President Bush Has a Wonderful Relationship With His "Stealth Advisor"

Ronald Kessler/Teresa Neumann Reporting : May 7, 2006
Newsmax

If you believe everything the media reports, George Bush is a puppet of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney notes reporter Ronald Kessler, yet alternatively, the president is reportedly so stubborn he listens to no one. The truth is, says Kessler, that Bush makes his own decisions, but the greatest influence on him is his wife. Like most spouses who respect each other, he adds, the Bush's influence each other on a daily basis.

According to a report in Newsmax, the president has drawn his wife out from behind her books to make an impact on the world stage and in turn, she has helped him smooth out his rough edges, acquire more discipline and balance, and expand his worldview.

"I think the reason their relationship is so wonderful is that it's clearly emotionally close, but it's also kind of on an intellectual level," said Condi Rice, who spent almost every weekend with them at the ranch or at Camp David when she was national security advisor. "They discuss things. If she disagrees, she might roll her eyes or say, ‘You don't really think that, do you?' It's soft. It's not harsh."

Referred to as the president's "stealth advisor," Laura Bush is an "aggressively supportive" wife. Only those who have a strong marriage know how important that can be, says Kessler, how one's success or failure can ride on the reactions ¬ however subtle ¬ of the other partner.

For example, in the face of relentless media attacks, "Laura's positive outlook sustains Bush and strengthens his resolve. When Teresa Heinz made her comment that Laura never had a 'real job,' Laura told her outraged twin daughters at the dinner table in the residence that she understood the pressure John Kerry's wife was under. The truth was that not only had Laura worked as a librarian and inner city school teacher, she went in on her own time on Saturdays to help black children who were having difficulty reading, according to Jimmy McCarroll, who was dating her at the time.

If Laura feels that the staff is offering counsel that is "inconsistent with what she sees in the president's heart, she is not bashful about telling us," said Andrew H. "Andy" Card, Jr., the former White House chief of staff. Illustrating his point, Card related a "touching" moment between the president and first lady, Andy Card related a touching moment.

As the president was getting ready to board a helicopter to Kentucky, said Card, "He came out of the Cabinet room. The helicopter had landed. People were getting on their coats to run off to the helicopter."

Karen Keller, Bush's personal secretary, ran outside. "The first lady is calling for you," she said.

"Is it an emergency?" Bush asked.

"I don't think it's an emergency, but she'd like to talk with you before you leave," Keller said.

"He goes back into the Oval Office and calls her on the phone," Card said. After a minute, he opened the door to the Oval Office and looked out with a smile on his face.

"That was great," Bush said to his chief of staff. "She was just calling to tell me she loves me."