{Special "Who can save the White House?" Edition}

Ever since the venerable Washington fixer Clark Clifford came to the rescue of a White House imperiled by Vietnam in 1968, presidents in trouble have turned to a unique political breed: the wise man. The wise man is a consummate Washington insider, a redwood towering above the daily political fray--a weathered veteran of past administrations and myriad crises, with a reputation for high integrity and deep sagacity. He is a revered elder who emerges from the sidelines (often a white-shoe law or lobbying firm) when the going gets tough to pen op-eds and appear on "Meet the Press," holding together the vital center and dispensing bromides about governance and the national interest. With pundits calling for a shake-up at the White House, The New Republic has surveyed the field of political elders who might yet save George W. Bush's beleaguered administration.(In the print version of TNR, the text under each of the following names appeared in columns, as follows:) Qualifications Recent activity Public policy center David Broder says Potential drawbacks James Baker Rescue missions include Ford '76, Reagan '84, Bush '88, Bush '92, and Western Sahara '97. Negotiated on behalf of the Bush team in the debate about the 2004 presidential debates--ultimately securing equally sized podiums and a flashing time's up! light. James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University. "[T]he most capable unelected official Washington has seen in years." Barbara Bush reportedly called Baker "The Invisible Man" for allowing her husband to make a fool of himself in his reelection campaign. The Maghreb nomads are even harsher. Howard Baker Former Senate majority leader; wise man chief of staff after the Iran-Contra scandal rocked the Reagan White House. As a birthday gift, received a public policy center from the University of Tennessee. The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy (see left). "[A]n island of stability in a careening world." At 80, unclear whether that island can withstand much more careening. Leon Panetta As new chief of staff, helped revive Clinton presidency in the wake of the 1994 Republican revolution. Bucking his party by announcing support for Arnold Schwarzenegger's redistricting initiative. The Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy "[I]ndependentminded." Refusal to appear on camera without panetta institute sign behind him could pose White House communications challenge. Sam Nunn Four-term U.S. senator, former chair of Senate Armed Services Committee. Fighting proliferation as co-chair and CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Tech. Knows "almost everything worth knowing about America's national security." May be more concerned with nuclear warfare than White House defense. David Gergen Advised Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. Expressing displeasure with partisanship. "Larry King Live" "[E]stimable." Could pose crisis for Bush. With "Stretch" and "Super-Stretch" taken, no nickname available for the 6'6" Gergen. Kenneth M. Duberstein According to a recent New York Times piece, Duberstein saved Reagan's second term by ending White House infighting, securing a U.S.-Soviet treaty, and convincing Reagan to apologize for Iran-Contra. Writing a New York Times piece saying Duberstein saved Reagan's second term by ending White House infighting, securing a U.S.-Soviet treaty, and convincing Reagan to apologize for Iran-Contra. No. "[S]uccess in stabilizing a staggering White House removed a major barrier to Bush's election in 1988." As a lobbyist for the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association and the American Apparel and Footwear Association, first instinct may be to metrosexualize Bush. Clark Clifford Counselor to Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter. As LBJ's secretary of defense, sought way out of Vietnam. Pined for by columnist Jim Hoagland: "What George W. Bush needs right now is his own version of Clark Clifford." No. Among "the most impressive unelected official[s] the capital has seen." Dead. Al Haig White House chief of staff under Nixon, secretary of state under Reagan. Host of TV show "World Business Review," which runs as paid programming on cnbc and Bravo. No. "E + WHE = T. Ego plus White House Experience equals Trouble." Claimed to be "in control" when Reagan was shot, threatening the constitutional order of succession. Bob Woodward Has cultivated Washington sources with faithfulness and tenacity that admirers describe as Rain Man-like. White House court historian, author of book about Deep Throat. The Washington Post "...wise..." May leak to self. Dick Morris Often credited (by self) with rescuing Clinton's presidency. Claimed in one book to have revived the politically listless Clinton by "shaking his slack body." Commentator on Fox News and columnist for The Hill. Author of approximately one book per year on the threat posed by Bill or Hillary Clinton. Vote.com. The dishonesty of Clinton finds its match in "the equally devious Dick Morris." Not much liked by those who don't know him. Nor by those who do. Deepak Chopra Established a new life-giving paradigm of mind-body-spirit healing. Requested that the United Nations help create a "network of networks" or "peace cells." Book-signing event in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, at Borders Books and Music. The Chopra Center at La Costa Resort and Spa. "While Democrats have complained that the Bush-Chopra plan for a great Peace Ark of Irradiated Love will unfairly burden middle-class taxpayers, they also need to come up with a serious alternative." *Or at least that's what Broder would say if he'd had a chance to write on the subject. Jyotish counseling may not appeal to Bush's ethnocentric Western mindset.

By