W. Page #9

Now, Jeb is like your father.

He thinks before he speaks.

He's got his feet on the ground.

- Barb, don't be so hard on him.

- Well, he knows it's the truth.

I'm not gonna say something

I'm liable to regret here.

Son, just consider holding off

until '98.

You won't have Richards

to contend with.

We'll be able to give you

our undivided support.

No, no, I get it. I get it.

You want Jeb

to get elected before me.

Come off it.

It's a matter of practicality, of timing.

I want you both to have

what you want, what you deserve.

Well, I'm running this time, Poppy.

You hear me?

I'm running now.

Here they come.

They'll be bringing the heat.

I know, don't swing at anything

I can't hit.

Mr. Bush, you didn't talk much

about education.

What are your plans for reform?

Well, I'm gonna deregulate

school districts...

...so that teachers

and administrators...

...can develop programs

that best fit their kids.

How are you proposing

to measure students' progress?

Well, we need to make a wholesale

effort against racial profiling...

...which is illiterate children.

You need to teach a child to read...

...then he or her will be able

to pass a literacy test.

We're in the very early stages

of developing our program.

How do you plan

to change the school finance formula?

I for one will not stand

for the subsidation of failure.

How do you know

if you don't measure up...

...if you have a system

that simply suckles them through?

What about our failed schools?

- Think the state needs to take over?

- More government's not the answer.

We must have the attitude

that every child in America...

...regardless of where they're raised,

can learn.

You know,

rarely is the question asked:

"Is our children learning?"

Okay, fellas, that's it. We'll see you

at the next campaign stop.

- Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush.

- No more. Adis. Adis. Adis.

"Suckles"?

Look, you're the son of a president.

You graduated Yale.

You went to Harvard,

got a business degree.

If you can't stand in front of those guys

for two minutes...

...and come up

with one plausible answer...

...then what the hell

are we running for governor for?

Just tell me what to do.

Whatever it takes.

Look, if I need to read the

whole damn Constitution, I'll learn it.

Okay, four food groups.

Crime, education,

tort reform, welfare.

And if they ask you what time of day

it is, what do you say?

We must teach our children to read.

What about welfare?

We must hold the fathers

and the unwed mothers accountable.

- Because we love babies.

- Because we love babies.

Crime?

End early release and all paroles

for rapists and child molesters.

Citizens got the right to carry

a handgun for self-protection.

My opponent disagrees about that.

But Texas got the highest rate

of murders in the country.

And still Miss Richards' hair

is in the clouds.

She doesn't believe the citizens

got to protect themselves.

If you believe that,

vote for my opponent.

Okay, so, what about

that swagger of yours?

- In Texas, we call that walking.

- Drinking, drugs, your past?

It was a mistake. I was young.

That's all I'm gonna say about that.

I don't wanna give your

"If old Governor Bush done it,

maybe I can do it too."

- Hey, George.

- Hey, girls. How are you?

- Good luck on your campaign.

- Thank you.

- Hope you win.

- Vote for me, don't forget.

Yes, sir.

What do you say to, "George W. Bush

is a rich, spoiled jerk.

His wealth was produced

by stock swaps...

...and bailouts arranged

by his daddy"?

Ann Richards can badmouth me

all she wants.

I've created

successful small businesses.

I run a Major League baseball team.

I'm in touch with real people in Texas.

I work with them every day

at the ball park.

Talk to the fans, hot dog vendors.

Get to know what they think.

Because truly, deep down inside...

...you know I'm a guy like you,

a guy you can trust.

Fabulous. Fabulous, W.

What it all comes down to...

...is who Joe Voter wants to sit down

and have a beer with.

And guess who that is.

Just remember

to make mine nonalcoholic.

So anything about the issues,

you come to me first.

I'll tell you what to say.

You're not gonna tell me

what to say, Karl.

I'm gonna tell you what I want.

You're the word man.

This campaign

starts and ends with me.

You got it, W. I'm just a little fairy...

...putting down

a little magic dust for you.

And, Karl...

...this time I'm gonna

out-Texas Texas.

Your father's here to see you,

governor.

Poppy's here right now?

- All right, send him in, Evie.

- Governor.

Yeah. You like that, don't you?

Put your pants on.

- How are you, son?

- Hey, Poppy, sorry.

Got your speech ready?

Yeah, I was just getting ready

to go over it again.

This is a moment you'll never forget...

...being inaugurated for the first time.

Try and take a photograph

in your mind...

...so you can savor it

when the times get tough...

...as they always do.

All right, well, I'll try and do that.

Yeah, I sure am glad

that Jeb's coming.

I'm gonna acknowledge him

in my speech.

It's been hard on him,

the loss.

I wish I could've been

at his inauguration too.

It would've been something.

Why do you just feel bad about Jeb?

Why don't you feel good about me?

Well, of course I do.

And...

I brought you these.

They were your grandfather's.

The only real thing he ever gave me.

Wear them well.

See you at the inauguration, son.

Well, what did he have to say?

"These cufflinks

are my most treasured possession.

My father, Prescott, gave them to me

right after I came back from the war.

They were mine.

Now they are yours.

I'm sure you will make

a fine governor."

It's nice, W.

You think he might ever be able

to say something direct to me...

...instead of using these notes?

- This is his way.

- You think he might be happy with me?

- Hon, he is.

Let me help you.

Well, Jebby, that's just great.

Keep Florida warm. You say hi

to Columba and the kids for me.

Governor, the reverend.

Yeah, we'll talk later.

- Earle.

- Governor.

- Hey, thanks a bunch for coming.

- Yeah.

Hey, go ahead, take a seat.

Make yourself comfortable.

- Hey, how's the show coming along?

- Couldn't be better.

Over 100 million Americans

are watching the Earle Hudd Hour...

...right here in North America.

- Fabulous.

You don't say. That's great.

That's dandy, Earle.

So, listen...

...I asked you here today to discuss

something of great importance.

I've heard the call.

Well, I know.

Don't forget, I've been the witness

to the growth in your faith.

No, that's not what I mean.

I mean, I've heard the call.

And I believe that God

wants me to run for president.

- Truly?

- I can't explain it.

But I think that something

is gonna happen.

And at that time,

my country is gonna need me.

And, you know,

I think it's part of a divine plan.

Well, a man don't

hear the call, governor...

...unless the good Lord wants him to.

The truth is I don't wanna run.

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