President Bush is well known for giving nicknames to staff and members of the press. Following his trip to Ireland last week, he might have a new one for Ireland’s state broadcaster: Radio-Television-Evil. The interview, conducted in an aggressive style, was distressing enough to the White House, but it was followed 24 hours later by an unexpected peek, courtesy of an RTE cameraman, of the president in his underwear while leaning toward a window at Dromoland Castle,
Besides registering their displeasure at the diplomatic level, White House officials then withdrew their agreement to an interview originally scheduled for Saturday morning with First Lady Laura Bush, which was also due to be conducted by Coleman. No explanation was offered as to why the interview with Mrs. Bush was canceled.
The row started on the eve of the president’s departure from Washington to Shannon. Coleman was allowed an exclusive interview in the Map Room of the White House.
Although over the years there have been several presidential interviews by journalists for Irish newspapers, this was the first Irish television interview since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.
Coleman proceeded with consistently definitive questioning of President Bush, who was clearly rattled at the intensity.
“Please, please, for a minute, OK?” Bush said in response to a question about the Middle East. “It’d be better if you’d let me finish my answers and then you can follow up, if you don’t mind.”
The director of the newly formed White House office of Global Communications, Mary Catherine Andrews, rang the Irish embassy’s press secretary immediately after the interview was broadcast on the RTE Prime Time news show to express concern.
“The White House rang Thursday evening,” said Irish embassy spokeswoman S