NEWSWEEK JULY 29th ISSUE COVER SHOT
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A Dynasty’s Dilemma
The war’s gone well, but the economy’s hurting. Sound familiar? As the markets fall, No. 43 has to learn the lessons
that ended his dad’s career
July 29 issue — Dan Bartlett, the White House communications director, is a careful, businesslike aide—a corporate-style
Texan who favors charcoal gray pinstriped suits and white shirts. So when he moved into the choice corner West Wing
suite vacated by the departing Karen Hughes earlier this month, he made sure to take his “41” notes with him. They’re
the ones comparing public perception of the economic stewardship of the 41st president, George Bush, to that of his son,
the 43d.
THE COMPARISON is fundamentally flawed,” Bartlett told NEWSWEEK last week. “Even at 41’s highest approval ratings after
the gulf war, he never broke 40 percent on handling the economy.” By contrast, Bartlett added, the son’s approval
ratings are at least 15 points higher.
But, hey, who’s counting? As it happens, almost everybody—at least inside the Bush White House. While the president’s
overall job-approval number is still a robust 65 percent in the latest NEWSWEEK Poll (down from a high of 88 percent
last fall), Bartlett, Karl Rove & Co. are intently examining the stats they know matter most, especially to a Bush: job performance on the economy. Here
the numbers aren’t horrible yet, but there’s reason to worry: Democrats in Congress are now enjoying a 42 percent to 36
percent edge over Bush on who is most trusted to handle the corporate-greed scandal. “Crime in the suites” is finally
stripping some of the Teflon off this president.
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