The real West Wing.
NBC news is putting together a one-hour special hosted by anchor Tom Brokaw on a day in the life of President Bush. The Bush White House: Inside the Real West Wing will air next Wednesday, right before the network’s top-rated show The West Wing starring Martin Sheen.
“The president and the vice president have agreed to open up the White House today so that American people can have a very rich understanding of the events that take place at the White House, including many of the scenes that take place behind the scenes,” White House press secretary Ari Fleischer told the Associated Press.
A dozen or so NBC camera crews followed the president around Thursday as he walked his dogs, met with CIA briefers, talked with labor union leaders, looked over education policy with advisers, lunched with Vice President Cheney, spoke about the presidency to White House Fellows, chatted about NATO expansion with the Lithuanian president, signed a new bill to law, worked out in his gym and received an award from the 4-H club. Whew!
The only time the cameras weren’t allowed in was during a casual evening cocktail party with Republican lawmakers.
White House aides did admit to AP that Bush’s day was packed with more events than usual to give viewers a sense of what the nation’s boss does.
