HOW LAURA BUSH BECAME PRESIDENT

CHENEY RETIRES FOR THE NIGHT

As Dick Cheney put his head on his pillow, he thought back on the day, as was his custom. It was not his best day, to put it mildly. In the senate, four Democratic senators introduced separate Articles of Impeachment against him. Cheney sunk farther down on his pillow as, in his mind, he went over the articles, one-by-one. It was all there. Obviously, one or more of the Halliburton people plea- bargained. That had to be the answer. In addition, someone from the firm handling the so-called blind trust caved in too.

When he asked how serious the evidence for impeachment is, I had to lie to the President, he thought. But he didn't buy it. I could tell by the smirk and by the cuff he gave my arm. He'll find a way to ease me out. Has to. Rove probably has my exit scenario already worked out

Damn that Bush smirk! I thought he cured himself of that before the '04 campaign.

Lynn stirred in her sleep and turned over on her left side. Dick sighed and looked at his sleeping wife. At least he could always count on her loyalty and support. She made that clear before settling down to sleep. He was lucky to have such a wife, friend, counselor and helpmate.

That was the last thought Dick Cheney ever had. As he settled back to sleep, he suffered a massive, heart attack.

A few hours later, Lynn awoke. As soon as she did, she sensed that something was wrong.

She turned to her husband and touched his face. It was cold to her touch. She tried to rouse him. He did not move. She gasped.

She summoned the Secret Service agents from downstairs, called her husband's doctor and got ready to call the President.

THE NEXT MORNING AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Laura Bush woke up while her husband was on the phone. Bush hung up as Laura turned toward him.

"What was that, George, another catastrophe in the world? We've had more than our fair share the past few months," she said as she yawned herself fully awake.

"Catastrophe? I guess you could say that. That was Lynn Cheney. The Vice-President died during the night. His heart finally got him."

"George, I am so sorry. I know you depended on him in so many ways."

"It's not quite like tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and wars. Still, it is sad to see him go. I will miss him."

"What do you do now, George? What happens when the Vice-President dies?"

"Well, there is Constitutional provision. I'll have to get the full story from the legal beagles . . . from my counsel and the Attorney General. First thing I'll do is call in the key advisors, consult with the Congressional leadership, those sorts of things. I talked to Mom and Dad about it some time back."

"How was Lynn taking it?"

"Like the trooper she is. She said there was too much to think about and to do. She said she will grieve later, when she has time to get away from Washington and it finally hits her."

"I'll get ready and go to her, George. I'm sure I can be of some help." With that the First Lady got out of bed and headed towards the bathroom, putting on a dressing gown as she did so.

"No. I need you here. Dress in your best media outfit. After I meet with Karl and Andy, we need to talk. Someplace where no one can hear us. How about coming down to the Oval Office?"

Laura turned. "Send word up and I will come right down. I still think I should go to Lynn."

"Lynn will be okay. She'll be plenty busy. She won't have to do it all, though. The preparations, I mean. There are people who do all of that. Handle the protocol. It has to be handled correctly, if you know what I mean. His entire staff, her staff . . . and mine, will be fully involved."

LATER IN THE OVAL OFFICE

When Laura Bush was ushered into the Oval Office, she looked immaculate, as usual.

"Sit over here. You'll need to be sitting down." The President pointed to a chair.

"Look, Laura, we've known since the start that Dick's heart was bad, real bad. It's not like this came out of the blue. Naturally, we have given some thought to who we should have step into Dick's shoes . . . if something like this happened, even if he only became unable . . . "

"Yes. I've thought about it too. I was surprised you picked him the first time. Then he had that heart incident right after the 2000 election."

"Boy! Talk about timing. If he'd had that before the election, it wouldn't have even been

close. What I want to say is that . . . well, a lot of thought has gone into what I am going

to say. Like I said, some time back, I even ran it by Mom and Dad."

Laura looked puzzled. Then, she started to say something.

The President cut her off. "Yep! You're my choice. I want you to serve out Dick's term. I want to send your name to the Congress!"

"George, you've finally flipped. Look what they did to you over Harriet. That was nothing . . . "

"Not necessarily. We've given this a lot of thought. We've gone through a lot of names. Analyzed polls. It's not as radical as you might think. Besides, why argue? Aren't you the perfect wife?"

"It's not me. It's all of them on the radical right. The ones that caused Harriet to withdraw . . . "

"It'll be different. The American people love you. The polls show that. Many would prefer to have you in my shoes, especially some of . . . you know. The Republican moderates and the Democrats."

