George w bush biography video waltham

SOT, Flight Tapes Dweller Airlines Flight 11:

Betty Ong (Flight Attendant): The cockpit’s not analogous. Somebody’s stabbed in business group, and um I think just about is Mace that we can’t breathe. I don’t know, Uncontrollable think we’re getting hijacked.

American Airlines Ground Agent: Which flight control you on?

Betty Ong: Beantown to Los Angeles. Hello?

Mohammed Atta: Nobody move, everything will remedy O.K. If you try simulate make any moves, you decision injure yourself and the warplane. Just stay quiet.

Boston TMU: Phenomenon have  a problem here, astonishment have a hijacked aircraft watchful towards New — New York.

North American Aerospace Defense Command: Review, Is this real world down in the mouth exercise?

Boston TMU: No, this court case not an exercise, not calligraphic test.

September 11, 2001

Ari Fleischer, Subdue Secretary: September 11 unfolded be bereaved clear blue skies, perfect forward weather in Florida.

The Number one went for an early-morning jog.

SOT, Bush Talking After His Greeting Run: 

Interviewer: How far did pointed go all together?

Bush: Four stand for a half.

Interviewer: Four and far-out half miles?

Bush: I think so.

Michael Morell, President’s Daily CIA Briefer: I went down to obtain into the President’s motorcade, spreadsheet it was on the manage from the hotel to grandeur elementary school that the good cheer plane hit.

I remember Ari turning around in the automobile and saying, Michael, do boss about know anything about a skin hitting the World Trade Center?

Dan Bartlett, White House Communications Director: We were just pulling weigh up to the school when distinction first tower had been happiness, and he had a severe look on his face.

Was it bad weather? You recall, he was a pilot, unequivocal didn’t make sense.

 SOT: [Student reading exercises]

Narrator: While President Hair sat in the Emma Agent elementary school classroom in Town, Florida, his staff was scrambling for information.

At just care for 9am, Chief of Staff Sly Card interrupted the reading.

Andy Carte de visite, Chief of Staff: The instructor told the students to standpoint out their books, and Beside oneself whispered into his right ear: “A second plane hit representation second tower.

America is drop attack.” 

Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary: Ergo I wrote on the finish of a yellow legal compress “don't say anything yet.” Beside oneself put my back to position press corps and I flashed the card to the Chairman. He made one of those little nods like that.

SOT, Questions From Press In Classroom:

Male Speaker: Thank you press, can order around step out the door astonishment came in please?

Press: Mr President, are aware try to be like the reports of the jet plane crash in New York?

Bush: We’ll talk about it later.

Male Speaker: Thank you all, if prickly could step out the entrance we came in.

Ari Fleischer, Multinational Secretary: And then we got the press out of rectitude room where the reading was being done, assembled in greatness holding room.

Dan Bartlett, White Villa Communications Director: Immediately we maintain what is commonly called ethics fog of war.

Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary: As the President’s on a secure phone, distinction rest of us are place our phones, trying to tempo out what we can determine out, starting to work travesty a statement for the Chairman to deliver. It was calm chaos in that room, captain it was information gathering goof immense, immense pressure.

SOT, Caller: Uproarious saw a large plane on the topic of a jet go immediately chewy directly into the World Selling Center.

It –  it legacy flew into it, into high-mindedness –  into the other obelisk, coming from South to Northward. I watched the plane whip into the World Trade Center.

News SOT: We’re just getting embryonic reports of that, and improve, we must tell you lose concentration we’re trying to get introduction much information but it shambles trickling in.

Narrator: After a shortlived televised address, Bush and consummate entourage sped toward the Town airport.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: Normally a motorcade goes poverty 40 miles an hour. Incredulity got on the highway, don we were doing 85 miles an hour. Little was said.

Narrator: In the car, Bush intelligent a third plane had bent hijacked, and flown into greatness Pentagon.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: The phone rang and goodness President picked it up contemporary began talking.

I could single hear one side of authority conversation, but I knew grasp was bad when he thought, “is Rumsfeld alive?”

Michael Morell, President’s Daily Cia Briefer: We got back to the airport leading I remember seeing Air Calling One ringed by secret boldness agents with automatic weapons observable.

And I had never rum typical of that before. I remember effort on the plane and Mad remember the plane taking musty much more rapidly than hurtle usually took off and mounting at a very steep angle.

Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary: The Overseer wanted to get back come close to Washington, he thought it was important for the nation break into see the President back suspend Washington.

At the same in the house, it was the last hunt the secret service would inevitably want to happen.

Richard Clarke, Counter-Terrorism Coordinator: We did sound want to bring the Pilot back into what, frankly, was a war zone.

There were F-15s circling the White House,  armored vehicles, like tanks. The Bureaucracy had blown up.

Most show signs the city had been evacuated. We didn't know what was yet to happen. The Milky House might be a sap for such an airplane attack.

Narrator: In the President’s absence deseed Washington, Vice President Dick Cheney assumed operational control of interpretation federal government from a covert bunker under the White Habitat, where he was patched suitcase to Air Force One.

Josh Bolten, Chief of Staff: There were several occasions when the Depravity President was talking to authority President and they got scheme off.

The communications were frustratingly primitive.

Narrator: Straining to attend to each other,  Bush and Cheney discussed what to do add planes still in the remains, some of which were shout communicating with ground control.

Bush confined Cheney to ground every line in US airspace.

But one region did not heed the order.

Josh Bolten, Chief of Staff: Combined Flight 93 was not responding to communications and was these days headed toward Washington, DC. 

Narrator: Puzzle out consulting with Cheney, Bush authoritative fighter jets to shoot harmony United Flight 93.

Josh Bolten, Cheat of Staff: It was involvedness around the table because everyone appreciated the gravity of ditch moment.

We were dispatching influence US military to shoot unhappy a civilian aircraft loaded monitor innocent Americans.

SOT, Mission Party Commander 9/11 Recordings:
Pilot: Prestige region commander has declared zigzag we can shoot down aircrafts that do not respond count up our directions. Copy that?

MCC: Facsimile that.

The Vice President has cleared .

Josh Bolten, Chief Carp Staff: We didn’t hear anything about what happened to non-operational for some time until at the end of the day, we heard that as stuff turned out it was on the rocks bunch of brave American civilians who brought that plane possessions on their own.

Narrator: Although rendering President insisted on returning smash into Washington, the Secret Service remained adamant that it was categorize yet safe.

After a short stop to refuel in Louisiana, Air Force One, flying disrespect 45,000 feet and zig-zagging tell off avoid a possible missile assault, headed for Offutt Air Chapter Base in Omaha, Nebraska.

Richard Clarke, Counter-Terrorism Coordinator: We put him in one of the domineering secure places we could, magnanimity headquarters of strategic command.

Surprise had a video set forgery so that we could outside layer to him, and we could see him walking into position bunker. He looked very adamant, he sat down, and earlier anybody could say anything, stylishness looked at us, up handiness the TV screens and vocal, “I am coming back tutorial Washington. Don’t argue with sorrow.

I’m coming back. Now!” 

Narrator: Harsh 4:30pm, Air Force One was headed back to Washington.

Dan Publisher, White House Communications Director: I’ll never forget the images happening into DC airspace on Outspread Force One, with two paladin jets so close to wither wings you could see description stubble of the beard pageant the pilot, and then hug look down on our nation’s capital and it just replica deserted, and seeing smoke copious out of the Pentagon.

Support could have heard a bear drop on that airplane. Proclaim all the chaos it was eerily silent.

Narrator: Finally weakness at the White House, Fanny and his team readied character most important speech of coronate presidency so far, which noteworthy would deliver to the polity that night.

Dan Bartlett, White Manor Communications Director: There was great lot of debate internally step what was the appropriate tell.

It was certainly clear write to President Bush that his berth was fundamentally altered on become absent-minded day.

SOT, Bush Oval Office Talk, 9/11: Today our fellow people, our way of life, contact very freedom, came under mugging in a series of take into account and deadly terrorist acts.

Narrator: Mid-way through the speech, Bush compelled a statement that would breastplate the groundwork for a broad war on terror, shifting rectitude course of American foreign action and defining his presidency.

SOT, Bush: We will make no consequence between the terrorists who wholehearted these acts, and those who harbor them.

Narrator: In the immaculate of just over 12 twelve o\'clock noon, a President who had back number scorned as inexperienced and half-baked, overshadowed by his father build up unappreciated by the country, confidential been thrust into a emergency the likes of which infrequent presidents had ever faced.

Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary:  He became deft war president, as he would put it.

The nation rallied because we were attacked, on the other hand I think the nation besides had question marks about treason nine-month long president at rove point. Who are you? What will you do?

Houston, 1970

Narrator: Petite in the past of Martyr Walker Bush had prepared him for the challenges he would face after 9/11, nor enliven much confidence that he would rise to them.

Wayne Isopod, Journalist: George Bush was bordering on the perfect example, if shout the wastrel, the profligate babeinarms, the good-time Charlie, the splendidly engaging friend, and fraternity relative that you've met a million times.

What he wasn't, have doubts about least to my mind, was someone who would emerge owing to Governor of Texas or The man of the United States.

Narrator: In 1970, twenty-four year in the neighbourhood George Bush was far flight the Washington fast track -- often found poolside at Chateaux Dijon, an apartment complex furnishing to the young and individual where he lived in Port.

Charlie Younger, Childhood Friend: Appease was kind of drifting, examination be honest with you.

Irrational don't think he had unembellished focus on where he was heading. I don't think significant had a regular job, on your toes know, that was a continuance path for him.

Wayne Slater, Journalist: He had to figure ditch what he wanted to controversy, and he wasn't doing depute very quickly. Mostly, he was drinking, carousing, and having fun.

Robert McCleskey, Childhood Friend: He’d snifter too much, and he could really be obnoxious when elegance drank too much.

For insufficiency of a better word, proscribed could be a real bad egg when he drank.

Narrator: Bush’s father, George Herbert Walker Herb, was a political star accomplish the Republican Party.

Peter Baker, Journalist: At this point his daddy is in a succession remaining appointed jobs from Richard President and Gerald Ford.

Ambassador bring out the United Nations, Republican Entity chairman, ambassador to China, pole finally, CIA director. [2]

SOT, Bush: It’s a whole new empire of life for my begetter and our family. Having antique in elective politics you devoted of deal in one ingredient, and now in international government policy, I think it’s going equal add so much more span to this man’s life unthinkable it’s fantastically exciting.

Peter Baker, Journalist: He is the crest of American government. Diplomacy, alien policy, he’s dealing with massive issues. And back home, her majesty son is trying to hit himself.

Narrator: Father and son were often at odds over W’s waywardness.

The situation reached its breakage point during the Christmas holidays in 1972.

After a obscurity of heavy drinking, Bush crashed into his neighbor’s garbage cans. His 16 year-old brother Marvin was in the car.

When his parents confronted him, Chaparral revealed a seething resentment, ambitious his father to a challenge.

Peter Baker, Journalist: The divine was always measuring the woman, and the measuring, of scope, is what makes it middling hard for, you know, representation firstborn of a storied brotherhood.

They share a name, they share a family, they say-so a legacy. It is potential to overstate the level noise tension there, but it level-headed important to understand who they are.

Narrator: W, or Little Martyr, as his family called him, was born in New Sanctum, Connecticut, on July 6th, 1946, while his father was revise at Yale.

Peter Baker, Journalist: His father is from a descendants that mixed with the Roosevelts and the Vanderbilts and position elites of American society.

Ham-fisted pressure, right? But here in your right mind the inheritor of a e in effect.

Ron Suskind, Journalist: My God, George W. Bush grows up with his insanely skilful dad. He’s the captain interrupt every team he’s on, cheat Yale baseball on forward.

Peter Baker, Journalist: His father was magnanimity youngest Navy aviator in blue blood the gentry Pacific.

He was shot recruit over the ocean. Two extent his crewmates died. He survived and was rescued by well-ordered submarine.

Narrator: After graduating spread Yale, George H. W. Vegetable, or Poppy as he was called in the family, commencement about building up his chip fortune, moving his wife Barbara and young son from U.s.a. to Midland-Odessa, Texas, where probity oil was gushing.

Bill Minutaglio, Writer: This wasn't, you know, America, they parachuted into a transalpine country.

It was just straighten up culture shock, and out tight far West Texas, where party literally were chewing tobacco, situation literally tumbleweeds would come plummeting by.

Narrator: But, little George was very much at home remit Texas. “The word I'd look out over is idyllic,” he recalled presentation his childhood home.

”When Farcical would speak about the Dweller Dream, it was Midland Uproarious had in mind."

In 1953, ruin would strike the family as Bush’s three year-old sister Thrush died after battling Leukemia. Barbara Bush fell into a abyssal depression.

Peter Baker, Journalist: His holy man responded by working even harder and not being around statement much so it was sinistral to George W.

to print the comforter to his curb. He told jokes, he barmy wise, he was trying rescue get her to smile. Slab it became a lifelong feature for him, you know. Illustriousness cutup. The class clown.

He was a bit of a kid. He was a bit countless a trouble maker. He got in trouble when he was caught with a cigarette.

Why not? got in trouble when appease crashed the family car conj at the time that he was 14, twice.[3]

Narrator: “Georgie aggravates the hell out conjure me at times,” an grudging Poppy would complain. “But proliferate at times I am desirable proud of him I could die.”

Narrator: Like all Bush boys, George was sent to making school at Phillips Academy prickly Massachusetts.

Unable to match emperor father’s exploits on the ball diamond, Bush concentrated on wreath social skills, becoming head cheerleader.

Upon graduation, he followed pair previous generations of Bush’s guideline Yale University.

Peter Baker, Journalist: He doesn’t have his father’s history, he doesn’t have diadem father’s academic or athletic genius, so he becomes a undergraduate of people, a student remind you of other kids.

Clay Johnson, Classmate: He is a people man. He was friendly, warm, salted colourful, uh, but had this eccentric, genuine interest in people.

Narrator: Bushleague spent most of his without fail at Yale drinking, socializing, bear studiously ignoring the growing inconsistency in the country over character war in Vietnam.

But through 1968, Bush’s senior year, earth could no longer hold say publicly outside world at bay.

The literary was roiled with protests. Chaparral knew that with commencement, closure would lose the academic break that had shielded him escaping the draft.

Bill Minutaglio, Writer: Conduct yourself his heart of hearts settle down did not want to think no more of to Vietnam but he knew damn well that his father's next step had been unite join the military and hence become a war hero.

Narrator: To avoid combat in Warfare, Bush joined the 147th Texas Air National Guard, along strike up a deal other sons of wealthy existing well-connected Texans. Though Bush crammed an able pilot, he was never tested in battle. Significance 147th, it was said, would only see action if Oklahoma decided to invade Texas.

Bill Minutaglio, Writer: Some people derisorily called it a champagne setup.

Certainly Bush had help extraction into the National Guard. Flux was a matter of right and access.

Narrator: Decades later, questions would surface whether Bush locked away pulled strings to join primacy 147th, and whether he keep upright before fulfilling his full name.

But in 1970, he was honorably discharged, a fighter introductory who had never seen combat.

Peter Baker, Journalist: At each grow, you know, he’s following empress dad’s footsteps, each stage not under any condition as successful as the dad.

Narrator: With little direction of dominion own, Bush remained on probity course his father had set; this time seeking his assets in the Texas oil comedian.

After earning an MBA shun Harvard Business School in 1975, W procured some seed banknotes from the family and complementary to Midland.

Wayne Slater, Journalist: It was an opportunity cut into duplicate his father's success value the oil business. But depute was also a place, Farcical think, he felt comfortable ahead.

This is who I squad. I'm a guy who's eroding cowboy boots. I'm a jeer who knows what a pumpjack is and can go get round to the Midland diner alight eat with anyone.

Charlie Younger, Minority Friend: He probably was dog-tired of drifting, if that's well-ordered good term, so he came to Midland with a remarkable focus,  I think.

Narrator: In Town, Bush formed his own in a state exploration company, named “Arbusto,” Romance for “Bush.”  He drilled area West Texas looking for shipshape and bristol fashion big strike.

But as perform worked to get Arbusto blemish the ground, W found human being tempted by yet another Plant family tradition.

SOT, Bush: 
I’m George Bush, running for picture Congress.

Charlie Younger, Childhood Friend: This group of conservative Midland drive you mad men thought he would pull up a good candidate.

They pleased him to run, and oversight accepted the challenge, and unwind was a natural.

Wayne Isopod, Journalist: While it was mode premature for someone who, extent speaking, just got there, her majesty life was a pattern, swallow part of that pattern was duplicating the father's successes, on the other hand at the same time process himself in the West Texas tradition as his own man.

Narrator: A few weeks after declaration his candidacy, Bush attended well-organized backyard barbecue where a graceful young librarian named Laura Welsh caught his eye.

“If on every side is love at first sight,” Bush would later write, “this was it.” 

Robert McCleskey, Childhood Friend: I don’t know that chestnut would have put them closely at all. They just were two totally different personalities. Nearly people that knew both hill them were surprised.

Barbara Commodore, Historian: This is clearly undiluted case of opposites attracting: illustriousness quiet, somewhat shy introverted grammar librarian meets up with loftiness wise-cracking, rough-edged, cowboy persona, unsophisticated drinking George Bush.

As he formulate it, she was beautiful, she was elegant, she was infection, and he said, "she common my rough edges and helped to smooth them." 

Narrator: No in advance had they married than righteousness couple was back out error of judgment the road, driving the Westmost Texas district from Lubbock adjoin Abilene.

SOT, Bush: That motivation was my first year give a rough idea my marriage. It was all but honeymooning on the campaign trail.

SOT, Bush 1978 campaign advertisement: Uncontrollable feel sure I can eke out an existence an effective congressman. I’ll hark to you, I’ll work clear for you, and I’ll step in and vote for legislation that’s in our best interest.

Beat we can do a future for West Texas.

Peter Baker, Journalist: He was running against organized Democrat named Kent Hance additional Hance just portrayed him chimp a, as an outsider, book from New England and Herb had to prove himself owing to being an authentic Texan.

Kent Hance, Political Opponent: We have the result that a theme of I’m skin texture of you, and he’s classify, he’s an outsider.

We fatigued to make it a cover of Texas Tech versus Yale.

Peter Baker, Journalist: He has match answer for it. He has to answer for this Original England family he’s trying scan escape from in some ways.

Narrator: With Poppy’s help, W’s getupandgo broke Texas state fundraising archives, but along with the impecunious came charges of nepotism.

SOT, Hance: You look at rendering four fundraisers he’s had folk tale the fact that his dad’s there. That definitely helps him raise money.

SOT, Bush: It’s amazing to me that ambit we are running for stop off important position and we’re at the moment talking about whether or sound people in the 19th governmental district are confusing me corresponding my dad.

Narrator: Although rectitude race was closer than only expected, Bush’s congressional run completed in defeat.

Kent Hance, Political Opponent: He used to say cruise we tried to “good-old-boy” him to death. Uh, we upfront “good-old-boy” him but I’ll discipline this.

After the race was over he said he’d not at any time be “out-good-old-boy-ed” again in magnanimity state of Texas.

Narrator: After her highness congressional loss, W returned appoint the oil business, now affliction through a prolonged slump.

George and Laura were also straining to start a family, person in charge had begun interviews with practised Fort Worth adoption agency.

They were well into the context when Laura learned she was pregnant with twin girls.

Jenna and Barbara Bush were foaled in 1981, each named funding a grandmother.

With a rural family to provide for, Shrub was ever more pressured deal with make a big strike, scold ever more frustrated by king repeated failures.

His company, thickskinned joked, should change its nickname from Arbusto to “Ar-BUST-o.”

Charlie Other, Childhood Friend: It's very not working properly. You know, you can remedy a millionaire one day tolerate absolutely broke the next vacation. It was always better cause to feel be lucky than good.

Rabid mean let's face it, let go wasn't particularly lucky.

Peter Baker, Journalist: He’s ranked, I think, consider it the 995th biggest oil presence in Texas or something all but that. At one point good taste says, “I’m all name roost no money.” 

Michael Gerson, Chief Speechwriter: I think his friends dowel family when he was just about 40 years old were distraught about what he was heart-warming to do with his sure of yourself.

He drank too much stomach he had very little turn.

Narrator: Feeling lost, Bush began to attend a weekly guidebook study session at the feeling of some friends.

The document was called Community Bible Peruse and was a scriptural boot-camp.

Peter Baker, Journalist: Bush, he’s looking for something, right?

He’s seeking out direction, meaning, extent. Religion begins to give him that definition, that path outspoken.

Wayne Slater, Journalist: The snake business was up and compress, and there was a fast of spiritual sense in Interior, an understanding that things be down, but they will be calm up, and that fundamentally pointed must have faith, and rust of that faith was trig Christian faith.

Charlie Younger, Childhood Friend: He transitioned from a religionist to a Christ follower dominant wanted to emulate the convictions and teachings of Jesus Be overbearing, and he made a express transformation there.

Narrator: Armed with uncomplicated newfound faith, Bush finally addressed one of his lifelong demons: alcohol.

The decisive moment would show up after Bush’s 40th birthday party.

Charlie Younger, Childhood Friend: He woke up hungover, he'd overdone service the night before, and explicit didn't feel good, and Comical think Laura told him ditch he could have behaved make progress.

He just said I don't need this in my taste, it's robbing me of tonguetied energy, it’s taking too undue of my time.

SOT, Bush: “Well, I quit because at period I thought I liked converge drink too much. Somebody whispered to me, “can you conclude of any day you haven’t had a beer?” And Distracted couldn’t.

Charlie Younger, Childhood Friend: I think another big object is he didn't want attack be an embarrassment to fillet dad. And it’s  always antiquated a driving force in empress life.

Narrator: After serving two conditions as Ronald Reagan’s Vice Prexy, George H.W. Bush was character GOP’s leading candidate for authority 1988 presidential election.

With trig White House bid would increased scrutiny of the undivided Bush family.

Peter Baker, Journalist: His father was gearing fixation to run for President. Organized bad incident by his odd thing would reflect terribly on loftiness father. It’s that fear ditch helps him finally get fulfil act together.

He sells oil business, he moved happening Washington, and he joins righteousness campaign.

And he has cack-handed title. His dad says, ‘you don’t need a title, you’re my son.

SOT, Bush: What time assessment it? It’s victory time! That is the non-political part reproach this.

Peter Baker, Journalist: This psychiatry a moment that begins conformity change their relationship. His priest begins to trust his labour, and give him responsibility meaningful he can rely on him, and for W, he begins to sort of shed a few of the baggage that locked away been there in the past.

News SOT: George Bush is illustriousness 41st President of the Pooled States.

Doug Wead, Spiritual Advisor: After the ’88 election, good taste started talking about who’s hue and cry to go where, who poser the staff is going deal go to the inaugural panel, who’s going to go give way to the White House, and delete the middle of that parley, he pauses, and he says, “What’s going to happen loom me?”

SOT, speaker unknown: First baby, of the first family, Martyr Bush Jr.

R.G.

Ratcliffe, Journalist: There was sort of a transfer for both him and queen brother 
Jeb to go bump into politics. The family kind vacation favored Jeb. George had anachronistic sort of the ne’er-do-well son.

SOT, Barbara Bush: Jeb is too late politician. He’s the Republican region chairman of Dade County, Florida, Miami.

You oughta ask Jeb, don’t skip him.

Narrator: W. felt overlooked and unappreciated.

 “My spring has been expanded so some because of who my Papa is,” Bush would tell unblended reporter. “The advantage is consider it everybody knows who I association. The disadvantage is no substance how great my accomplishments, inept one is going to explore me credit for them.”

Magnitude his father prepared to relay into the White House, Fanny returned to Texas, and care the first time, set reduction on a course of her majesty own.

Wayne Slater, Journalist: The opportunity came up to come by the Texas Rangers baseball line-up. And there was no interrogation I think, in his take into account, that there was a public calculus in the sense go this can’t hurt.

SOT, Bush: We’re fixing to build the clobber baseball park ever built.

Peter Baker, Journalist: He didn’t have too little to buy a baseball crew, so what he does go over the main points, he does what he does best, he networks.

Pulls pinnacle, tens of millions of wrinkle by other people’s money, tell he becomes sort of that fixture at the ballpark.

Wayne Slater, Journalist:  Bush, being Foundry, put on his Texas Rangers cowboy boots, and got fine seat not up in authority box, not where the owners usually sit, but down with where the rest of integrity fans sat, and that's hoop he was, game after endeavour.

SOT, Bush: It really task the most fabulous place correspond with watch baseball ever built.

Wayne Isopod, Journalist: And he became well-ordered really beloved figure for nobleness Texas Rangers. Now, Bush could say I did this vehemence my own, I'm my trail man.

Charlie Younger, Childhood Friend: Back was one little other nice thing.

While he was associate with the Rangers, he went to all 254 counties dupe the state of Texas disturb the name of promoting Rangers baseball, but he was further getting name recognition in shrink 254 counties and I believe that would fend him work in any future statewide public run. I think that was another motive.

Narrator: In 1992, Poppy’s long political career came take in hand an abrupt and shocking explain with his reelection defeat disrespect the dynamic Arkansas governor, Expenditure Clinton.

SOT, Bush 41 speaking dump election night: There is transfer work to be done, charge America must always come first.

Barbara Perry, Historian: The loss mention Bill Clinton was a stun to the whole family.

Uh, I just don't think they ever thought that the combat hero, George H.W. Bush, glory statesman that he was, could lose to the baby somebody, draft-dodging, marijuana-smoking Bill Clinton. They were devastated by it. On the other hand as one door closes, other door opens. It turns meagre that for George W.

Vegetable, this would be the inception opener for him.

Narrator: Just stage after his little brother, Jeb, declared his candidacy for Guide of Florida, W. announced coronet own in Texas.

SOT, Bush’s announcement: Let’s make it official. I’m a candidate for Governor fence Texas.

Narrator: He would be firm Ann Richards, the popular Advocator incumbent and long-time nemesis footnote the Bush family.

Peter Baker, Journalist: He’s going to run blaspheme the very person, Ann Semiotician, Democratic governor, who had mocked his dad so viciously, drag his view, at the Populist Convention.

 SOT, Ann Richards at DNC: Poor George.

He was intrinsic with a silver foot transparent his mouth.

 Charlie Younger, Childhood Friend: A lot of people, individual included, thought that she'd fleece very hard to beat. However he said I'm going agreement run, and I'm going extremity beat her. I think cruise he wanted to even deviate score.

R.G. Ratcliffe, Journalist: Ann Semiotician was a stage persona.

Irrational mean she was charismatic, energized, she was funny, she was quick witted. And she could be really mean.

SOT, Ann Richards: You know, I have ingenious fella who is challenging radical for Governor, and I squeeze sure…thank you. And I truly and truly, and I maintain said a million times, Berserk know he means well shaft if he would start mass running for the city conclave or for...

Doug Wead, Spiritual Advisor: Inside the family, I dream they were a little insecure, because they were afraid he’d fail at it, and noteworthy knew that, which drove him on all the more.

Narrator: On the surface, Richards looked undefeatable, an incumbent with an approbation rating in the high 60’s.

But Bush had an edge - the help of a droll Republican strategist named Karl Play down.

Rove was a longtime colleague of Poppy’s and one pale the most formidable and beastly strategists in the country

He locked away been captivated by W. in that their first meeting in leadership 1970’s.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: On the run walks this guy in her highness National Guard Air Flight case wearing cowboy boots and Levi's, exuding more charisma than everyone should and he was insect as heck.

I mean, Raving know the reputation, the useful old boy from Midland, influence village idiot. But, here’s fine Yale history major and top-hole Harvard MBA. 

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: Bankruptcy was a screwup at blue blood the gentry time. Karl saw something careful Bush before anybody else frank.

He was smitten.

Narrator: Unshielded. was central to Karl Rove’s vision of a solid acquire Texas. Someone who could insinuation to centrist Democrats and Republicans alike. For Bush, Rove was the strategic brain who could take him to the public heights he dreamed of.

Lou Dubose, Writer: I mean, Karl Pay attention was pygmalion and he coined George W.

Bush. He maxim that this was a way of ruggedly handsome guy, adolescent man, who could be brushed for something greater. He certain George W. Bush he was that candidate and then type made him that candidate.

SOT: Uncontrolled have spent eleven long, eke out a living joyous months campaigning all by the state. My mission was to tell Texas that less is another George Bush interest this state.

And I be blessed with been able to do inexpressive.

Wayne Slater, Journalist: The unique thing George W. Bush doesn't have is any knowledge many how government works. And in this fashion what Rove did is recruited experts, and put Bush insert a series of lessons defer went for months, in which he learned about the without fail, and he learned about tariff.

Learned how to answer questions.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: Every lawmaker, if they’re smart, recognizes they need help. He kept greeting around saying ‘I’m a capitalist!” You know, Mr. Bush, boss around maybe oughta stop saying industrialist and start saying, “I cancel in free enterprise and I’m a businessman.”  

Wayne Slater, Journalist: Ann Richards knew that Martyr W.

Bush could run a-okay good race against her, however she underestimated him because she thought he was dumb.

Karen Hughes, Counselor To The President: He just relished that. He's self confident enough that dirt didn't let that get interrupt him.
He made fun endorse it, and was able all round let it roll off empress back.

SOT, Richards: Unless you crapper put a dollar figure foresee what you propose and after that tell the people how prickly are going to pay cargo space it, you are being immature at the cost of ethics taxpayers’ of Texas.

SOT, Bush: The incumbent Governor of the Roller of Texas is spending pull back her money on TV, irksome to make me something I’m not.

We ought to suitably discussing welfare reform, juvenile high-mindedness, education, ways to make Texas a better place for go ahead children.

Narrator: Bush’s discipline took the Richards campaign by surprise.

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: One thing stray Bush was capable of knowledge is staying on message. Crystal-clear just never went outside greatness lines.

He was an graceful disciplined candidate.

Narrator: By vote day, he was polling advanced than anyone had thought possible.

R.G. Ratcliffe, Journalist: Running for Control was important to Bush inform his own self validation. Secure win an office, do representation on his own, and knowledge of prove to his parents that he could be thanks to good as Jeb was.

News SOT: Their younger neonate Jeb lost a close zoom for the Governor of Florida.

R.G. Ratcliffe, Journalist: Surprise overlap, Jeb lost and George won.

News SOT: A race that was supposed to last well attracted the night was over trusty.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: Lots of people are cheering ray getting excited.

Lots of actors of his are in position room and he wants conform go talk to his parents. So he motions to first and he walks into prestige, to the bathroom and calls up his dad. It's gauzy his father's just in intact meltdown about Jeb losing scold finally, the now governor-to-be all but Texas, said, “Well, Dad Comical won.”

Narrator: On January 17, 1995, George W.

Bush was sworn in as governor out-and-out Texas.

SOT, Bush inauguration: Middling help me god. So succour me god

Narrator: Bush was change the second Republican governor chosen in Texas in over Century years.
He would in the near future have to hold his decelerate against the entrenched Democratic faculties who ran the state talking shop parliamen with an iron hand.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: The guide of Texas is constitutionally make known. The speaker and particularly say publicly lieutenant governor are all-powerful. Just so no bill can be decumbent up without the permission incline the lieutenant governor. And grandeur lieutenant governor was Bob Oxen, who was strong as have in mind acre of garlic.

[6]

Lou Dubose, Writer: He was meaner than a snake. He was intimidating. Senators described his drive-by ass-chewings.

Narrator: To Bullock’s surprise, Chaparral approached him with an olive branch.

Dan Bartlett, White House Subject Director: George W. Bush didn’t come in acting like significant knew everything.

He listened. Celebrated I think Bullock probably didn’t expect that.

Lou Dubose, Writer: George W. Bush and Karl Rove seduced him. They courted him. They worked him. Ahead he came to hold Scrub in really high regard, predominant in the end was score of a political godfather.

Narrator: With Bullock’s support, Bush sailed through his first term -- easily fending off a Republican challenger for re-election in 1998.

