. This explanation was incongruous for
at least two reasons: first, the Congressional leadership clearly hoped to adjourn and go
home for Thanksgiving recess by the time that Bush's scheduled trip to the Orient was to
have begun. Secondly, Bush had no domestic legislative package.
Some of Bush's closest associates were dismayed by his rapid collapse under pressure. "It
makes it look like the Democrats have us on the total run," one senior administration
official told the Washington Post. "This is ridiculous. We look like we're running around
like chickens with our heads cut off," said a GOP official with close ties to the White
House. The impression was that Bush had panicked when he became aware that the
Democratic National Committee had produced a t-shirt celebrating Bush's "Anywhere but
America Tour," listing trips completed and planned during 1991. Bush, who was
watching his own support and popularity decline inexorably in the polls, had apparently
been stampeded by the defeat of Thornburgh and wanted to propitiate public opinion by
staying home. It looked very much like a hyperthyroid decision.
This impression was magnified by the chaotic way that Bush's cancellation became
known. According to the Washington Post "the shock of Bush's decision was intensified
in Washington and Asia by the manner of its revelation. A White House official involved
in trip planning said he heard of the postponement late Tuesday after a high-level meeting
and just minutes before learning that NBC News had obtained the story, which was
broadcast on its evening news program. Several Asian embassies in Washington heard
the news from the press reports before receiving official word from the White House."
On the way to Rome the next day, Bush was heard to complain about what he perhaps
considered a leak: "You got the message oozed out of the White House before we had a
chance to properly notify the parties," he berated the press on board Air Force One. "You
guys are too good." [fn 68]
Sometime during October, Bush had discussed with his handlers the possibility of
cancelling the Asia trip while simultaneously proposing a set of measures allegedly
designed to improve economic conditions, and challenging the Congress to stay in town
long enough to pass this package. But Bush had been unable to assemble any such set of
measures. One GOP official complained that Bush's announcement late on election day,
1991 was "a cancellation without a purpose. This is nuts." [fn 69] This Asian trip,