How Jeffords Got Away

DIANA WALKER FOR TIME
The media-shy Jeffords gets use to the bright lights

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Ultimately, Republicans stripped other school funds from the budget. Jeffords knew more feuds were coming over the environment, Bush's pro-drilling energy policy, health care and conservative nominees to the Supreme Court. On a Friday afternoon after most Senators headed back to their home states, Jeffords slipped into Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Dodd's office and began venting. "This doesn't seem to be working," he confided. Education "is the biggest thing for me. But I'm not sure what to do from here."

Dodd smiled and said softly, "Look, Jim, there's room for you over here." "Hmm," Jeffords answered--first mulling the possibility, then catching himself. "Gee, I would never be a Democrat." Maybe an independent, he said, but not a Democrat. Dodd smiled and didn't push.

But the White House and Senate Republicans were pushing, in ways they would come to regret. Angry over Jeffords' opposition to Bush's $1.6 trillion tax-cut plan, Bush aides didn't invite him to a White House ceremony honoring a Vermont teacher, a minor slight of the kind Jeffords had grown used to over the years. Others were more serious. The Administration began hinting that a program aiding Vermont dairy farmers might be in jeopardy. Jeffords was getting the silent treatment in the Finance Committee, and Gregg announced that he would be "spearheading" the education bill for the G.O.P.

On the prowl for disgruntled Republicans, Reid thought Chafee was the ripest target. But after a chance encounter with Jeffords in April, Reid became convinced Jeffords would bolt. Daschle was skeptical but put Reid in charge of the recruitment. Reid and Jeffords had similar personalities--taciturn, press shy, not given to windy speeches in public or private. Reid knew Jeffords hated confrontation and horse trading, so he stuck to high principles in their conversations and never, ever asked him directly to defect. "The issues you stand for are the ones we believe in in the Democratic Party," Reid told him. "Jim, this is beyond you and me. This is for the country." But early on, sources say, Reid dangled the possibility that Jeffords could chair the Environment and Public Works Committee under Democratic rule. Jeffords has denied making such a deal.

Everyone leaks on Capitol Hill, but the two men somehow managed to keep their talks secret. Reid told only one top aide about them. Sometimes the two lawmakers ducked into a private office; at other times, figuring the best place to hide was in plain sight, they talked on the Senate floor with colleagues milling about and reporters watching from the press gallery above. On Tuesday morning, May 15, Daschle, Reid and Jeffords slipped away to Jeffords' Capitol hideaway near the Senate press gallery to negotiate the offer. "Here's what we can do for you if you decide to put us in the majority," Daschle said. The Vermonter was ready to jump but had to discuss the decision with family and close friends. By Friday night, CNN was reporting rumors that Jeffords was mulling a switch. Daschle panicked; Bush would surely helicopter Jeffords to Camp David for a weekend charm blitz that could unravel the deal. But Jeffords' allies and Vermont G.O.P. officials assured the President's people that there was nothing to the report.

The G.O.P. was sorely misinformed. Last Monday night on the Senate floor, during a long debate about tax cuts, Jeffords told Olympia Snowe that he was seriously considering switching. Snowe placed a frantic call to White House chief of staff Andrew Card, but Card had already gone home. Snowe left a message saying the matter was "sensitive and urgent." She tried Card again in the morning, but his aides said he wouldn't be available until noon. Interrupt him now, Snowe demanded, "even if he's in with the President." Card phoned back minutes later, and the White House finally knew.

The cement was hardening by the time Cheney huddled with Jeffords around midday on Tuesday in the Vice President's ceremonial office off the Senate floor. The meeting did not go well. Sources say Jeffords told Cheney the Democrats had offered him a chairmanship. The Vice President walked Jeffords through the ramifications of a defection but had no answers for his complaints. "You better talk to him," Cheney told Bush.

On Tuesday afternoon, Jeffords walked into the Oval Office. Bush summoned all his charm. "I'd like you to stay in our party," he pleaded. Has the White House done anything to push you out? No, Jeffords replied politely, but the party is ignoring the moderates. On important issues like education and the environment, conservatives are running the show, Jeffords warned, and if Bush didn't move to the center, he would be a one-term President. "I hear you, I hear you," Bush answered. Jeffords promised to ponder, but Bush suspected the decision had been made. "I don't think I was very persuasive," the President told Lott afterward.