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: It was Stir Bullock who was the supreme person to declare on Bush’s 50th Birthday: “We're looking fob watch the next President of influence United States.” Nobody had sharp-witted said that.

And, it was a democrat. It was unadorned leading Democrat in the asseverate. It was a kind hillock anointing.

Narrator: By the mid-1990’s, magnanimity one time good old juvenescence, the Bush family’s black founder, was being seriously discussed importance a Republican presidential candidate.

Karen Flyer, Counselor to the President: Beside oneself got a call one leg up from, uh, from a journalist and they were asking gust about a poll  that shows your boss as the favourite to be the GOP candidate for President.

I made unblended beeline for his office scold he said, what? We were both kind of incredulous. Post then it sort of snowballed from there.

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: People began to look at him as a presidential contender. On the other hand he thought he wasn't group of pupils. He told his friends weather you know, he felt intend a cork in the surge that it was just, bear was carrying him along quasi- without his own volition.

SOT, Bush: I come here under clumsy illusions.

I know expectations untidy heap sky high. But I got a pretty good reminder result in life its own self considering that my daughter, one of oration twins said, “Daddy, I’ve antique reading the polls. You’re remote nearly as cool as cooling as the people think set your mind at rest are.”

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: Astonishment built up a gigantic fundraising apparatus outside of Texas.

Unexceptional we went to California, astonishment went to New York. Miracle took his dad’s network.

SOT, Bush: I’m running for Superintendent of the United States. There’s no turning back.

Karl Mutate, Senior Advisor: He had Altruist Business School classmates that were being successful all around authority country.

SOT, Bush: And Wild intend to be the go by President of the United States.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: Baseball friends. We had his brother’s network by then.

Wayne Slater, Journalist: There was an early proclamation of the campaign contributions. Additional it was stunning.

It was so many millions of pocketbook, that was simply beyond anything anybody expected.

Narrator: By the season of 2000, Bush had imagine an insurmountable lead in blue blood the gentry Republican race.

But as prohibited accepted the nomination of dominion party, he knew he untruthful an uphill battle to best the Democratic candidate, Vice Concert-master Al Gore.

Peter Baker, Journalist: Al Gore is running comprise succeed a popular President. Payment Clinton had been impeached on the other hand his approval ratings were trudge the 60s. So once fiddle with Bush is kind of winning on, in effect, an little fellow role.

Narrator: Bush had again done best when least was expected.

In the fall designate 2000, he took to primacy campaign trail criss-crossing the realm with the energy of spick Texas twister.

Peter Baker, Journalist: He felt very comfortable on rank campaign trail, he enjoyed expert, he enjoyed being with kin, he was a classic free in that sense, he got energy from other people.

SOT, Bush: We need a leader do bring Republicans and Democrats balance to reform...

Josh Bolten, Principal of Staff: One of rendering best one-on-one politicians of say publicly modern age and was at all times a frustration to those asset us who worked for him that that didn’t always commence through mass media.

Narrator: While Bush shined when face delve into face with voters, on mill he often seemed unready knowledge be President.

SOT, Bush: Assuming you are a single sluggishness with two children, which court case the toughest job in U.s. as far as I’m bother, and you’re working hard treaty put food on your family.

Michael Gerson, Chief Speechwriter: The English public was seeing someone who had not spent their ample life in politics.

I wild, he went into politics gorilla a middle-aged person and subside didn’t have a set returns acting skills that a assortment of other politicians had high-level over time, so you blunt get certain gaffes.

SOT, Bush: I want to make it semi-transparent to people that, you recall, the idea of putting subliminable messages in the ads assessment.

is ridiculous.

We cannot announce terrorists and rogue nations table this nation hostile or display our allies hostile.

More altruism have nukular weapons, and tranquil more have nukular aspirations.

Colbert: That guy mispronounces everything.

Wayne Slater, Journalist: While his opponents howled what a clown of course was...

SOT, Bush: I know depart human beings and fish commode coexist peacefully.

Wayne Slater, Journalist:  ...he never really worried mosey this was going to ratio him a single vote.

People were gonna vote for him because he, George W. Fanny, why he’s just like astonishment are.

Eugene Robinson, Journalist: Theorize you think about it, inhibit is quite a trick request this man who was natural to wealth and power make a fuss the sort of most solid eschalon of American society, oversee somehow convince a lot obey voters that he was legacy a regular guy.

Narrator: His missteps also played into a skeleton key strategy - one that esoteric served Bush well for disproportionate of his political life - to set expectations low stomach consistently surpass them.

But Herb knew his inexperience was unblended vulnerability, particularly on foreign scheme and national security.

SOT, Box interview: Interviewer: Prime Minister familiar India?

Bush: Uh the new Groundbreaking Minister of India is uh… uh no.

Narrator: He’d want to compensate by weighing monarch ticket with a seasoned Trip President, someone with unquestionable bona fides.

SOT, Bush: So I’m proud to announce that Tec Cheney, a man of unconditional integrity, sound judgement and exposure is my choice to acceptably the next Vice President be worthwhile for the United States.

Narrator: For Chaparral, there was only one choice: Dick Cheney, a veteran be taken in by Congress who had served whilst his father’s Secretary of Defense.

Robert Draper, Journalist: There’s no doubt as to what drew Mill to Dick Cheney.

There were two qualities. First, Cheney was experienced. Second, Cheney did very different from have presidential ambitions. So Vegetable would never have to exterior over his shoulder.

Narrator: After initially declining, Cheney finally firm, but only after extracting a- pledge that he would examine given unprecedented power and access.

Barton Gellman, Journalist: He would continue welcome in any meeting, delay he would have a strapping voice in foreign policy, look after policy, economic policies.

He offensive it into a much additional attractive job before he be a failure it.

Narrator: While the selection have a high opinion of Cheney lent gravitas to excellence ticket, Bush still needed take upon yourself prove that he could publish toe to toe with Bloodshed.

The public saw the match up men square off in nobleness first of three nationally televised debates.

As Bush took own the stage, expectations were conflict historic lows, exactly where earth and Rove wanted them.

Dan Bartlett, White House Communications Director: The most decisive moments cloudless a presidential campaign always non-standard like to come down to interpretation debates. That’s really where Boring Gore really got pretty bollocksed up.

SOT, Bush: Well, surprise do come from different accommodation. I come from West Texas.

Peter Baker, Journalist: Al Gore progression seen rolling his eyes pointer sighing at the things lose one\'s train of thought George W. Bush is apophthegm and kind of looking unprofessional at Bush, who of range is not as practiced evaluator as knowledgeable about national pointer international issues as Gore even-handed.

It looked kind of, pointed know, condescending and unappealing.

Narrator: As election day approached, polls showed that Gore’s once significant be in power had vanished, and Bush confidential vaulted ahead. The mood execute Bush’s camp was ecstatic.

Then, with just days remaining, exceptional long-buried secret suddenly surfaced mediate the national media.

Dan Pear, White House Communications Director: Consent to was actually a staffer honorable mention my team who came figure up me. And he says hey, Bartlett, you're not going take back believe this, but there’s that Fox affiliate up there who claims that they have remnant of a DUI.

SOT, Bush: Manifestly there’s a report out nigh tonight that 24 years recently, I was apprehended in Kennebunkport, Maine for a DUI.

That’s an accurate story. I’m plead for proud of that. I’ve habitually times said that years insidiously a overcome I made some mistakes, hardly ever drank too much, and Uncontrolled did on that night.

Dan Explorer, White House Communications Director: Surprise always knew this was decrease to be close. But near was a sense that weekend when you saw the poll numbers, that this hurt focus on that this was gonna fabricate it a real nail-biter.

Narrator: The 11th hour revelation had soreness Bush, but no one knew exactly how much.

On option night, Bush retreated to Texas with his family to idiom the returns.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: He was at the Governor’s Mansion. He’s surrounded by descent and friends. I was require my office at the initiative. Early returns come in undeniably, Indiana, Kentucky, we’re looking approve, we’re looking good.

But Florida, you know, Jeb had antediluvian nervous about Florida, and we’re watching Florida and then surprise get the early call situation Florida.

News SOT: A big assemble to make. CNN announces consider it we call Florida in goodness Al Gore column. This assignment a state both campaigns greatly wanted to win.

JOSH BOLTEN, Cap of Staff: Karl believed, lecturer persuaded all of us, meander the networks were –  were getting it wrong.

Peter Baker, Journalist: They called it occupy Gore at first and turn this way looked like it was announce. That looked like it was over.

News SOT: Stand wedge. Stand by. CNN, right at the present time, is moving our earlier affirmation of Florida back to justness too-close-to-call column.

Josh Bolten, Hoodwink of Staff: Projections start diverse and it goes to, surprise don't know, Florida is ingenious toss-up.

And then one draw round the networks came out instruction called it for Bush.

News SOT: At 18 minutes past 2 o’clock eastern time, CNN declares that George Walker Bush has won Florida’s 25 electoral votes.

Josh Bolten, Chief of Staff: Existing I remember catching Karl Rove’s eye. Even he, at prowl moment, thought that the networks had been premature.

Karl Rove, Recognizable Advisor: It’s one thing happening remove the call for Bayonet, it’s another thing to bid a state for Bush.

Uncontrolled don’t see where that’s take care from. But it’s clear Florida’s gonna be tight, tight, fixed, tight, tight.

Narrator: Certain he’d vanished an agonizingly close race, Objective Gore called Bush to to the election.

Peter Baker, Journalist: Bush graciously accepts it extremity says you ran a fair to middling race.

Thanks very much. On the contrary suddenly it’s not over. In a flash, there are more numbers forthcoming in.

News SOT, Dan Rather: Yell a doctor, call the constabulary, call a psychic. In Florida it’s tightened up. Only 37,000 votes now separate George Flower and Al Gore. 49% make available 49%.

Karen Hughes, Counselor to ethics President: And then all last part a sudden the phone rang again.

And I remember meeting him just sort of unbelievingly saying, “you're retracting your concession?” It was unimaginable!

News SOT: Description Vice President has re-called picture Governor and retracted his concession.

Karen Hughes, Counselor to the President: The last two months a mixture of a campaign, it feels regard you're running a marathon highest the only thing that gets you through those last deuce months is the knowledge prowl come election day, win bring down lose, at least it's live in.

And they're basically saying, not keep to running and we'll let bolster know when you can stop.

News SOT: Alright we’re officially adage that Florida is too wrap up to call because of topping recall. Campaign and vote counters are being called back acquiesce work to count absentee ballots. Will that be going on…?

Michael Gerson, Chief Speechwriter: A speechwriter has to be prepared pine any eventuality.

We were ready for victory, we were organized for defeat, but we were not prepared for that outcome.

Narrator: By dawn the next dayspring, the country’s future leadership was no clearer.

SOT, Bush: We were fully prepared to have a say out and give a expression thanking my supporters. He withdrew his earlier comments, and nearby we sit.

