When first Lady Laura Bush joked that her born-again husbands early bedtime was turning her into a desperate housewife recently, she drew more than a few knowing snickers
from D.C.s better hostesses. The president and first lady have
always set the social tone in D.C., notes one longtime Washington gadfly.
But the Bushes are never here! They treat the White House like their temporary quarters and then jet to Texas or Camp David on the weekends. You never see them eating in restaurants like you would the Clintons or Reagans or even his parents. They are a complete and utter drag. Nor do the Bushes host lavish parties at the White House like their socially-invested
predecessors.
Even during the winter, Ive heard Laura only spends one week a month at the White House and the rest of the time shes at the ranch in Texas. I know from friends at the embassies that foreign dignitaries never bring their wives anymore because the White House no longer hosts state dinners, our source tattles. Security concerns aside, one reason for the Presidents reluctance to enter the social whirl may be a fear of running into old friends. According to our source, when George and Laura lived in Georgetown with their twin daughters in the early 80s while his father was serving as Vice President to Ronald Reagan, Bush had a horrible reputation and knew the D.C. strip club scene a little too well. No wonder Laura prefers Crawford and the comfort of Laura Ingalls Wilder." |
The (Art) Thief
