Pals: Terror Made Bush Changed Man
By THOMAS M. DeFRANK
Daily News Washington Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON
As the commander-in-chief launched America's most urgent military retaliation since Pearl Harbor yesterday, aides and friends alike reported President Bush has become a man with a mission — convinced the World Trade Center and Pentagon terror catastrophes have given definition not only to his presidency, but to his life.
"This is comparable to that moment of clarity when he turned 40, gave up drinking and finally found a sense of purpose for himself," a source who knows Bush very well told the Daily News yesterday.
"It's almost a religious thing with him," another source said. "He believes there was some destiny involved for him to be here."
A deeply devout man who reads the Bible daily, Bush is described by associates as believing, in effect, that he has been chosen to lead a holy war of his own to save the world from terror's scourge.
"He's internalized this spiritually," one source said. "He believes God demands of him that he fight, keep fighting and stay focused on this particular battle for the rest of his public life."
The intensity of his cause has galvanized the President — but also has taken a toll.
Clock Doesn't Stop at 6
Before Sept. 11, Bush relished frequent dinners with old pals to wind down from the rigors of the job. Unlike his practice as governor of Texas, he almost never talked shop when knocking back a nonalcoholic beer with close friends at Camp David or the family dining room at the White House.
"When he walked out of the Oval Office at 6 o'clock, work was over," a Bush intimate noted. "It's not that way anymore."
At one recent such gathering, presidential intimates were struck to discover that for the first time in years, their friend was having trouble relaxing.
"This was the only subject at dinner," one Bush source told The News, referring to the terror crisis. "It's all he had on his mind."
In the process of marshaling his country and the world, Bush has by most accounts performed admirably. Even political opponents freely concede he has risen to the occasion.
"I give him very high marks," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), "both in terms of helping New York and conducting the war on terrorism. He has understood, much to the surprise of many people, that you don't bomb the daylights out of one city and think you've accomplished something."
In ways large and small, this crisis has transformed Bush. Aides report he's far less deferential to the cadre of grownups in his war cabinet, all of whom have far more foreign-affairs experience than their boss.
Change in Attitude
He gives more orders and accepts less advice than before, they say.
"The student of foreign policy has become the decision-maker of foreign policy," one well-placed Bush official said. At the White House, "The word 'leader' is now singular, not plural."
One of Bush's most trusted White House counselors has told friends the crisis has markedly bolstered the President's sense of self about foreign affairs — a view echoed by a prominent Democratic congressional leader:
"There's a sense of self-confidence that wasn't there six months ago. He knows what he's doing, and he is in total command."
His wife, Laura, said last week, "He's very focused. He's very disciplined, and I think the American people are seeing that now."
Only two years ago as a presidential candidate, Bush couldn't name the general running Pakistan.
Now Gen. Pervez Musharraf is one of his key foot soldiers in a campaign that the President believes will reshape history.
In his recent speech to Congress, Bush told the nation: "In our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment."
It appears the same is now true for him.
Original Publication Date: 10/8/01
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