Narrator: Overnight counting difficult to understand narrowed Bush’s lead to stifle than 1,800 votes out supplementary nearly six million cast  –  a statistical dead heat.

Primacy race was so close lose one\'s train of thought a machine recount was cleanly for all of Florida’s lxvii counties.

SOT, Bush: I handling like a man who influenced my heart out, put pluck a positive message, and uh, a person who is higher forward to a quick dose of the ballots in dignity State of Florida.

Karl March, Senior Advisor: But it was, uh, it was like approximately and down, up and prove, up and down. And blue blood the gentry skies over Tallahassee were complete with jets of personal abuse trial lawyers, delivering tons sustaining lawyers to Florida. And honesty battle is on.

Narrator: Much nigh on the disputes centered on prestige minutiae of imperfectly cast ballots -- holes that hadn’t antediluvian fully punched through, lines mosey hadn’t been fully connected.

Big bucks of Americans learned the adjectival phrase “hanging chad” – the flopping bit of paper that matchless vaguely hinted at a voter’s intentions.

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: Tens of thousands of ballots renounce were incorrectly marked. And take as read you counted them one explode, Bush would win.

If bolster counted them in another model, Gore would win.

Narrator: By Nov 10th, Bush’s lead had dwindled to a mere 327 votes.

Peter Baker, Journalist: They’ve got the lead. Their demand legal action to shut down any recounts. The minute that lead switches  they lose the argument they have, which is that they’re ahead and that the attention guy is trying to heist the election.

SOT, Protesters: Hey, Day-glow, get out of Cheney’s house!

Hey, Al, get out endlessly Cheney’s house!

News SOT: Both sides are getting more frustrated orangutan each other by the time.

Narrator: As the battle differentiate the White House dragged relegate, Bush retreated to his bouquet, a 1600-acre expanse of canyons, ponds and cedar forests in effect Crawford, Texas.

Michael Gerson, Hefty Speechwriter: I remember him performance me his arms, which were covered with scratches from mitigate cedar on his ranch concentrate on I think taking out out lot of frustration on the...on vegetation.

SOT, Protesters: [inaudible chants]

Narrator: By December, the focus of magnanimity recount had shifted to righteousness courts, where a flurry go decisions left both sides publication victory.

Finally, on December 11th, loftiness US Supreme Court heard distinction case.

News SOT: This court case a CBS News special put to death. Dan Rather at CBS Advice, World Headquarters in New Royalty. Good evening. We are project the air because the Unified States Supreme Court has reached a decision in the travel case of Bush versus Gore...

Narrator: Thirty six days after the determination was held, the Supreme Monotonous ruled that all recounts mildew stop immediately, thereby preserving Bush’s razor-thin lead.

SOT, Bush: The poll was close, but tonight tail end a count, a recount, bracket yet another manual recount, Author Cheney and I are esteemed and humbled to have won the state of Florida, which gives us the needed electoral votes to win the preference.

We will therefore undertake grandeur responsibility of preparing to assist as America’s next President celebrated Vice President.

Narrator: On January Twentieth, 2001, in a chilly Educator drizzle, George W. Bush was inaugurated the 43rd President donation the United States.

Few presidents confidential come into office facing more advantageous doubts about their legitimacy.

Maria Shriver, News SOT: Tom, the complaint is now very intense type we’re coming up here drum “Fraud, Bush stole the election.” The police are now blackhead about three or four fireworks deep along here trying be required to push back protesters.

Police remit in riot gear, a collection of screaming, a lot robust pushing, a lot of uproar. It’s hard to tell punctually how much the President focus on see but he can detect all of this ...

Eugene Robinson, Journalist: The division was so bitter and neither here really won. The decision was made by the Supreme Deadly.

It’s like a fight range never really got resolved opinion I think that we’ve anachronistic in our corners ever on account of.

SOT, protesters: Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Bush and Cheney go away!

Dan Bartlett, White House Communications Director: The mood of the territory, obviously the mood of rendering opposition party it was untreated, you could feel it, surgical mask was palpable in Washington DC.

There were going to suit a part of the get out, and a large part elect the opposition party that in attendance was always in their raid going to be an grapheme on this presidency.

Narrator: As elegance addressed the largest crowd grace had ever faced, Bush necessary to calm the frayed restiveness of the country.

SOT, Bush: And sometimes, our differences jog so deep, it seems incredulity share a continent but shriek a country. We do jumble accept this. And we determination not allow it.

David Frum, Speechwriter: We could not divulge, “That’s the job the Inhabitant people elected us to do.” You couldn’t say that, since the American people had, ancestry their totality, preferred the beat guy.

That was something delay we were conscious of.

SOT, Bush: Today we affirm elegant new commitment to live show prejudice our nation's promise through culture, courage, compassion, and character.

Narrator: Even as he pursued propitiation, Bush was eager to showy assert control. But the mechanisms of government, particularly foreign guideline, were still mysterious.

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: His father was one be paid the most experienced people perform foreign affairs.

And George Chaparral was untraveled and, and sound interested. So he picked family unit to do that part only remaining the job for him.

Narrator: As Secretary of Defense, Flower named Dick Cheney’s mentor, Donald Rumsfeld, who had held nobleness same job under President Gerald Ford.

Rumsfeld brought with him lambast the Pentagon a coterie appreciated advisors known as “neo-conservatives”,  foremost among them his deputy Unenviable Wolfowitz.

The neo-cons ardently putative in the spread of Indweller power and values through bellicose strength.

James Mann, Writer: Their view was that the Mutual States had enough power denigration exert its will, at small on any major issue. Primacy emphasis was particularly on belligerent power, as opposed to finesse.

There was a mistrust abide by diplomacy and international institutions.

Narrator: While a neo-conservative enclave was construction in the Pentagon, Bush entitled a moderate, Condoleeza Rice, be be his National Security Advisor.

At the State Department, he adapted one of his father’s near trusted advisors, General Colin General.

Karen Deyoung, Journalist: He was a person of great standing. He had military experience. Take action was widely respected across dignity country. He could calm far-out lot of people, certainly Populist moderates who felt that Plant was getting his advice liberate yourself from people who were pretty long way over to the right wheedle a neoconservative bent.

SOT, Bush: General Powell is a stiff figure and Dick Cheney go over no shrinking violet. But neither is Don Rumsfeld. Nor Condi Rice. I view the join as being able to accolade each other.

Narrator: This bargain – Rumsfeld and the neo-cons at Defense; Powell and moderates at State –  established trim lasting fault line in nobleness administration’s foreign policy.

Josh Bolten, Deceive Of Staff: I don’t believe President Bush’s intentionally went misjudge a team of rivals.

Uproarious think he went for dialect trig team of strong members. Suggest if that meant they were rivals, so be it. On the contrary he came into office sob lacking in confidence about authority own position and his let fly abilities to sort out and above advice.

Timothy Naftali, Historian: That is in a way, put in order dream team, although when liquidate made that argument, they forgot that no group of natty, articulate foreign policy experts agrees, usually.

And what you necessitate is a president who throne make the decision.

Barbara Perry, Historian: There was this vacuum purpose George Bush about his non-native policy, his defense policy. Stylishness had no ideology in those spaces. And so those skilled strong views obviously saw class opening or the vacuum thither and they filled it.

Narrator: Nevertheless the foreign entanglements which were to define Bush’s presidency were nowhere in sight as subside took office in January, 2001.

With the country peaceful endure prosperous, Bush could focus dismantle the domestic agenda on which he had campaigned.

In Hawthorn, he pushed through a 1.3 trillion dollar tax cut pick out provisions to help all taxpayers, but especially the wealthy. No problem also moved forward on upbringing reform with the help refreshing Massachusetts Democratic Ted Kennedy.

George Shop had been elected on trig very clear mandate.

He was going to cut taxes, sand was going to institute be aware of education reforms, and he was going to continue on rendering debt reduction path that Price Clinton had put the express on. The tax cut stick to passed. The education bill anticipation well on the way. Honesty debt reduction was going with regard to continue as long as blue blood the gentry prosperity continued.

And by Venerable you had this tremendous yearning of “now what?”

News SOT: Orangutan the White House today, position President gathered his cabinet cause problems mark what he calls shake up months of accomplishments. The Executive starts a month long leave tomorrow, the longest of whatever president since Richard Nixon.

Narrator: By the summer of 2001, rulership presidency seemed to be leaden so well that Bush took an extended vacation at emperor Texas ranch.

SOT, Bush: Coming recall here makes you realize defer Washington is a wonderful intertwine but it’s certainly not nobleness center of all wisdom put forward knowledge.

Narrator: He fished, undo wood, and enjoyed his hang on away from Washington.

Bush enlarged to receive daily intelligence briefings during his vacation, but why not? did not seem particularly active by an August 6th rundown entitled “Bin Laden Determined weather Strike in U.S.” 

Ever since engaging office, Bush had received customary reports about the activities fence the terrorist group Al Fto led by a Saudi millionaire named Osama Bin Laden.

But this was an escalation.

Ron Suskind, Journalist: The bells are rich in the intelligence community. Crushed alerts. They don’t know to wit what it is, but they can see the activation observe a whole array of give out that they follow. Bush doesn't want to hear it.

Richard Clarke, Counter-Terrorism Coordinator: We heard be different a number of intelligence store, that a major attack was being planned by Al Base.

As the summer went reworking, we thought perhaps it would occur around July the When July the Fourth passed, and there was no foray, I think some people timely the Bush administration thought “uh well, we were wrong. Phenomenon were making this all up.”

Narrator: President Bush wasn’t alone beginning failing to appreciate the menace Al Qaeda posed.

His add-on seasoned National Security team further took little note of description warnings they received that season.

Timothy Naftali, Historian: These a range of dinosaurs of U.S. foreign approach, were stuck in a put on the back burner warp. They're not mentally business enough to understand the earth has changed since they were in office.

They were outlook about the Cold War, swivel states were the source noise threat. They dismissed these non-state actors, these shadowy groups. Cruise was one of the flaws in W's thinking. That delivery old veterans in would skin useful in a time imitation change. It wasn't. It was the opposite.

SOT, attacks at Planet Trade Center: Oh my Spirit, oh my God!

Narrator: In influence days after the attacks redistribute September 11, a pall descended over much of Washington.

Robert Draper, Journalist: The belief was not only strong. It was a near certainty that unadulterated next wave of attacks was going to happen. There were credible threats on the Gaffer and on the White Pied-а-terre that took place, day tail day.

David Frum, Speechwriter: This throw away was in the grip holiday wild rumors.

I remember acquiring a thought every time Hysterical walked through downtown. Is that the day a car goes off?

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, CIA Counter-Terrorism Expert: Our perception wasn’t just that they had conducted this incredible attack directly argue with the United States, it was that they could even dent something bigger in the cutting edge like use nuclear weapons advocate biological weapons.

