Bush Kicks Back in Maine on Birthday Weekend

On a glorious holiday weekend, his first time back at the Bush family redoubt since becoming president, President Bush is celebrating his 55th birthday in true Bush style: enjoying early morning rounds of golf, competitive games of horseshoes, fishing and mingling with relatives and close friends, staying for the most part out of public sight.

Bush made his first real public appearance Saturday night, going to a local restaurant for a meal out.

Otherwise, he has been content to hang out with his parents, siblings and friends at the Bush compound at Walker’s Point. Bush also is squeezing in a bit of work.

After golf Saturday, Bush received his daily briefing from National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and met with his White House chief of staff, Andrew H. Card Jr.

“The amazing thing about this job, though, is the job seems to follow you around,” Bush mused as he prepared to tee off.

As locals are learning: Bush the Younger is much more of a homebody than his hyperkinetic father. That’s just fine by some.

Bush the Elder’s frequent public expeditions into town caused massive traffic jams in this scenic seaside resort, with its woefully insufficient thoroughfares for the growing volume of summer tourists.

“And Bush [the former president] used to stay here a month at a time!” recalled one woman, a 30-year Kennebunkport resident, as she stood outside her onetime sea captain’s house.

The president arrived with First Lady Laura Bush on Thursday (along with Spot and Barney, their dogs). The couple is enjoying a long weekend highlighted by Bush’s 55th birthday celebration Friday--a private affair at the family’s estate.

Also here are Bush’s parents, former President Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush; brother Jeb, the governor of Florida; and sister Dorothy. The president’s two teenage daughters remained in Texas, aides said.

To mark the gathering, flags at the compound representing all the family’s factions, and more, were flying high: the Stars and Stripes, the state flags of Maine, Texas and Florida; and a flag bearing the presidential seal.

“I’m going to get what I want for my birthday: spend some time with my family, a couple of good phone calls from some little girls down in Texas,” Bush said Friday.

During both golf outings, Bush was unusually buoyant, joshing incessantly with reporters, who were allowed to watch him tee off on the first hole and putt on the 18th green.

Asked what he had wished for when he blew out his birthday candles, the president replied playfully: “I can’t tell you. You might put it in the newspaper.”

Bush also aimed his pointed humor at his father.

One reporter had committed the ultimate sin among golfers of talking (actually, posing a question) during Bush pere’s backswing on the first tee. But he drove the ball straight and true down the fairway.

“Keep talking in his backswing. He’s getting better,” Bush the Younger told the reporter (who had shouted a question about China).

The round ended with a lively exchange between the president and the governor of Florida, who was nursing a sore (and well-bandaged) finger as a result of a fishing mishap. (First cousin Jeb Ellis completed Saturday’s foursome.)

On Hole 18, the president’s approach shot (which sailed perilously close to the press gaggle) missed the green and landed in a sand trap. From there, Bush hit a deft wedge shot, landing the ball within 4 feet of the cup.

“You know, occasionally something good happens,” he said, beaming with satisfaction.

Before he abandoned the sand trap, however, the governor of Florida tossed another ball into the sand, daring his older brother: “George, do it again.”

To that, big brother replied, “Forget 181,” referring to an offshore oil exploration lease in the Gulf of Mexico that he had scaled back at little brother’s request.

To ensure that his point did not elude the press, the president turned to the reporters and asked: “Get it?”

“All right. I’ll take the ball back,” Jeb Bush said.

But the governor got the last laugh.

From such a short distance, the president missed two putts before picking up.

Only once did the president reveal any mixed feelings about turning 55. Musing about perhaps jogging later in the day, Bush warned reporters Friday morning, “So if you see a rather old guy, kind of moving along slowly, that will be me.”