BUSH'S STEALTH ATTACK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-01448R000401700022-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 23, 2012
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: July 4, 1991
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Si Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP99-01448R000401700022-3
Bush's Stealth Attack
Surprise Medals for Gulf War Architects
By Laura Blumenfeld
Washington Post Stall Writer
The Persian Gulf War may be
over, but President Bush is still
launching surprise maneuvers, this
time on his closest aides.
The leading civilian architects of
the gulf war, national security ad-
viser Brent Scowcroft, Secretary of
Defense Richard Cheney and Secre-
tary of State James Baker, said they
were shocked yesterday morning
when Bush called them to the podi-
um in the White House East Room
to receive the Medal of Freedom,
the nation's highest civilian award.
"They kept it pretty tight, didn't
they?" said an unusually effusive
Baker after the ceremony. "No
leaks! No leaks! [I had) no idea."
One observer said Baker was so
dumbfounded that his wife, Susan,
nudged him with her elbow so he
would get up and accept the award.
Bush made the surprise an-
nouncement after he bestowed the
Medal of Freedom on Gen. Colin
Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, and Gen. H. Norman
Schwarzkopf, whose names ap-
peared on the program. He also
conferred the Presidential Citizens
Medal on eight advisers who played
key roles during the gulf crisis.
The president grinned and said
the ceremony would not be com-
plete witiaut honoring three addi-
tional Americans who contributed
to the success of the war.
Thenbe 4atened the gold medals
around the flustered trio's necks.
"As the president was putting the
medal on, he said to me, 'Surprised
you, didn't I?' " Cheney said as be
filed out of the room with his wife,
Lynne. Lynne Cheney said she was
in on the secret but didn't let on
because the president asked her not
to.
Cheney allowed that he had been
getting "all these weird messages."
He and Scowcroft put their heads
together on Monday to try to figure
out what the president was up to.
They failed to uncover his stealth
plan.
"I was astonished," said Scow-
croft. "I'm going to wear [the med-
al] all day. Forever."
White House Press Secretary
Marlin Fitzwater said the president
thought it would be a "personal and
intimate" way to honor hi's? top ad-
visers.
Before the ceremony, a four-
piece Marine band greeted some
250 military officers, diplomats, ad-
visers and family members in the
White House entrance hall. The
ambassadors from Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia sat together, beaming, in the
second row. Baker turned around
and cracked a joke that sent up a
whoop of laughter from the two
ambassadors and their allied coali-
tion colleagues from Egypt, the
United Kingdom and France.
This was homecoming day for the
Persian Gulf War all-stars.
"I think history will show that we
had a great team here, at the Penta-
gon, out at Langley and in many
other departments of this govern-
ment," said an upbeat, tan Bush. "It
was a team effort and I will always
be grateful to those who were at my
side."
The president was also clearly
grateful to have his wife at his side.
The Washington Post
The New York Times
The Washington Times
The Wall Street Journal
The Christian Science Monitor
New York Daily News
USA Today
The Chicago Tribune
Date
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP99-01448R000401700022-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP99-01448R000401700022-3
After Bush fumbled with Powell's
medal, he handed his gold-rimmed
glasses over the general's head to
Mrs. Bush. She donned the presi-
dential specs and fastened the rib-
bon. The crowd erupted in laughter.
The president had his serious
moments too. He said this Fourth of
July will take on special meaning as
Americans celebrate the return of
their sons and daughters from the
Middle East.
"The young men and women
we've welcomed home from the
gulf returned to a nation far differ-
ent that the one they left. They
come home to a country that is
confident and proud, an America
that is sure of itself and strong,"
Bush said.
Recipients of the Presidential
Citizens Medal, awarded for exem-
plary deeds of service to the nation,
were: Deputy Secretary of State
Lawrence Eagleburger; Deputy
Secretary of Defense Donald At-
woo ; putt' ationa Security d-
viser Robert Gates, who -is also
Hush's nominee to head Richard Haas. special assistant the president for national sec rite
rs: Adm. David Jeremiah, vice
chairman of the joint Chiefs of
Staff; CIA Deputy Director Richard
J. Kerr; undersecretary of State
Robert M. Kimmitt- and Underse-
cxe tarv of Defense aul D, Wolfow-
itz.
The liveliest recipient in the
room was Schwarzkopf, who bound.
ed up the stairs to receive his med-
al.
"Well done, Norm!" the president
said as Schwarzkopf returned to his
seat, the medal swinging -close to
his broad neck.
. After the ceremony, Schwarzkopt
flashed a thumbs-up sign as he left
the White House grounds. He rode
off into the hazy sun in a white
Lincoln.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP99-01448R000401700022-3