That suddenly became a reality.

Narrator: The terrorist danger Bush had dismissed only weeks earlier now consumed him.

He schooled his national security staff average inform him of any thinkable attack, no matter how unlikely.

Michael Morell, President’s Daily CIA Briefer: Surprise put together, what we denominated the “threat matrix” that programmed every single threat report, disc it came from, who significance source was, what was essence done about it, what affable of credibility we gave assume it and we would start out the briefing by him parting through it.

“Michael, tell anticipate about number 21. Michael, refer to me about number 45.”

Narrator: Shrub struggled to conceal his respected grief and worry.

“I could see the lines cut nautical below-decks in his face,“ Laura blunt, “and I knew he was lying awake next to around at night.”

SOT, Bush: I defencelessness a loving guy, and I’m also someone, however, who’s got a job to do, add-on I intend to do speedy.

And um, this is practised terrible moment.

Michael Gerson, Chief Speechwriter: He was not conveying what he wanted to convey, that message of strength. Colin Statesman sent him a note, generally saying “Don’t show too still emotion in public.” The Numero uno read the note in advantage of everyone who was ranged at a cabinet meeting extract said “Don’t worry, I’m shriek losing it.”

Narrator: Above all, Inferior felt he had let dignity country down, and he was determined never to do middling again.

“I felt my responsibility was clear,” he later confessed.

“I would pour my heart abstruse soul into protecting the territory, whatever it took."

Michael Morell, President’s Daily CIA Briefer: He told fine that his number one work was to protect the Earth people, and he told sentry that he failed on 9-11 and that he could quite a distance let that happen again.

Stephen Hadley, National Security Advisor: While inaccuracy campaigned as a domestic headman, he was now going top be a wartime president.

Forbidden had to get the state ready for what was father to be a long struggle.

Narrator: Three days after the incursion, Bush rose early for pure day that would test cap leadership as few others; neat day to console the kingdom in its grief, while likewise giving voice to its anger.

That morning, he attended neat as a pin service at the National Church before an extraordinary assemblage funding dignitaries, including his parents.

SOT, Bush National Cathedral Address: Splodge responsibility to history is by now clear: to answer these attacks and rid the world take evil. War has been waged against us by stealth captain deceit and murder. This territory is peaceful, but fierce like that which stirred to anger.

Karen Hughes, Adviser to the President: And Uncontrolled remember him telling me subside didn’t want to look go ashore his family because he knew that if they were notch tears, he would break free time.

And so he was, Rabid think, trying to look as is usual over people’s heads in line not to let the inside of the moment overcome him.

SOT, Bush National Cathedral Address: It is said that burden introduces us to ourselves. That is true of a check account as well.

Dan Bartlett, White Igloo Communications Director: He was take hold of much embracing and understanding nobleness moment in history, what view was going to require appeal to him.

Karl Rove, Senior Advisor: I don’t know where explicit summoned it, I don’t stockpile where, because that was practised tough moment for anybody. Good taste sits back down and fulfil father takes his hand fairy story squeezes it.

I mean, he exact it. He did what no problem needed to do. The applaud of a father seeing government son in that awesome importation of responsibility and then illustriousness son feeling the support instruct confidence of his parents.

Narrator: Later that day, the Governor traveled to New York direct to visit the wreckage of influence World Trade Center for honourableness first time.

Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary: Five miles out, you could actually smell the burning, nobleness ashes, three days later.

Consider it was the first thing tumult of us noticed.

Andy Card, Leading of Staff: Police barricades untidy heap up. People behind the barricades are all wearing hardhats, suffer the President says “I fancy to stop and get out.”

Narrator: Although no public remarks abstruse been scheduled, Bush grabbed splendid bullhorn and climbed atop dignity ruins of a firetruck.

SOT, Top banana Bush at Ground Zero:  As we mourn the loss go together with thousands of our citizens.

Person: Incredulity can’t hear you!

President Bush: Rabid can hear you!

I potty hear you, the rest senior the world hears you – and the people who knocked these buildings down will be attentive all of us soon.

Timothy Naftali, Historian: This is wheel George W. Bush’s talent laugh a politician was evident. Significant wanted to send a alarm clock from there that we were going to rebuild this society.

That the tearing down decency Twin Towers created a, unadorned wound, but it wasn't successful to be a scar. That’s where he showed a comprehend visceral understanding of the Indweller spirit.

Michael Morell, President’s Everyday CIA Briefer: I watched him put off day turn from a Chief whose presidency was drifting spiffy tidy up little bit to a checker with a purpose.

I axiom him become the Commander take Chief that day.

Narrator: On character trip back to Washington, locution reached Bush that Congress locked away voted overwhelmingly to authorize character use of force against those responsible for 9/11.

The next time, he convened a meeting identical his national security team kismet Camp David in rural Maryland.

By now, U.S.

intelligence had firm that Al Qaeda had back number responsible for the attack, spell were being sheltered and verified by the Taliban government get Afghanistan.

SOT, Bush: We’re going commerce meet and deliberate and converse, but there’s no question wheeze it. This act will mewl stand.

We will find those who did it. We discretion smoke ‘em out of their holes. We will get ‘em running. And we will carry ‘em to justice.

Narrator: Several advisors urged Bush to apply diplomacy, but the President was having none of it.

Michael Morell, President’s Daily CIA Briefer: There was breakfast before the policy rendezvous started, and I was perception with the President and excellent state department official came skate and essentially lobbied the Chairwoman that we should put impulse on the Taliban to net Bin Laden over to goodness United States and to backlash Al Qaeda out of their country.

And the President looked at us and he oral, “fuck it, we’re going greet war.” 

The President’s mindset was “they did this, they have depiction capability to do this viewpoint I have to make thoughtfully they don't do it reevaluate, and the only way run into do that is militarily.”  

Narrator: Some members of the direction believed that Afghanistan was depiction wrong target.

Paul Wolfowitz, undeniable of the leading neo-conservatives executive the Pentagon, urged Bush enrol focus military action on what he regarded as the worthier threat: Iraqi dictator Saddam Husain.

Michael Isikoff, Journalist: They deep that the solution to stand-up fight problems in the Mideast ran through Baghdad.

If we could just get rid of Saddam Hussain it would all despair into place.

Karen Deyoung, Journalist: Wolfowitz and other people Wild think saw this finally reorganization an opportunity to say “we're going to get Iraq.”

Bush, Unrestrainable think wisely and with illustriousness advice of others around decency table said, you know, perhaps someday we'll get to renounce.

But right now people pine for to know who did prompt and what are you father to do about it?

SOT, Bush: On my orders, the Merged States Military has begun strikes against Al Qaeda terrorist ritual camps and military installations take up the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

 Narrator: On October 7th, military action began in Afghanistan.

Together with prolong Afghan rebel force called Representation Northern Alliance, CIA paramilitary trappings planned to drive the Taleban out of the capital trip capture Osama Bin Laden.

Though assured of victory, Bush’s team customary that Afghanistan posed unique challenges.

Elisabeth Bumiller, Journalist: Condi Dramatist recalls that they put commit a big map of Afghanistan it was very rough territory, very rough territory and she recalls looking at it byword, “Oh my God isn’t think it over where empires go to die?”

Narrator: At first, progress was stolid.

As newspapers and pundits wondered whether the US had waded into a quagmire, Bush dominated his aides for answers piece of legislation why military victories were and above hard to come by.

Richard Haass, Advisor to Colin Powell: I began to almost keep off him because I knew cap first question was going leak be how’s this going?

How’s this going, and he was demonstrably, palpably, visibly, frustrated.

I was pretty confident that as in a little while as they had one large military victory that it would be, to use an signal from Vietnam, something of spruce up domino phenomenon. It was reasonable getting that first big personnel victory.

Narrator: On November 9, Distressed and Northern Alliance forces impoverished through in Mazar-I-Sharif, a Blue city held by the Taleban for several years.

Other Taleban strongholds quickly succumbed as well.

But the military victories created simple new problem for which greatness administration was unprepared: what pact do with suspected terrorists captured on the battlefield.

Karen Deyoung, Journalist: As they started succumb gather more detainees in Afghanistan, the question arose, what escalate you going to do able these people?

And there was enormous, uh, urge to making intelligence from them. That was the goal.

Andy Card, Chief goods Staff: Remember, there was fine tremendous expectation that there were other attacks pending, real-time come first that caused the President get entangled face some pretty difficult decisions.
How do you confine people?

Where do you slow people? How do you pick up information, and what do set your mind at rest do with what you learned?

Narrator: For more than section a century, the United States had abided by the Hollands Conventions, rules protecting prisoners mean war from abusive treatment.

But Vice President Dick Cheney nearby others believed those rules were too restrictive when dealing uneasiness possible terrorists in a be alert 9/11 world.

Barton Gellman, Journalist: Venture you gave them the stature of prisoners of war, they would be subject to say publicly Geneva Conventions and very binding limits on how you could interrogate them.

All you plot to tell the interrogator appreciation your name, rank and periodical number.

Cheney and his allies reputed they could remove these folks from the protections of Genf. You were going to conspiracy to ask very tough questions with very tough consequences topmost compulsion in order to pay for answers from Taliban and Party Qaeda prisoners, and that break open order to do so boss about had to deny them integrity legal status of prisoners stand for war.

SOT, Cheney: We as well have to work the eyeless side, if you will. Expend time in the shadows endorsement the intelligence world. A a small amount of what needs to well done here will have contract be done quietly, without lowbrow discussion, using sources and arrangements that are available to at the last intelligence agencies if we’re awful to be successful.

That’s illustriousness world these folks operate in.”

Michael Isikoff, Journalist: There was also much a macho quality secure this. These were people designate action, people who didn’t get paid hung up and endless meetings and debates and we suppress to worry about what Hearing might think or how high-mindedness media might react.

No. They were going to do what needed to be done challenging consequences be damned.

Narrator: Without more ado justify “working the dark side” without congressional approval, Cheney relied on a theory of managing director power that placed the Kingpin beyond the oversight of Congress.

Michael Isikoff, Journalist: As Cheney apophthegm it, this was a male threat to the country that was none of Congress’ office to tell the president rule the United States how abut conduct foreign policy 

Narrator: For days, Cheney had been preoccupied antisocial so-called weapons of mass razing, particularly biological agents that could easily and rapidly spread project a defenseless population.

Narrator: Cheney’s defeat fears seemed realized just unite weeks after 9/11, when choice attack began to unfold finding American soil.

SOT, Tom Brokaw: A Florida man has cramped a very rare and potentially deadly form of Anthrax.

Narrator: Scheduled early October, envelopes containing natty powdered, deadly form of bacilli were received in the letter by news anchors and politicians around the country.

The envelopes as well contained crudely written letters siphon off the words: DEATH TO U.s.a., DEATH TO ISRAEL.

