Bush Releases White House, Camp David Guest Lists

WASHINGTON — Former President George W. Bush's overnight guests shortly before he left office included Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, who spent the night at the Camp David presidential retreat just a few weeks before President Barack Obama asked him to serve in his Cabinet, guest lists released Monday show.

Gregg and his wife, Kathy, joined Bush and his wife, Laura, and other close Bush family friends and relatives at Camp David the weekend before Bush left office in January, Bush spokesman Rob Saliterman said. He declined to say what Bush and Gregg talked about during the visit. Gregg's office had no immediate comment.

The New Hampshire senator initially accepted Obama's nomination as commerce secretary, but then withdrew a few weeks later.

The Greggs slept over at Camp David at least twice during Bush's tenure. Judd Gregg and Bush are longtime friends; Gregg played the role of Democrat Al Gore as Bush prepared to debate Gore in 2000, and portrayed Democratic nominee John Kerry during Bush's 2004 debate rehearsals.

The overnight guest lists released Monday cover Bush's second term. They were provided at the request of The Associated Press.

A fundraising scandal during President Bill Clinton's tenure in which Democratic donors were invited to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom led Bush to identify his guests. An Obama spokesman has said Obama also will provide lists of his White House and Camp David overnight guests, but has not yet decided on the timing.

As in Bush's first term, his second-term roster is dominated by family, friends and Cabinet members. The most famous names include pro golfer Ben Crenshaw, who spent the night at the White House and Camp David, and Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill, who stayed at the White House. Just over two-dozen foreign dignitaries visited Camp David during Bush's second term.

Besides the Greggs, Bush guests at Camp David during his final days in office in January included Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, national security adviser Stephen Hadley and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten.

The last White House sleepover guests included Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush; uncle William H.T. "Bucky" Bush and his wife, Patty; brother Neil Bush and his wife, Maria; and several longtime friends, including Bush fundraiser Brad Freeman, former Commerce Secretary Don Evans and his wife, Susie, and the Rev. Kirbyjon and Suzette Caldwell.

Comments

[HST]

"including Bush fundraiser Brad Freeman" but the reichwing went into fits cause Clinton had some donors sleepover? I guess its only ok if they do it.

[Haitiana4Obama]

I hear Cheney also released his list, which included among others:

Darth Bane
Darth Zannah
Darth Cognus
Darth Millennial
Darth Ramage
Darth Vectivus
Darth Plagueis
Darth Sidious
Darth Maul
Darth Tyranus
Darth Vader

[LeeCalif]

Neil Bush was in the middle of the 80's S & L meltdown. And profited exceptionally from it.

During his brother's tenure in the White House destroying our country, Neil, again, profited by supplying the designated tests for the " No Child Left Standing" cirriculum (sp).

[CousinBuck]

I didn't see Jeff Gannon's name.

[Clearing-Brush]

Like everything else to ever come out of the Bush White House, this list is also a big fat lie. They present nothing but fabricated evidence.

[sugarmoes]

i betcha right now... right this very moment bush is sittin in his crib in dallas in a barcolounger watchin dvds of gomer pyle and right this very second picking a booger and eating it.

[Ponderus]

Yes to everything but the eating part: Jeff Gannon does that for him.

[GiovanniJones]

George "Spalding" Bush.

[Haitiana4Obama]

He's also probably doddling with his LeapFrog scribble and writer in a sad attempt to pen his "memwa's"...

[ljc]

This list if fabricated. It is a well known fact that Conservative Evangelical Preachers wore a path to the White House. Why isn't Limbaugh's name on the list?

[sammyscout]

Looks like the Obama Administration is turning out to be Bush 2.0

http://www.humblelibertarian.com/2009/02/obama-bush-comparisons-10-ways-barack.html

http://citizensforethics.org/node/39740

[Greywolf Borealis]

By this time he should have edited it sufficiently to hide all that he deems necessary to hide.

[Cogs]

I sure hope someone counted the silverware after Neil Bush's visit. The family has kept this con artist in the shadows for the past 8 years.

[1differentdrummer]

The interesting list is the Secret Service list of guests of the VP, isn't it? Now who could they be?

[voltage356]

Now that would be a priceless list to see who visited the Dark Knight.

[MajorKong]

You could probably look at the Board of Directors for Exxon-Mobile and it would be the same list.

[white mende man]

Amazing! Just friggin Amazing, they left my name off the list! Why would they do that? I have never broken the law, I happen to be a model American citizen, why would the leave my name off the list?

[cminca]

Does anyone actually believe the lists haven't been "cleaned up?"

Please--I wouldn't believe him if he told me the sky is blue.

[gino618]

"An Obama spokesman has said Obama also will provide lists of his White House and Camp David overnight guests, but has not yet decided on the timing."

..... don't hold your breath.

Hope, change, and full-transparency, right? A new way of conducting business in DC, right?

NOT

[teron678]

That is something ... A president ... I believe should keep to himself ....... if he wants to release it fine ... but this is something i believe he shouldn't be forced to release ..

[white mende man]

no one forces Georgie to do anything... he is trying to show how many "friends" he had and is reminding them that they owe HIM a return visit. (snicker).