Locked in the Cabinet by Robert B. Reich

Author:Robert B. Reich [Reich, Robert B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-83056-2
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2013-08-27T16:00:00+00:00

April 29 The White House

I have to let B know what the appropriators are up to. If he wants to save any shred of the new “investments” he promised during the campaign, he’s got to get moving on this, maybe even phone the appropriations chairs himself. I have to tell him in person. He has to understand the urgency.

His assistant suggests that 6 p.m. would be a good time.

As I enter the Oval, he looks up—tired, expressionless. “Hi, Bob,” he says flatly.

I get to the point. “The appropriations committees are ignoring your budget priorities and leaving no room for more education and job training.”

There’s a long pause. His eyes are glazed. I imagine his mind trying to shift from wherever it has been—California politics, health care, “Whitewater,” Arkansas politics, Boris Yeltsin, Somalia, welfare reform—to my agenda, and I’m suddenly embarrassed to be there. I probably should have gone first to Panetta, who, after all, is in charge of the President’s budget. Or to Mack McLarty, the chief of staff. Or to George Stephanopoulos, The fact is, I don’t think any of them would do a damn thing. They’re too busy putting out other fires. Nothing gets done in this wildly disorganized White House unless B orders it done (and even then there’s no guarantee).

“I’ll call Byrd and Obey,” is all he says. He’s referring to Senator Robert Byrd and Congressman David Obey, the chairmen of the Senate and House appropriations committees. He looks back to his desk and resumes writing.

There’s nothing left for me to do but leave. “Thanks,” I mutter awkwardly, then begin to walk out.

“Bob,” he calls after me. I turn. “I’m trying,” he says. “I’m really trying.” It’s the first time I’ve sensed any defensiveness on his part about the larger mission we came to do, and how far short we are of accomplishing it.

“I know.”

“Good-bye, friend.”

I walk into the corridor, feeling very sorry for the man. He’s bogged down in health care. It’s draining his energies and his political capital.

Three minutes later, I stop by George’s tiny office and am reassured. George is already on the phone with Panetta. “Appropriations are screwing us,” George tells him. “We’ve got to get more funding for the key investments. The President is ripped about this.”

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