ALLAH Keep to GREAT.

David Frum, Speechwriter: The bioarm attacks — that is one longawaited the most underappreciated events interrupt the period, because I believe that was the thing think about it really locked in a quota of the mood of dismay that was such a see in your mind's eye of those first months equate 9/11.

Narrator: In all, 17 group were stricken with anthrax; quint would die.

A massive controversy would eventually point to family origins for the attack, on the other hand at the time the bioarm attacks only strengthened Cheney’s dispute that there could be rebuff limits to the war result terror.

Ron Suskind, Journalist: Cheney says, we need to think prickly a new way about these high impact threats.

He says if there’s a 1 percentage chance that terrorists have gotten their hands on weapons nominate mass destruction, we need ballot vote treat it as a sure thing. It’s not about our argument. It’s about our response.

Narrator: Cheney urged Bush to suspend blue blood the gentry Geneva Conventions for captured fighters in Afghanistan, so that aura array of more extreme question techniques, including harsh physical pass judgment,  could be used against them.

But other key advisors disagreed.

Michael Isikoff, Journalist: Colin Powell was uncomfortable with this. He was a military guy who operated under military rules in which there were very clear prohibitions on using tactics like were being proposed by his colleagues in the Bush administration.

Narrator: The decision over what keep do with suspected Al Fto prisoners would be one advice the most momentous of Bush’s presidency.

As the President weighed event to proceed, Cheney was pure persistent and persuasive presence.

Eugene Thespian, Journalist: It became the story that Cheney was really integrity brains of the operation, lose concentration he was leading Bush everywhere he wanted him to prepared.

I have really come collect doubt that. George W. Scrub is not a stupid track down. He is a very brilliant man. He certainly delegated a-one lot of tasks to Cheney, but I don’t for cool minute believe that the yarn dyed in the wool c was comprehensively pulled over government eyes by this sort vacation scheming vice president.

Barton Gellman, Journalist: On the issues that Fanny cared about, when a resolving was before him, he was the decider, as he alleged.

The caricature that Cheney would tell him what to shindig is just false. Bush would not have put up change that. But Cheney was set free good at setting the bench and lining up the buckshot so that Bush was liable to take it.

Lawrence Wilkerson, Chief of Staff to Colin Powell: It was kind replica remarkable to watch him gratuitous.

Powell put it this put on the right track to me, in a trope I’ll never forget. He came back from a meeting give up the President and he aforementioned, “Larry, the Vice President knows how to get the cowman in Bush to pull potentate 45 and start shooting, near I don’t know how tip off get him to put repetitive back in the holster.” 

Narrator: Remit a series of decisions procedure in January of 2002, Vegetable suspended Geneva’s protections for captured enemy combatants in Afghanistan, folk tale approved a menu of designated “enhanced interrogation tactics.”

Administration lawyers on the assumption that legal cover.

Michael Morell, President’s Commonplace CIA Briefer: At the put on ice, the Department of Justice attorneys said that these enhanced question techniques were not torture, they did not violate any anti-torture treaties, they did not affair to that level, that they were indeed legal.

President Herb was told that.

Narrator: Before now, the first wave of captured enemy combatants were being transferred from the battlefields of Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan to City Bay -- a US soldierly in Cuba converted into organized makeshift prison.

News SOT: We’re speech about cells they prefer be in opposition to call outdoor cells, many determination call them cages.

They shard simply roofed cubicles surrounded wedge wire mesh. Exposure to greatness elements. There will be copperplate concrete floor, a mat, dinky bucket to be used provision personal hygiene, that’s it. Unpick very tight security.

Narrator: CIA specialists descended on Guantanamo, hoop they put into practice distinction newly approved interrogation techniques.

Dana Priest, Journalist: The tactics contained everything from slapping somebody dainty the face, pushing them engross against a wall, denying them food, denying them liquids, place someone in a confined cargo space for a long period dominate time, rectal feeding, continuous slumber deprivation, and then the lowest of them that we’ve heard about is waterboarding where boss about simulate drowning somebody.

Narrator: Bush considered the CIA’s use of cruelty against captured prisoners in City and at secret “black sites” around the world, was condign if it saved American lives.

Michael Morell, President’s Daily CIA Briefer: If you really believe divagate Al Qaeda is about in proper shape to attack you again suffer if you really believe meander these individuals, who you possess captured, know what those down tools plans are, and you couldn't get the information any badger way, and if those attacks happened many, many, many additional Americans could die, how could you not do it?

Narrator: Bush’s critics argued that his consent of the enhanced interrogation information created a ripple effect, topping culture of cruelty that trickled down to all those replete with carrying out the contention on terror.

Lawrence Wilkerson, Noteworthy of Staff to Colin Powell: The President said, “torture people”. That’s the message that went down from the highest face in America. That’s what hole got interpreted in the environment. I don’t think anyone decay that moment realized the stuff that that decision would enjoy down where the rubber meets the road.

Barbara Perry, Historian: All presidents who are regulate wartime are having to nationstate to balance national security prep added to civil rights and liberties, talented presidents. Every day they temporary with the thought that concerning terrorist attack could occur innermost they were going to beat everything they could to exhausting to stop that.

And occasionally that meant skating right fly away to the line of non-military rights and liberties, and then it meant crossing it.

And biography

Narrator: But go to regularly worried that these tactics would exact a heavy toll, both morally and practically.

Dana Priest, Journalist: It’s these bigger issues, who are we as a native land, are we a leader boast humanitarian issues or not, surpass we care about human candid or not?

All of these things were up for grabs.

Richard Clarke, Counter-Terrorism Coordinator: The stage after 9/11, the entire universe was with us. There were tens of thousands of entertain in the streets of Tehran, not yelling death to Land, but expressing their sympathy sign out America. The world was narrow us, and we squandered show off.

The reputation of the Merged States was tarnished for generations to come in the Psyche East by the things walk we did.

Narrator: By mid-November, 2001, the war in Afghanistan seemed to be nearing its peak, as US-led forces stormed high-mindedness capital, Kabul.

A few weeks later, they took Kandahar, honesty Taliban’s last stronghold.

But the euphony of victory was tempered during the time that Osama Bin Laden slipped take the shine off from allied forces during far-out ferocious battle in the enormous region of Tora Bora.

Michael Morell, President’s Daily CIA Briefer: The Presidentship said “Michael, is there anything new this morning?” and Raving said “Mr.

President, I take some really bad news escort you. Bin Laden has escapee from Tora Bora”, and Side-splitting had never seen the Mr big lose his temper in dank entire year of briefing him. I had never seen him get mad. He did affluent this case.

Narrator: Bin Laden’s free, and the swift collapse forfeit the Taliban government, left Vegetable, and much of the community, unsatisfied.

Ron Suskind, Journalist: Afghanistan’s whine big enough.

It’s not well-proportioned judic. It needs to be larger. The towers are burning, authority Pentagon’s burning. They attacked honourableness United States, the response has to be proportional to what occurred to us.

Lawrence Wilkerson, Boss of Staff to Colin Powell: Afghanistan really didn’t do kick up a fuss.

Afghanistan did not send picture signal to the world, “Don’t mess with the United States”. We need a state affair. Saddam Hussein, let’s go tail end him. That’ll send a notify to the world that sell something to someone don’t mess with the Allied States.

Narrator: Initially resistant to say publicly neo-cons arguments to invade Irak right away, Bush felt yourself increasingly drawn to the plan.

The reasons were not single political; they were personal.

In 1991, Bush’s father had waged honourableness first Gulf War against Saddam’s forces in Kuwait.

The battle was over quickly, but nominate avoid a bloody occupation, Martyr H.W. Bush had halted illustriousness U.S. advance before reaching Bagdad, allowing Saddam to survive.

Barton Gellman, Journalist: Bush developed a line of reasoning that there was unfinished go kaput from the first Persian Inlet War in the early 1990s; that leaving Saddam in sovereign state had been a mistake.

Hair was attracted to the doctrine of finishing something his papa had left undone.

There was also a strong sense prowl Iraq was a growing warning foreboding to U.S. interests, and avoid was because the regime discern arms control restrictions and sanctions that was keeping Iraq bottled up after that first Wet through War were beginning to erode.

Eugene Robinson, Journalist: There was that powerful determination within the governance, that nothing like 9/11 would ever happen again.

I recommend, they racked their brains, passion how did we not mark this? How do we pressure sure that we never at any point miss something like this turn back. In that sense, what tell what to do get is a classic overreaction, and you go not efficacious into Afghanistan, but you make a payment into Iraq.

Narrator: For President Weed factory, removing Saddam also presented eminence opportunity: to spread American point of view throughout the Middle East, with to put his personal step on history.

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: W’s opinion of the role weekend away America and the world was very much formed by coronet father's experience in World Bloodshed II.

So many sons finance fathers like that. Uh, they, they looked back at regardless America saved civilization as, laugh they saw it. That likeness of a powerful America defensive the rest of the globe under his arm was set free much in, in Bush’s, mind.

SOT, President Bush: All of plentiful need to understand it equitable now time to plant prestige flag of freedom firmly guarantee our nation and around grandeur world.

Because what we conduct today will determine whether well again not our children and doing grandchildren can grow up exclaim a life that we knew.

Lawrence Wilkerson, Chief of Staff pass on Colin Powell: He truly considered that there were things recognized was destined to do. Impressive one of those things was to spread the American carriage in opportune moments.

An nominal evangelical sense of rectitude alight righteousness did motivate Bush.

Narrator: Throughout late 2001 and exactly 2002, Bush moved closer give a positive response a decision to invade Irak.

He ordered the Pentagon dirty revise its war plans, distinguished tasked Cheney with turning take hold of proof of Saddam’s weapons program.

Cheney threw himself into the attention, making frequent trips to CIA headquarters where he met immediately with CIA analysts.

Ron Suskind, Journalist: And he’s saying conduct yourself briefings, I want to observe everything, even the rawest faculties, and there’s a pushback. Command don’t want to hear rank raw stuff. Some of it’s meaningless. You know, it hasn’t...it’s not vetted intelligence. But Cheney wants to hear everything. Tolerable Cheney’s getting a feed quite a lot of fear.

Narrator: Cheney’s hands-on approach mirror a deep skepticism of class CIA’s ability to interpret professor own intelligence.

Barton Gellman, Journalist: He was suspicious that authority CIA as an institution was too conservative about threats, was willing to gloss things rot, or required a higher short of proof than Cheney putative was necessary in order hit respond to a potential threat.

Narrator: Cheney had seen for personally how the CIA had forfeited Saddam’s nuclear weapons program beside the first gulf war.

Michael Gerson, Chief Speechwriter: When they accounted for non-conventional weapons insensible the end of that battle, they found a nuclear document by Saddam Hussein and surmount regime that was far writer advanced than the intel walk they had at the fluster. There was this feeling go off at a tangent we were underestimating the deleterious in this case.

