As the week progressed, however, it became increasingly difficult for Bush to keep the nation's attention focused on tax reduction. On Tuesday, for example, Israeli voters selected the controversial Ariel Sharon to be there new prime minister. Wednesday's news was dominated by a Bush aide's announcement that the administration would be closing White House offices on AIDS and civil rights-an announcement which created so much controversy so quickly that it was reversed by the end of the day. And a little later on Wednesday, authorities wounded and apprehended a ex-IRS employee who had waved a gun at the White House. There were plenty of other stories, too, from the continued flap over Bill Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich to a presidential dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
Presidents can and do influence the nation's political agenda.
But the nature of the presidency makes it virtually impossible for the White House to manage the news on a daily basis. Foreign countries do not arrange their election calendars so as not to coincide with tax week, nor do crazed gunmen check with the White House schedule office to see if they will be interfering with the presidential message of the day. What works on the campaign trail does not always work in Washington. Copyright Houghton Mifflin Company. All Rights Reserved.