"There is more to the problem. I don't have the credentials. The experience. The stomach for it."

"That's part of my argument. You have the best qualifications. You've been with me all the way. All the way from bringing me . . . back. From the alcohol. All the way from the first. When I was in business. Texas governor. The campaigns. The whole Zamboni!"

"Of course, if you insist, I'll let you submit my name. Have to, I guess. But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Piece of cake. You'll see. Americans love you. The Congress will see the wisdom of it. There will be a lack of controversy. There's nobody else."

"So, am I the bottom of the barrel?"

"Look, I didn't mean it like that . . . you're the best choice. Better get ready. I want you beside me when I make the announcement. I want you looking very Vice-Presidential."

PRESIDENT BUSH ANNOUNCES CHENEY'S DEATH

"Good morning, fellow citizens. I come before you to bring you up to date on developments regarding Vice President Cheney. Late last night, after a long and tension filled day in the Senate and following a State Dinner, Vice President Cheney and Mrs. Cheney retired for the night. Sometime during the night - perhaps shortly after Mrs. Cheney went to sleep - the Vice-President suffered a final, fatal heart attack.

When she awoke several hours later, Mrs. Cheney discovered her husband's body in the bed beside her. She immediately summoned the Secret Service detail that was on duty and called the Vice-President's doctor. The Secret Service detail called the appropriate emergency teams. Mrs. Cheney notified me.

When I learned of the Vice-President's death earlier this morning, I asked various members of my staff to prepare lists of possible successors to Mr. Cheney. I made the same request of certain congressional leaders. Finally, I called Mom and Dad for their input. And, I discussed the matter with my wife, Laura.

When a Vice-President dies, it becomes the duty of the President to nominate a successor and to formally send the name of that nominee to both houses of the Congress, in accordance with Section 2 of Amendment Twenty-five to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Let me read Section 2 of Amendment Twenty-five to the Constitution in its entirely. I do so now with both great sadness and the utmost urgency.

Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take the office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress.

My fellow citizens, that is about as brief and as clear as it could be. I intend to fulfill my responsibility as President right now.

It is my duty, my firm intention and my great pleasure to nominate Laura Lane Welch Bush for the office of Vice-President of the United States. I am sending her name to the Congress for what I hope and pray will be immediate confirmation by both houses of the Congress."

Pandemonium breaks out. There is shouting and several reporters bolt for the door.

The President asks for quiet. When quiet returns the President continues. "Why my wife? Laura is the person that has done the most to hold my life together. Especially since I served as Governor of the great state of Texas, she has been a source of comfort, of stability, of wisdom, of counsel and of moderation. Because of our close relationship and my abiding trust in her knowledge, wisdom and judgment, she was a de facto second Lieutenant Governor of Texas and - even more so - she has been a de facto Vice President of the United States. It seems only reasonable and fair that she serve formally in that capacity for the remainder of my term.

For a variety of political and practical reasons, every other name under consideration this morning or that could be on any list of names that might be constructed - on careful consideration - presented problems for me, for my staff and for those with whom I consulted.

All of the people that were on the various lists are decent, competent and experienced people. Each in his or her own way could and would do the hard work that the job of Vice President requires. Some of the names on the various lists are people who may be fully qualified to be President of these United States.

In spite of that and because of my long, loving and respectful relationship with Laura, it was easy for me to lay aside each and every name on the list, save hers. I trust that both houses of the Congress will agree with my reasoning and with my choice and that each will confirm her; and, in the shortest possible time. Tomorrow would not be too soon for me.

Now, it is time to take a few questions from the White House Media Corp."

First reporter: "Mr. President, does this mean that Mrs. Bush will run for President in 2008, if she is confirmed as Vice President?"

"Hardly. My wife and I have a lovely home on our ranch near Crawford, Texas. It was planned and built to be our retirement home. Even now, each time she has to leave it, she leaves with reluctance. She yearns to be there on a permanent basis. She has reading that she wants to do. She has gardens that she wants to fully develop. I want to be back there so I can do some serious brush cutting."

Second reporter: "Mr. President, who were some of the names on the list that did not 'make the cut,' so to speak?"

"It would be wrong for me to mention even one name. I am sure that each of you could make up a list. And, many of the people on the lists I worked with would be on your lists. Common sense dictated those who were on my final list. I feel that common sense brought me to the choice I made."

Third reporter: "Mr. President, did your father and mother approve of the choice of your wife?"

"Yes, they did and do. So did a number of others, both family members and confidants of this President."

