looking for concentrations of iodine and lithium, two chemicals which had been linked to thyroid
disorders. Bush's doctors later said that they had ordered the tests in the hopes of uncovering cluesto the remarkable coincidence of three autoimmune disorders in the Bush household, including the (^)
dog Millie. Bush's pose was one of studied skepticism: "You're kidding," he told reporters. "I'm not
going to lose confidence in the water at the White House until we know a little more about this,"
Bush said. In any case, the water at the White House "tasted fine to me." [fn 33]
During the visit of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Bush described himself as "dead
tired" on one occasion during the visit. During a May 20 press conference with Chancellor Helmut
Kohl of Germany, Bush spoke with a raspy voice, and his attention seemed to wander. When asked
about his poor performance with Kohl, Bush conceded that he had experienced "slowing down on
the mental processes." On more than one occasion, he seemed to lose his train of thought duringanswers to the questions of the journalists. The raspy voice was still noticeable in a press
conference on May 21. On that same day, the White House announced the results of what was
billed as Bush's first complete checkup since the day he swallowed radioactive iodine. The White
House said that Bush had lost a total of 13 pounds since the onset of the crisis, but had managed to
gain back a pound anormal range, it was further alleged. Doctors tried to explain away Bush's fatigue by saying that itnd a half. Tests showed that Bush's thyroid functions were now in the low-
reflected the body's adjustment to a thyroid gland which was overactive less than two weeks before,
but had now possibly become underactive as a result of the radioactive iodine therapy, which had
destroyed many thyroxin-producing cells. By this point, Bush was still taking digoxin,
procainamide, Coumadin, aspirin, and non-radesigned to reduce the amounts of thyroxin entering the bloodstream. [fn 34] dioactive iodine drops. These last, it was said, were
Bush was in Kennebunkport for Memorial Day, and the White House propaganda machine was
churning out the line was that he was now well on his way to complete recovery. "I'm sleeping
much better and I really do feel good and I wish I had about four more days here," Bush told thepress. "Been taking a little sleep after lunch here, which is good. Been sleeping very well." During (^)
this weekend, Bush tried fishing at nine of his favorite locations. On Sunday, May 26, Bush played
a total of 27 holes of golf. Reporters found that he was back to his old ways as he "circled the golf
course like a man on a merry-go-round." When he "passed the 18th hole once again on this
vacation, he exuberantly flung a golf club at his cart and looked horrified when it nearly hit one ofhis Secret Service guards." According to press reports, Bush was still suffering from dryness of
mouth. He had reduced his intake of caffeine, and of alcohol. On Monday, May 27, Bush traveled to
New Haven to speak at the Yale commencement, and lost three pounds due to the rigors of the trip.
On Tuesday, after he had returned to Kennebunkport, he told reporters: "Yesterday I got a little
tired at the end of the day, and today I feel fine. You have to pace yourself a little." [fn 35]
Bush's speech at the Yale commencement was devoted to a pugnacious defense of his China policy,
the policy of the kow-tow to the butchers of Beijing. In the words of one observer: "George Bush's
address to the Yale graduating class was more like a tantrum than a speech. In it, he was defiant
about renewing most-favored- nation trading status for the Chinese, and crushingly condescendingto the opposition he faces. [...] The resolute commander-in-chief sounded like the querulous
candidate of yesterday. He can do what he wants, talk out of both sides of his mouth and stage a
preemptive strike on critics who say his position is immoral." [fn 36]
On Wednesday, May 29, Bussurface missles in the Middle East. On this day Bush was again out on the golf course, andh proposed a freeze on the purchase and production of surface-to-
questions about his health were raised once again by his ghastly personal appearance, which was
best conveyed by a photograph appearing on the front page of the London Financial Times of
Thursday, May 30.