From Bush to Big Mac: PR Man to Polish Steroid Poster Boy Mark McGwire's Image

Feb. 17, 2010 -- What do you do for an encore after defending President Bush from the national media? Try representing a former superstar athlete stained by steroid use.

"When you leave the red-hot excitement of the White House it's kind of nice to replace it with something that's also red-hot and exciting and that's the world of sports," says former Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer.

Jupiter, Fla., is a long way from the White House, but for Fleischer, think of it as his new office. The St. Louis Cardinals call Jupiter their home for spring training and this year the spotlight of baseball's annual preseason will be shining squarely on Jupiter: Fleischer's biggest client has a brand new gig. And it's hardly an easy one.

Few players in Major League Baseball history have ever fallen from grace faster than Mark McGwire, the former Cardinals slugger who 12 years ago shattered the sport's home-run record, but earlier this year admitted using steroids.

One month after his admission, McGwire today will take the field in Jupiter as the Cardinals'new hitting coach. And as the disgraced superstar returns to the national spotlight, Fleischer will be guiding his every move.

Let's just say the PR man comes prepared. From 2001 to 2003, Fleischer was White House press secretary for President George W. Bush – and it'd be an understatement to say he had his hands full.

First, Fleischer had to contend with the backlash from the controversial Florida recount. Then the September 11 attacks. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The anthrax attacks. And the uproar over the leaked identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame.