Bush Vacations in Florida

B O C A  G R A N D E, Fla., Dec. 27, 2000 -- President-elect Bush, unwinding at anisland resort renowned for its fishing, said today he hopes toname “a couple” of Cabinet members this week.

As he boarded a boat for a fishing trip with family members,Bush declined to say whether he has settled on a nominee to bedefense secretary. “Nobody’s out of the running,” he said.

Bush plans to be in Washington Thursday and Friday and suggestedthe next round of announcements would come there. He said prospectsare good for announcing “hopefully a couple of Cabinet secretaries... in the next couple of days.”

Trolling for Big Fish

Bush and his father, former President Bush, set off in a skiffto fish for snook. Immediately behind them in a second boat werethe president-elect’s brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and sister,Dorothy Koch. In a third skiff were two of her children.

“Assume I caught a good one,” Bush cracked to reporters.Pointing to his father, Bush said, “He’s a better fisherman,” towhich the elder Bush replied, “No, no.”

The former president, who recently had hip surgery, boarded theboat slowly, carrying a cane and fishing rod.

Aides to the president-elect said one of his twin daughters,Jenna, who underwent an emergency appendectomy Christmas night,would join the family at the resort later today. Her sister,Barbara, already is here.

Although this was billed as a no-news vacation, Bush is workingon building a new administration. He conferred by phone Tuesdaywith Vice President-elect Dick Cheney and Andrew Card, who will behis White House chief of staff. He wedged in a 2½-hour game of golfas well.

But this morning, the focus was on fishing, the sportthat has drawn the Bush family here for years. Boca Grande, on atiny Gulf Coast spit of land called Gasparilla Island, is known asthe nation’s capital of tarpon, a prized sport fish that can weighmore than 300 pounds. But local anglers said tarpon don’t run thistime of year.

Much of the Bush clan is on the island, staying at theGasparilla Inn, a stately Victorian manor with a colony of guesthouses and an adjacent golf course.

Bush played golf Tuesday with brother Jeb; brother-in-law BobbyKoch; and Jeb’s son, George P. Bush. Other family members walkedthe course with them, including brothers Marvin and Neil; theirfather and former first lady Barbara Bush.

Last Chance for Relaxation

It was Bush’s first trip to the state since the election recounthere stalled his claim on the presidency for five weeks.

It was also one of the last breaks he will get before movinginto the White House on Jan. 20.

Arriving at the Charlotte County airport Tuesday, Bush gave ahearty wave goodbye to reporters and photographers recording theevent.

Journalists traveling with Bush were housed an hour and-a-halfaway from the inn.

And area residents and tourists were not about to pester thefamily.

“The reason the Bushes come here year after year is because noone bothers them,” said Viola Dyer, owner of the Boca Rico Mexicanrestaurant on the island’s main drag.