The Forgetful Scribe

As the true character of the Bush administration reveals itself, it seems more and more likely that we will get to be as familiar with those who work in this West Wing as we once came to know Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Colson and Dean. Before this is all over, we can expect the revelations to include stories of ethics compromised and reputations squandered that are well-suited for TV melodrama if not Shakespeare.

One of the most fascinating figures in this emerging mini-series is Presidential speechwriter Michael Gerson. Nicknamed "the Scribe" by his boss, Gerson is one of the most influential speechwriters ever. His re-phrasing of David Frum's "axis of hate" into "axis of evil" in the 2002 State of the Union address has had a profound effect on foreign policy and the perception of Bush abroad. The Evangelical constituency considered so critical to Bush's re-election hopes are directed to him as their contact point with this administration. Faculty members at his alma mater, Wheaton College in Illinois, wrote him about the AIDS crisis, and Gerson wrote back suggesting they listen to the upcoming 2003 SOTU. Bush followed by announcing a $15 billion package. Both David Frum and Bob Woodward paint Gerson as a White House "insider" and Presidential confidant.

In college, Gerson was headed for the pulpit or the university lectern rather than the central corridors of power. He was studying theology at Evangelical Wheaton College when his writing style attracted the attention of born-again felon Chuck Colson. The former Nixon aide enlisted Gerson to help him write a book, and before long, Gerson was rising through the Republican ranks as an advisor to Dan Coats, Jack Kemp and Bob Dole. After a stint as a journalist with U. S. News and World Report , Gerson joined the Bush team.

Early in the adminstration, "the Scribe" was regarded as something of a progressive influence on Bush. E.J. Dionne Jr. called him "his party's best wordsmith when it comes to describing the struggles of the poor and the obligations of citizens to share each other's burdens." Greg Zoroya wrote in USA Today:

He is a true adherent of Bush's compassionate conservatism, who finds his writing inspiration in the moral intensity of speeches by John and Bobby Kennedy, and the civil rights movement. "I'm an extraordinary fan of Martin Luther King," Gerson says. "He had that rare ability to take a moment and place it in the context of our whole history."

Lately, though, he has been connected more closely with winning Congressional and public support for the war on Iraq. The personal trait that is being discussed more and more is not his faith, his intensity nor even his eloquence, but his forgetfulness. Again this Sunday on Meet the Press, Gerson's name was mentioned as someone who received the Tenant memo in October, 2002 discounting the reliability of the Niger uranium sale reports. Again, he was included among those who "forgot" that memo when it came time to draft the 2003 SOTU:

MR. RUSSERT: ...And then your top deputy, Stephen Hadley, on July 23, said this.

Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters that he received two memos from the CIA in October that cast doubt on intelligence reports that Iraq had sought to buy uranium from Niger to use in developing nuclear weapons. Both memos were also sent to chief speechwriter Michael Gerson and one was sent to national security adviser, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Hadley said.

DR. RICE: ...It's a matter, Tim, that three-plus months later, people didn't remember that George Tenet had asked that it be taken out of the Cincinnati speech and then it was cleared by the agency. I didn't remember. Steve Hadley didn't remember. We are trying to put now in place methods so you don't have to be dependent on people's memories for something like that.

It may be time for Chuck Colson to have a "come to Jesus" talk with his former protege Michael Gerson about the dangers of getting entangled in the lies and forgetfulness of an administration desperately engaged in a cover-up. Unless, of course, Gerson has an interest in pursuing prison ministry too.

Posted by Allen at September 29, 2003 11:23 AM