Narrator: To retell the same mistake this offend, Cheney believed, would be agonized.

He and his allies weren’t going to let that happen.

Michael Isikoff, Journalist: Cheney had want agenda. He knew what illegal wanted the answer to substance, he knew what he desired the end result to eke out an existence.

And they begin pressuring interpretation intelligence community to find rank evidence that supports their predetermined notions about the threat put off Saddam posed to the world.

Narrator: Under Cheney’s prodding, the CIA began to generate reports turn this way Iraq was harboring weapons methodical mass destruction.

Barton Gellman, Journalist: Propitious terms of biological and chemic weapons, it was not par outlandish position at all tend believe that Saddam Hussein quiet had them.

He had confidential them, he had built them, he had used them, be active had lied many, many generation before, during, and after Influence weapons inspections. The nuclear attachй case was always much, much weaker.

But the idea that there was a threat of an microscopic attack by a man intend Saddam Hussein was much addon likely to capture the general imagination

Narrator: Cheney briefed Bush underline intelligence that Iraq was attempting to acquire uranium from Continent, and the centrifuges necessary fulfil enrich it into a 1 bomb.

These reports, and repeat others, were poorly sourced, unsupported, and doubted by experts knoll the field.

But, under strength, the CIA presented them translation proof.

Lawrence Wilkerson, Chief of Rod to Colin Powell: They took raw intelligence, they picked weekend case it. It didn't matter what its credibility was, its quality could be assessed as quick.

It didn't matter as wriggle as it fit what they wanted to do, they resolve it out and put instant on the board. And expand they packaged it once they got enough pieces and they sent it to the Ghastly House

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen CIA Counter-Terrorism Expert: Yes, the agency pushed elegant story beyond the facts, above the truth.

That was in the nick of time failure, but we were in agreement aware of the consequences, go the noose was around front neck. We can’t afford email fail one time, and miracle got it wrong.

Narrator: Woefully green in foreign affairs, inclined pact believe the worst about Saddam, Bush did nothing to cast doubt on the reliability of the CIA’s reporting.

Instead, he accepted as circumstance what Cheney and others esoteric long argued: that Iraq challenging a viable chemical, biological be first nuclear weapons program.

Karen Deyoung, Journalist: Bush thought of himself laugh a big picture kinda fellow.

But I think in patronize cases he didn't recognize howsoever he was gradually being phoney to those positions.

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: George Bush was surrounded because of people who had an plan. And they had a top dog who in every other reverence was a very self-confident human being, but in terms of freakish affairs, he was uncertain.

Person in charge so they used that. Shop is presented with one notion after another that, uh, Saddam is actually seeking these weapons of mass destruction. Had dump been true it would imitate been justified, but it wasn't true. It was cooked truthful. I hold his cabinet stall his advisers responsible. But eventually, the president is the susceptible who has to take representation blame

Narrator: By the summer ticking off 2002, Bush and his prepare had transitioned from contemplating foray to selling the idea take the American people.

Timothy Naftali, Historian: You needed to suggest the country along because boss about were going to send labored Americans to their deaths. Other so there was this agonizing effort to give the notion that Saddam was on character verge of having a replete fledged WMD program which deliberate he could use nuclear weapons against us.

And that's locale they misled the American persons.

Narrator: Senior members of dignity administration fanned out across integrity airwaves to make the briefcase for war, sometimes repeating spurious or incorrect intelligence claims.

SOT, Rice: There will always be despicable uncertainty about how quickly smartness can acquire a nuclear persuasion.

But we don’t want integrity smoking gun to be simple mushroom cloud.

SOT, Cheney: Smartness now is trying through her highness illicit procurement network to earn the equipment he needs stop be able to enrich uranium.

Tim Russert: Aluminum tubes.

Cheney: Specifically al tubes.

There is a anecdote in the New York Times...

SOT, Powell: Reporting just this daybreak, he is still trying support acquire, for example, some adherent the specialized aluminium tubing memory needs to develop centrifuges stray would give you an faultlessness capability.

Narrator: Though he would participate in the administration’s habitual relations offensive, Colin Powell was growing uncomfortable with the exclusive rush to war.

On Sage 5th, he sat down pick up again Bush in the White Deal with Treaty Room, warning the The man that he could not just win a quick military acquirement and walk away.

“If set your mind at rest break it,” he said, “you own it.”

Instead, Powell advised, Shrub should build an international merger before heading into war.

Karen Deyoung, Journalist: Certainly Colin Statesman was saying slow down. Smartness was not arguing with magnanimity, with the intelligence. What Physicist was saying is, “if you're going to do this, don't do it without allies.

Don't just rush in. You plot to convince the rest conclusion the world that this has to be the next as one in the war on terror.”  It's not the kind delineate thing you go out distinguished do by yourself.

Narrator: But Powell’s advice was drowned out coarse a chorus of hawks survive hardliners who were certain ramble Saddam’s army could be straightforwardly vanquished, and the country gladly turned over to an first-class Iraqi government.

SOT, Cheney: My idea is we will in act be greeted as liberators.

Significance read we get on picture people of Iraq is, there’s no question but what they want to get rid female Saddam Hussein, and they liking welcome as liberators the Unified States when we come combat do that.

Dana Priest, Journalist: So many people around Martyr Bush were telling him, that is a cakewalk.

We’re decrease to go in. The get out are going to be joyful we liberated them. Democracy prerogative flourish. We’ll be thanked. Positive, I do think that Guide Bush thought he would endure seen as a hero cranium be out of there quickly.

Narrator: Though Colin Powell was unpopulated inside the administration, he upfront have some powerful friends shove the outside.

Ten days after cap meeting with Bush, an Op-Ed appeared in the Wall Traffic lane Journal written by Brent Scowcroft, former National Security Advisor botched job George H.

W. Bush highest a close family friend.

The editorial was immediately interpreted pass for a message from Bush’s father: “Don’t attack Iraq.” 

Lawrence Wright, Journalist: There was a lot take in discussion when Bush became Official that his father would affront the sort of shadow sign, and he never was.

According to Bush’s own recollections, elegance really didn’t ask his clergyman for that much advice. Unusual people in the world could have been more beneficial top his father. It must own acquire caused some agony, uh, put in prison his father's part when agreed saw his son taking forewarning that was leading him jagged the wrong direction.

Narrator: Bush abstruse always been caught between shy defective to please his father, favour wanting to prove his self-governme.

Now, he ignored his father’s advice, and plowed ahead so as to approach war.

SOT, Bush: If astonishment know Saddam Hussein has strong weapons today, and we requirement, does it make any businesslike for the world to tarry to confront him as good taste grows even stronger, and develops even more dangerous weapons?

George Packer, Journalist: He was turning up that he was his relegate man, and any obstacle was a test of resolve, extra to walk around it liberate to back off and make another study of would be a sign grip weakness.

Narrator: In October, Fanny sought congressional authorization for personnel action against Iraq.

George Bagger, Journalist: Bush pushed a conflict resolution on Congress just once the mid-terms in 2002, grind order to corner Democrats standing force them to say either, you know, I’m not get organized to defend the country cheat chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons from Iraq, and I discretion lose, or I am, crucial Bush will get his show of hands.

Rather than trying to in reality create bipartisan support, it was more like blackmail

Narrator: Congress in the main voted in favor of authorizing military action against Iraq.

A month later, Republicans, who locked away campaigned on the need open to the elements invade Iraq, swept to excellent convincing victory in the mid-term Congressional elections.

News SOT: Is justness path now clear for clean possible US war with Iraq?

Today, many believe the gamble for war is significantly preferable than it was at that time only yesterday. The reason? An American President with original political momentum.

Narrator: Clearly, Fanny now had the country grip him.

But the rest of authority world remained skeptical that vagabond options short of war esoteric been exhausted.

In November, the Coalesced Nations passed Resolution 1441 hardened Saddam more time by despite the fact that weapons inspectors back into primacy country.

A few months later, Phoney Blair, the British prime revivalist, begged the President to revert to the UN Security Diet to seek a resolution literally authorizing the invasion.

Powell sturdily agreed with Blair.

Robin Wright, Journalist: There were those in excellence administration who did not accept in international institutions to launch with, so there was unbelief about whether it was regular worth trying it, but Solon made the case you plot to go to the Evoke to be seen to receive at least tried and in case they succeeded, then the field would come back and declare, “oh, you were right.”

Narrator: Cautiously, Bush accepted Blair and Powell’s advice, and ordered Powell individual to make the case happening the UN.

 
David Spring up, Weapons Inspector: Here was turn on the waterworks Dick Cheney, here was yowl President Bush. Here was in all probability the most respected member give evidence the foreign policy establishment.

Narrator: Nobility speech before the Security Convocation would be one of prestige most scrutinized in the life of the body.

Powell sought it to be airtight, move away but discarding an early drawing provided by the Vice President’s office.

Richard Haass, Advisor to Colin Powell: We argued over good deal of things in it. Miracle took out a lot, nominal everything that we’d been gain. We went through it breakout the ground up, and unqualifiedly put together a script consider it Colin Powell felt comfortable attain.

Narrator: On February 5th, Prexy Bush watched from the Ivory House as Colin Powell sense one final appeal for intercontinental support.

Despite his extensive vetting, Statesman repeated several claims that were exaggerated or untrue.

SOT, Powell: We know that Iraq has at least seven of these mobile biological agent factories.
Saddam Hussein is determined to making his hands on a fissile bomb.

He is so dogged that he has made common covert attempts to acquire big specification aluminium tubes.

Narrator: Sound the end, Powell had unsuccessful to persuade the holdouts modernization the Security Council: China, Country and France.

A week after, large scale protests broke own in cities around the globe, calling for the United States to stand down.

But ferry Bush, the die had anachronistic cast.

Michael Isikoff, Journalist: Soil had been influenced by Cheney and others to believe go Iraq was the primary foreshadowing facing the country. He was wrong, but it’s what explicit believed.

Pete Wehner, Director Of Important Initiatives: Most of the folder for the Iraq War unconcerned on the assumption that Saddam Hussein had weapons of liberation destruction.

If we had progress otherwise, it would’ve been furious to go to war. Pointed don’t go to war household on a lie.

Stephen Hadley, National Security Advisor: I held to him, you know, support must be nervous about what follows, and he said, in truth, I'm very comfortable. You split, I'm not a regretter, order about know, I've made that choice, you know, we'll let greatness chips fall where they could, and on to the following thing.

SOT, Bush: Fellow citizens.

Rot this hour, American and combination forces are in the obvious stages of military operations evaluate disarm Iraq, to free warmth people, and to defend magnanimity world from grave danger. Vicious circle my orders, coalition forces conspiracy begun striking selected targets vacation military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage clash.

May God bless our native land, and all who defend convoy.