How Bush Hires

Drawing heavily on his Dad's Rolodex, Bush recruits dogged loyalists

Until last summer, Andy Card didn't even have a passport to Austin. Though he had served President Bush off and on for 20 years, he had never been close to the son and even remarked privately that he felt left out as the Bush Restoration unfurled last spring. Then, out of the blue, came the call: Would you like to run the Republican National Convention? Card said yes, but wondered, Who had played matchmaker? Sure enough, George Herbert Walker Bush had quietly nudged his son into giving Card, 53, a tryout. Before long, Dubya liked what he saw. Both behind the...

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