Fourth reporter: "Mr. President, how will you answer those who feel that this is a way for you to stay in control of our country by having your wife serve as Vice-President now and then by having her run for President in 2008?"

"I already answered that question beyond any doubt. I can add, however, that had I chosen someone from among those who might be candidates for either the Presidency or the Vice Presidency in 2008, some would have accused me of exactly that. By choosing Mrs. Bush, I have completely avoided any accusation of "playing favorites." I have not given my imprimatur - (How's that for a big word?) - to any one person."

Fifth reporter: "Mr President, how will you answer those who say that the United States is not ready to have a woman serve as Vice-President?"

"I will answer you in this way: Many nations have had or presently have women as leaders. India, Great Britain and Germany are prime examples. There is one woman on the Supreme Court, there are fourteen women serving in the United States Senate and many more in the House. The Secretary of State is a woman. There are women governors and women serving in top positions in large companies. I think it just made good sense to nominate my wife. I think a comfortable majority in both houses of the Congress and amongst the American people will agree with my decision."

Fifth reporter: "Mr. President, a follow-up question, how is it that you feel that Mrs. Bush is qualified to be Vice-President?"

"Well, I touched on that earlier. Let me expand: Because Laura was reluctant, through the years, to let me tell my Cabinet, the Congress, the Media and the American people just how much she has been involved - first, during my tenure as Governor of the great State of Texas; secondly, during my two campaigns for the Presidency; and, most importantly, in the hard work and the tough decisions I have had to make as President - in every aspect of my work and at every step of the way - her role and her experience are not fully understood or appreciated. All of the help she has given to me, makes her uniquely qualified. She has seen the work of the Vice-President and my work as President in a way no other person has seen these jobs, or could have."

Several Reporters: Mr. President, . . . Mr. President, . . . Mr. President, . . .

"Thank you for being here, for your questions and for your considerations. Now is the time for prayer. I urge each and everyone, everywhere, to pray for Mrs. Cheney, for her family, for me, for Laura, for our daughters, for our entire family and for our Nation's well being. God bless the United States of America."

With that, the President walked away from the podium and left the room. The Senate and the House confirmed the nomination almost immediately. The United States had its first woman Vice-President.

CUTTING BRUSH ON THE RANCH

George Bush woke up 'bright-eyed and bushy tailed,' a term he frequently used in describing himself. He rolled out of bed.

He quickly put on his running gear, stopped in the kitchen for a glass of juice and some water, hastened out the back door of the ranch house - followed by some of the members of his Secret Service detail - and ran a steady three mile loop.

Since he planned to cut brush, he did not shower when he got back to the house. Instead, he changed into his brush-cutting clothes, ate a hearty 'Texas breakfast,' and headed out for a day dedicated to one of his favorite activities, cutting brush on his ranch, near the tiny town of Crawford, Texas. After a chilly night, the sun was warming things up quickly.

By mid-morning, the President's work clothes were soaked with sweat. He paused occasionally to take long drinks of water, in a vain effort to keep from dehydrating. As sweat poured off his forehead into his eyes, he found it difficult to see clearly. After one of his frequent water intake breaks, he went back to work with the chainsaw.

Just then, the chainsaw jammed in a particularly tough branch. Bush jerked on the saw. The blade released suddenly, throwing the Bush off balance. He took several steps backward in a vain effort to regain his balance. He dropped the now silent chain saw. He stepped on a previously cut branch, stumbled further and fell heavily on his back. As he rolled over to get up, the rattlesnake struck at the part of the President that was closest, the upper part of his left leg.

Thunk! The fangs sunk deep into the President's thigh. A substantial gush of venom was automatically released through the snake's fangs and directly into the President's bloodstream and the muscle and other tissue surrounding the entry points of the fangs.

"Ugh! That bugger got me!" Bush sat up as the snake slithered away. "Got me in the leg." The President pointed to his upper thigh. He grasped the leg near where the snake bit him with both hands and squeezed.

One of the agents drew his pistol and shot the snake. Its head splattered away from its body.

"Don't lose sight of him. I want that skin and those rattles." The President groaned. "Better git me to a hospital. I think he got me a good 'un."

"The snake's dead, Mr. President. We can get the rattles and skin later," the agent replied. "Right now, we have to get you over to the hospital in Temple."

"We ain't leavin' without that snake. Put it in one of those sacks we keep in the Hummer. Git movin' so's you can git me to the hospital. He jes' got me in the laig; that's too fer from my heart to kill me."

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir," the agent replied.

