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Bush's Dramatic Return to Washington to Sign Terri Schiavo Bill

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

President Bush kept a low profile in the Terri Schiavo case until Saturday night, when he made a rare decision to interrupt his vacation and rush back to Washington to sign a bill restoring her feeding tube, citing the need to "defend life" and emphasizing the importance of White House politics. The move was seen as a powerful endorsement of the "culture of life" issues of religious conservatives, crucial to the Republican Party's fortunes in 2006 and 2008. Critics argue that the president's action was motivated by politics and a desire to join with religious conservatives on an issue they could agree on.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Bush's decision to return to Washington to sign the Terri Schiavo bill was motivated by a desire to "defend life" and a need to make a statement to religious conservatives, who are crucial to the Republican Party's fortunes.
  • The bill passed 203 to 58 in the early hours of Monday morning, and President Bush signed it within an hour afterward.
  • Doctors say Terri Schiavo can survive for up to two weeks without the feeding tube, which has sustained her for 15 years.
  • White House officials acknowledged that President Bush's dramatic return could have been unnecessary, as the bill could have been flown to him in Texas, a round trip of six or seven hours.
  • President Bush's action was seen as an attempt to live up to his rhetoric of supporting a "culture of life," particularly since he has not promoted a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion, as some in his party would like.
  • The move was also seen as a move to cement the Republican Party's relationship with conservative religious groups, who are expected to be crucial in the 2006 and 2008 elections.
  • The White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, stated that the president's motive was to act with speed and to give Terri Schiavo's parents another chance to save their daughter, rather than any political consideration.

Statistics:

  • The bill passed 203 to 58 in the early hours of Monday morning.
  • Doctors say Terri Schiavo can survive for up to two weeks without the feeding tube.
  • The feeding tube was removed on Friday, and President Bush's action was motivated by a desire to give her parents another chance to save her.
  • President Bush's first year in office was in 2004.

Sources:

  • "Bush Wins Approval of Bill to Restore Schiavo's Tube" by The New York Times, Sunday, March 21, 2005
  • The New York Times (caption for photo): "President Bush arrived yesterday at the White House on the Marine One helicopter to await legislation in the Terri Schiavo case." (Photo by Stephen Crowley/The New York Times)

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