This scene is based on the reporting of Michael Isikoff and David Corn in their book, "Hubris." Please see pages 1-3. Karl Rove was inserted into this scene for dramatic purposes.

"Early on the afternoon of May 1, 2002, George W. Bush slipped out of the Oval Office...and headed to the South Lawn" to throw-and-fetch tennis balls with his dogs, Spot and Barney...Frank Sesno, the veteran newscaster, was due shortly at the White House to query Bush about Reagan...The interview was for a History Channel special that would air upon the death of the former president, who was ninety-one years old and suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease."

"Ever since September 11, 2001, Bush had increasingly identified with Reagan: his optimism, his firm convictions, his stark, uncompromising stand against Soviet communism. Bush had come to consider Reagan's battle against the Soviet Union a parallel of his own struggle against Islamic extremism. The Evil Empire was now the Axis of Evil." ("Hubris," pages 1-2)

During his interview for the History Channel, Bush praised Reagan for his moral clarity, his strong and decisive leadership, his willingness to stand tall for freedom and democracy. "Reagan didn't say, 'Well, Mr. Gorbachev, would you take down the top three bricks off the wall?' he told Frank Sesno. 'He said, tear it all down...And the truth of the matter is, I spoke about the Axis of Evil, and I did it for a reason. I wanted the world to know exactly where the United States stood.'" Not only the top three bricks but the whole Berlin Wall had come tumbling down. ("Hubris, page 20)

In his later eulogy for Reagan, Bush said -- "Ronald Reagan believed that everything happened for a reason, and that we should strive to know and do the will of God...He believed that people were basically good, and had the right to be free...He believed in the Golden Rule and in the power of prayer. He believed that America was not just a place in the world, but the hope of the world." (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040611-2.html)

In "Misunderestimated," Bill Sammon describes Bush's dogs, Spot, an aging English springer spaniel which was having trouble with its eyesight, and Barney, a frisky Scottish terrier with stubby little legs, out for a brisk, long walk down on the Crawford ranch. Barney was getting tuckered out trying to keep up with his master. "Hey, Spotty!" the president whistled. Spot barked in recognition. "Loyal dog," Bush murmured. "Great athlete." ("Misunderestimated" by Bill Sammon, 117)

At that day's press briefing, Helen Thomas, the long-time correspondent for the Hearst News Service, had peppered Press Secretary Ari Fleischer with questions about Iraq -- "What is the president's rationale for invading Iraq? What made Saddam different from other dictators and worth an invasion?" As Fleischer recounted this exchage for the president, Bush's mood changed. Out of nowhere, he unleashed a string of expletives.

"Did you tell her I don't like motherfuckers who gas their own people? Did you tell her I don't like assholes who lie to the world? Did you tell her I'm going to kick his sorry motherfucking ass all over the Mideast?"

Fleischer paused. "I told her half of that." ("Hubris," pages 2-3)

The line, "Did you tell her I don't like assholes who try to kill my father?!" was inserted in the middle of Bush's diatribe because W believed that Saddam Hussein had attempted to have the elder Bush assassinated during a 1993 trip to Kuwait. W had to stay home and tend the Texas Rangers, but his wife, his mother, and two of his brothers were scheduled to accompany Poppy on that trip. So, even though the purported plot was foiled, W had a real grudge going against Saddam from the git-go. ("Hubris," pages 115-116)