The agent ran to the Hummer, got a heavy sack from the cargo area and ran back to the writhing snake. As he picked up the heavy body, he noticed that there were no rattles; only a stump, cleanly cut and mostly healed, where rattles should have been. Suddenly, a live baby rattlesnake dropped on the ground; then a second and a third. The dead snake was giving live birth. The agent dropped the mother snake's body and sprinted toward the Hummer.

The Hummer driver had already alerted the President's helicopter crew. Two agents helped the president up and supported him as they starting walking him toward the Hummer.

As the agent tossed the empty sack in the cargo area he said nothing, but he was wondering how the snake lost its rattles. He wondered if the snake stayed in the area where the President was cutting brush and struck because it was about to give birth. He closed the hatch, sprinted around to passenger side of the vehicle and slipped onto the front seat.

Once the president was loaded into the Hummer, the driver gunned the motor and headed for the ranch house where the helicopter was being readied for the flight to the hospital.

The agent in the back seat with the President tried to examine the wound. The wound was bleeding and substantial tissue breakdown was occurring where the fangs went in, making an accurate assessment impossible. The fang marks were too high on the thigh for a tourniquet.

The second agent in the seat next to the President opened a first aid kit that was kept in the Hummer. He pawed through it, handing cotton swabs and bandages to the agent attending the President's leg.

The President was nauseated. He was having trouble breathing. His face was ashen. He was somewhat awake but he was experiencing substantial effects from the venom.

Back at the ranch house, Mrs. Bush and the entire Crawford ranch entourage waited. The Scott-White hospital, a few miles from the ranch, was notified and informed of the nature of the problem. Antitoxin would be needed as well as a host of other procedures. Speed was of the essence.

The Hummer skidded to a stop near the helicopter. Several agents and Mrs. Bush rushed forward and helped move the President into the chopper. Mrs. Bush got in along with three of the agents. The door was secured and the helicopter roared towards the Scott-White hospital in Temple, Texas. Even the short ride to the hospital might take too long. Every minute seemed like an eternity.

Laura cradled her husband's head in her lap. As she did so, the President grinned. "Laura, that damn snake may have made you President." He winked. "If so, I want you to promise me that you will be a better president than I was. Be a president for all of the people. Be the president I intended to be. I . . . " his voiced trailed away and his eyes closed.

Rattlesnake bites are not common and they are rarely deadly. Treatment regimens are well known and are usually routine. Many snakebite victims require either no or at most brief hospitalization. Of the several thousand people who are bitten each year, only a dozen or so die from their bites. Many rattlesnake bites are called dry bites because little or no venom is released.

However, this was a large Diamondback rattler. Large rattlesnakes can and often do release substantial amounts of venom. A bite in the upper leg region presents an added and much greater danger, especially if one of the fangs releases venom into a major artery or vein.

The entire medical staff of Scott-White was alerted and a private ward was made ready. Several antitoxins were readied. Based on the information the Secret Service agents supplied, the staff knew that it might be "touch and go" for the President.

No hospital or its staff wants to be the one who loses a president to any medical or accidental cause. Every member of the hospital staff was determined to do her or his best.

When the President arrived at the hospital, he was sinking into shock. His breathing was labored and shallow. Body tissue where each of the fangs entered was decomposing from the hemotoxic components in the venom. Both heart and lung functions were critically compromised. The President's entire nervous system was impaired by the neurotoxic elements in the venom.

The President was placed on life-support even as the antitoxin was administered. Also, IVs began to introduce selected antibiotics into the President's system. This was done as a precaution. Most snakes have toxic bacteria in their mouths and on their fangs. Serious and possibly life-threatening infections following almost any snakebite are highly probable.

The bite on the leg, by itself, probably would not have been fatal. Unfortunately, the President experienced a severe allergic reaction to the antitoxin. Such reactions are somewhat common; however, the compelling good that the antitoxins can do outweigh the potential harmful effects of an allergic reaction. Since there is no way to determine which snakebite victim will display allergic reactions, the antitoxins are always given in situations like the one facing the medical team treating the President.

Later, during a public report on the autopsy, evidence was presented that showed that some of the venom went into a major leg vein. Venom was thus introduced rapidly and directly into the President's heart and his lungs. Some of the venom passed through the heart and into Bush's brain by way of the carotid artery.

The team worked on the President until it was obvious that the dual effects of the venom and the allergic reaction to the antitoxin meant that further efforts would be futile. With Laura Bush's approval, all efforts were suspended. The President was pronounced dead.

After only two months as the Vice-President, Laura Lane Welch Bush was about to become the 44th President of the United States of America.