The New Guy In Town
On his first visit to Washington as president-elect, George W. Bush interviewed Cabinet candidates, conferred with Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan and reached out to leaders of both parties in Congress.
"I'm excited about what we can do together," he said after a Monday morning meeting with Republican and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill.
Bush's overture drew promises of cooperation from congressional Democrats on the day the Electoral College handed him the barest of victories.
"We will be there, coming 50 percent of the way, sometimes even a little further," said House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo.
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., cited "an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, to begin anew."
The nation's outgoing leader also wished his successor well. In an exclusive interview with CBS News Anchor Dan Rather, President Clinton said the Bush presidency deserves the opportunity to get off to "a good start."
But it was not clear how long this heady spirit of bipartisanship would last.
Even as he vowed to "heal whatever wounds may exist," Bush exhibited a stubborn commitment to his $1.3 trillion, 10-year tax cut proposal that was a central theme of his campaign.
Democrats have broadly criticized it as too expensive and benefitting mostly the wealthy. And even some top members of Bush's own party have pronounced it unwieldy. But, Bush asserted, "I still believe it's the right thing."
"I campaigned on a clear view of tax relief, and that's what I'm going to bring to the floor of the House and the Senate," Bush said.
"There's going to be a lot of discussions, a lot of head-knocking, a lot of gentle arm-twisting," he said, adding, "I might try to twist a few myself."
Earlier, Bush met for breakfast at his hotel with the Federal Reserve Board chairman.
"I talked with a good man right here," Bush said, placing a hand on Greenspan's shoulder after a meeting of almost an hour. "We had a very strong discussion about my confidence in his abilities."
Neither responded to questions about Bush's tax-cut plan.
The two also met with Vice President-elect Dick Cheney, Larry Lindsey, an economic adviser likely to join the new administration, and other advisers.
Bush got a status report on the U.S. economy from Greenspan, who receives a great deal of credit for crafting the monetary policies and strategy that enabled the U.S. economy to achieve its longest peacetime expansion during the Clinton administration.
Bush and Greenspan differ on what to do with the billions of dollars of federal budget surpluses projected to flow into the Treasury over the next decade. Bush favors a large across-the-board tax cut, while Greenspan favors using the surplus to pay down the national debt.
Meanwhile, at the White House, the Texas governor's wife, Laura, paid visit to first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
 Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Bush (AP)SIZE> |
"I sort of know it from staying here with President Bush," Mrs. Bush told reporters as she and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton held hands and posed for photographers before heading inside for a chat and a cup of tea.
"I have slept in the Lincoln bedroom," she said in response to a reporter's question, adding with a smile: "And the Queen's bedroom."
Bush also met with the entire Republican House leadership, then held a meeting with the four top congressional leaders House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.; Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss.; Daschle and Gephardt.
"This is a time for a new beginning, a new atmosphere, a new tone," Lott said.
Bush will have to deal with one of the most closely divided Congresses in American history. The Senate is now split 50-50, with only the tie-breaking vote of Cheney giving Republicans the balance of power. In the House, Republicans will hold a 220-211 majority.