another example of an impulsive snap decision made by Bush under pressure. Intriguingly,
November 20 was also the day that Bush personally pronounc"DEPRESSION." "I don't want to emphasize just the bad things, to talk us into a depression," heed the much-tabooed word: (^)
had told some television stations owned by NBC. It was a landmark: presidents had made that word
taboo for many decades. [fn 73]
Towards the end of November, the pendulum of Bush's unpredictability had swing back: the Asiatrip was being rescheduled for about a month later than originally planned. By now, the media were (^)
harping on the evident "disarray" in the White House, but none seemed to recall the thyroid episode
of the springtime, nor the psychopathological trigger for the thyroid condition.
Sometime during November, just about the time his approval ratings were about to go below 50%,Bush apparently received urgent advice to moderate his "mad dog" public profile in favor of a more (^)
conciliatory and affable posture. This occurred during the same month. 0hatever the details that led
to the renovation of his image, he now began to exhibit concern for the victims of the Bush
depression who, according to his litany, he now understood were "hurting." He began smiling more,
and hissing somewhat less. Photo opportpeople. unities began to depict him fraternizing with the common
But that postponed Far East trip continued to loom as Bush's nemesis. Because of his desire to be
seen doing something to improve the lot of the comman man, Bush's handlers repackaged this trip
as a crusade to open foreign markets to US exports, thus helping to defend American jobs. Bushaccordingly took along the widely discredited top executives of GM, Ford, and Chrysler to
symbolize his committment to the moribund US auto industry. These figures functioned like a
Greek chorus of negative spin, pointing up Bush's misadventures and failures. The most outspoken
of the Big Three bosses was predictably Chrysler's Lee Iacocca, of whom one reporter said that he
would probably complain if the sun came up.
Bush displayed decided mental instability during this trip. In Canberra, Australia, he flashed a well-
known obscene gesture to a group of farmers who were protesting his "free trade" farm policies.
Bush told a luncheon cruise in Sydney harbor, "I'm a man that knows every hand gesture you've
ever seen-- and I haven't learned a new one since I've been here." As the Washington Post reported,"Down here, holding up the first two fingers to form a "V" with the back of the hand toward the
subject is the same as holding up the middle finger in the United States. And that's just what Bush
did from his limousine to a group of protesters as his motorcade passed through Canberra yesterday,
apparently not knowing its significance. Or maybe he did." [fn 74] One is reminded of Nelson
Rockefeller's antics on at least one occasion.
Then came Bush's visit to Japan, crowned by his seizure at a state dinner in the official residence of
Prime Minister Miyazawa. Bush had vomited at least once before the dinner. "I got a preview in the
receiving line. I turned to the prime minister and said, 'Would you please excuse me,' and I rushed
into the men's room there. And I thought that had taken care of it, but back I came. It hadn't beenhalted. It was just the beginning." [fn 75] According to Treasury Secretary Brady, Bush had been (^)
urged to skip the state dinner altogether by his personal physician, Dr. Burton Lee, but Bush had
rejected this advice out of hand, saying that his absence would "disrupt" the proceedings. [fn 76]
After the vomiting and fainting scene was over, Bush was asked if he intended to slow down.
"Nope," Bush retorted. It's just a 24-hour flyet to be told; but it was clear that Bush had learned nothing, and was still determined to impose hisu." [fn 77] The truth about Bush's collapse in Tokyo has (^)
will on the universe. Bush's first efforts at campaign oratory after his return from Japan indicated
that rage was once again winning the upper hand, which was not a good sign for Bush's ability to
function on the campaign trail.