To: Patricia Trinchero who wrote (18585 ) 4/27/2004 4:55:52 PM From: zonkie Read Replies (2) | Respond to Coming soon - the Charley McCarthy testimony. Will they dress alike?aides coached President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on Tuesday for their appearance before a panel investigating the Sept. 11 attacks that they agreed to under pressure and only if they could appear together and behind closed doors. will not be recorded and a transcript will not be made. but White House spokesman Scott McClellan said they "will tell it exactly how it happened." Bush's insistence will be held in private and with Cheney at his side. refresh his memory." Bush and Cheney plan to continue meeting with their top advisers and reviewing internal documents over the next two days, officials said. the White House may be trying to eliminate the possibility of contradictory testimony under questioning from commissioners expected to focus on whether the administration did all it could to head off the Sept. 11 attacks. Bush's advisers are worried the commission's findings will be critical of Bush, who is running for re-election in November on his record of fighting terrorism. Bush, who initially opposed creation of the independent commission, had earlier insisted he meet with just the panel's chairman and vice chairman, and for only one hour. Under pressure from the commission, however, Bush agreed to meet all 10 members -- five Republicans and five Democrats -- and to answer questions for as long as necessary together with Cheney. confrontational relationship between the White House and the panel even before a bitter fight over whether Rice should testify in public. The White House eventually backed down and allowed Rice to appear under oath. reuters.com
