I got back home tonight and went to what I thought was just a small book signing in DC. It was--with the exception that C-SPAN was filming it. It was fun to have a stage to myself and be able to read from parts of the book so important to me--the extraordinary encounter with Hillary Clinton when she was First Lady, for instance. It was also fun to answer questions from readers. As things progressed, I noticed a man walk in wearing a union t-shirt and a big "Teamsters" hat. He listened and leaned against one of the book aisles and raised his hand for a question. He wandered around for a bit but ended up asking, "Weren't you fired from the White House?"
It was as if he asked me whether I was actually a cross-dressing Swedish bodybuilder (I'm not). I said no and he asked me if I was sure. I don't think I could be more sure. I left because I'd lost heart for my job and needed out--besides, what White House would try to fire a guy who had just returned from having a brain tumor?
Let's talk about this issue a bit more thoroughly. As I recount in the book, after returning from the car crash, the 9 1/2 hours of brain surgery, and the weeks of recovery, I was far less tolerant of the compassion charade we were perpetuating. The Oval Office account with Karl and the president (that no one has refuted), where the latter is comfortable telling an assembled group of African-American pastors a half-truth (at best), was a tipping point. Another tipping point was a program we were to launch on behalf of prisoners reentering society. The amount of money the White House wanted to propose (let alone what they would fight with Congress to actually get) would have spent about as much on each reentering prisoner as a kid spends on a Happy Meal. Jim Towey and I fought and didn't get along--I recount that briefly but clearly in the book. But no one in the White House ever tried to fire me, and indeed, Towey's boss, John Bridgeland, assured me in the fall of 2003 that I was wanted at the White House as long as I wanted to stay.
Let me quote from a few of the letters I received when I left. Karl Rove: I served "with grace and focus and terrific integrity." WH Chief of Staff Andy Card: "Thank you for your great service.... It has been a joy to work with you in The White House."
It was from Jim Towey that I got the most over the top letter: "The events of April [the crash, diagnosis, and surgery]... reminded me of the life of another 35-year-old man who was in full stride professionally when a health catastrophe engulfed him. He was told he had 3 (sic.) weeks to live, and his only hope was extreme radiation. He learned this sad news in late December and wrote to a friend as he headed to the hospital that he was off 'to meet the New Year and to die.' Well, he didn't die, or we wouldn't have otherwise known who Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn is...."
Later today, I will reprint a copy of my resignation letter in full so people can see the totality of what I said, and also what I purposefully did not say.
Let me get back to my "Teamster" for a moment. When I challenged the guy to tell me who told him I was fired, he said it was a "source." Odd, I thought, but oh well. The rest of the conversation was great and I'm thrilled I did it--you can watch it on C-SPAN this weekend.
After all was said and done, "Bob" with the big "Teamsters" hat and I talked. He said he had been told about my "firing" by VP Cheney's Chief of Staff. I'm thinking that maybe that Teamster's hat was a not very good disguise! After all, the White House is known for many things--hanging with Teamsters isn't one of them.
My favorite moment so far...
Thursday October 19, 2006
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After all was said and done and "Bob" with the big "Teamsters" hat and I talked he said he had been told that by VP Cheney's Chief of Staff. *rolls eyes* yeah there's a credible source.
dear mr. kuo, i just saw the c-span coverage of your book talk. having seen you on 60 minutes last sunday, i was very interested. i should specify that i have not read your book. i heard your deep concern about spiritual health. i am wondering how you feel about christians who believe that the rapture is imminent, and seem to be comfortable with the idea of nuclear incineration which we could avoid if we decided to do so. how can those who pride themselves on christian charity be so mean-spirited as to throw away this lovely eden-planet where we all now live, when many of us would be perfectly enchanted to continue to live here as long as we are naturally allowed to? what about the covenant of the ark? would god really look with favor on those who are willing to throw away his promise of continuing sun, rain and seasons?
what about the tower of babel? does not this story warn us about the dangers of hubris, of empire? why would god admit to heaven those who offer monetary or political support to leaders who seem to be perfectly comfortable with the idea of the planetary abortion which nuclear war could easily bring? i have heard that true christians believe in the sanctity of life. can someone explain to me why the life of all the other species is less important that the life of one individual of one species? i have heard that true christians believe we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. how can those who contemplate the possibility of nuclear annihilation with apparent calm think that others would really like to be done unto in such a way?
is death like this really a moral value? what would jesus feel about the possibility of nuclear armageddon? what would be the meaning of heaven without its companion earth? how can those who honor the covenant that god offered to noah continue to pay taxes that pay for such instruments of death as nuclear weapons and for a government that thinks it's ok for us to claim even space, even the heavens above for preemptive war? is it necessary for the falling of the next tower of babel to be as catastrophic as nuclear winter? before you dismiss me out of hand, take some time to read what would happen to god's creation if this hair-trigger accident actually happened. if you think that just because the cold war is over that the danger is over, you are very sadly mistaken. please take heed. eden is at stake.
David I saw your piece on 60 minutes , I live in the Northern VA I hdeal with my sahre of politics. I likeyou had a brain tumor grade 3 anaplastic aastrocytoma suffered two grand mal seizures, suregery radiation and chemotherapy(Temodar) man lets bring some awareness to this disease
God Bless D Thomas
David, I found your blog sort of by accident. I had linked to the Beliefnet site because I subscribe and they are all that about their new format. You were on the side there and since I saw you on Colber(t) and 60 Minutes, I thought I'd come by. I am so glad I did. I am an evangelical but not conservative. I share your concern that Jesus has been hijacked and I understand political seduction.
I admire anyone who takes seriously Jesus' words to be IN the world but not OF it. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Hang in there; the naysayers will wear themselves out and go look for others to argue with mindlessly. Peace, brother.
I just watched your C-Span BookTV talk, actually for the second time. I was impressed by your personal story and your message that "you can't serve two masters." I was also impressed with your calm patience with the faux "Teamster" who tried to repeatedly bait you, during the Q-and-A session. He obviously didn't realize that perhaps your bass fishing has taught you some political lessons, too. I admire your courage to write a personal story, your dignity in the face of the inevitable political attacks, and even your centered sense of humor. Most of all, I think I was moved by your sincerity. Much luck in the future!
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