If her husband was somber, Barbara Bush was angry-with Nancy Reagan. Never an admirer of Mrs. Reagan’s, Mrs. Bush was incensed by her efforts to take over last week’s White House ceremony at which Ronald Reagan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Bush sources say that Mrs. Reagan invited a number of Bush enemies without consulting with the White House. Among them: columnist George Will and former GOP aides Joe Canzeri and Ed Rollins, who bolted to work for Ross Perot. Will chose not to attend. But at the festivities, Mrs. Bush couldn’t resist a pointed dig at Canzeri. As the guests came down the receiving line, she greeted each of them with a kiss. When Canzeri reached her, she pumped his hand. “He couldn’t miss her message,” says a Bush friend.
To avoid stewing over their loss, Mrs. Bush has turned her attention to Houston, friends say. But the president, or “Perle Mesta” Bush, as he’s often called, has kept up a manic party schedule during his last days in office. He invited friends of all political persuasions to Camp David, including Clinton transition director Vernon Jordan. He entertained ambassadors with a White House dinner and movie. He even asked guests to join him on the Truman balcony to watch the fireworks celebrating Clinton’s Inauguration. “He said, ‘What the hell. We still have the best seats in the house’,” says a Bush friend.
