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Down to Business

By Kathryn Hoffman

New Presidents like to act fast. While George W. Bush was being sworn in as President on January 20, workers were laying carpets and hanging drapes at the White House. By the end of the Inaugural festivities, the Oval Office had gone from bright yellow and blue to pale peach and cream. It was a small sign that the new team wanted to set a fresh tone. Another sign was a new rule: no blue jeans in the Oval Office!

Of course, President Bush had bigger things on his mind as he got down to business last week. A new President's first 100 days make up the traditional "honeymoon" period, when Congress and the nation are likely to be most supportive. Bush says he will use his first 180 days to tackle such major tasks as improving American schools, cutting taxes and strengthening the military.

Just as he promised in campaign speeches, Bush reached out to Democratic as well as Republican members of Congress. Last week he met many times with members of both parties. "It is a habit I intend to keep," he vowed.

Big Plans For Our Schools
The new President presented a detailed plan for improving U.S. schools. He wants to hold failing schools responsible for poor performance and give local officials more control. He also wants students in grades 3 through 8 to be tested each year in reading and math. If a child fails three years in a row, parents could get government money to send the child to private school. Bush hopes to persuade Congress to approve the plan.

Bush visited a Washington, D.C., elementary school last week after announcing his big plan. He told students and teachers, "It's a real treat to be able to look children in the eye and wish them all the best."

Next: Reindeer On The Run