Stars and Gripes

I am looking forward to returning to Australia after spending the past few months in the United States as our nation’s official observer of the 2000 presidential elections.
While the time I have spent in America – mainly in Washington – has been interesting and exciting, I have never been one for “living out of a suitcase” for extended periods.
The cut and thrust of US elections has always fascinated me. Despite it being fashionable for the mainstream media to portray every election as boring or lacking in substance, and for Americans to dismiss the whole process as meaningless, I knew this year the Gore versus Bush race would change everyone’s mind.
Indeed, I was already making plans to travel from Brisbane to the US under my own steam, so to speak, just to be there for the big event.
Little did I know the much more important role that would be bestowed upon me.
But I digress.
At the time I was making my travel plans, newspaper reports of the Criminal Justice Commission inquiry into so-called voting rorts by the Labor Party in Queensland caught my eye.
So too did the allegations of false enrolments that soon followed from both sides of federal politics.
The claims soon snowballed and the federal government announced an all-party parliamentary inquiry – albeit it dominated by Coalition MPs – into the integrity of our electoral rolls.
I had a nagging thought about that issue which made it difficult for me to concentrate on planning my US sojourn.
I began searching my personal files.
Being a totally professional public servant who served both sides of politics for many years, I have always been in the habit of keeping important documents, or ones that I considered may have some historical significance – even if it were only to use them when I eventually decide to write my memoirs.
I soon made the discovery that cleared up the doubts in my mind – copies of the enrolment forms I was asked to lodge shortly after joining the staff of the then federal Treasurer, John Howard, in early 1978.
I remembered at the time being asked to fill out the forms – one for me, one for Devon and one for our daughter – for an address in Mr Howard’s Sydney-based seat of Bennelong. I filled in and signed the forms apparently at Mr Howard’s request, even though our family was living in Canberra at the time and my daughter was working in London.
I didn’t think anything of it and raised the issue only once – shortly afterwards with one of the Treasurer’s senior staffers, who told me it was a requirement of staff serving in ministerial offices.
I admit I was not familiar with such a requirement and sought clarification from the then Treasurer himself, only to be told to remain relaxed and comfortable.
Thinking this information may be somewhat relevant to the federal inquiry, I contacted its Liberal Party chairman and advised I was ready and able to give evidence at the committee’s Brisbane sittings due to be held in December.
After all, Mr Howard was now Prime Minister and some of his own ministerial colleagues were under attack for matters which were, quite clearly a longstanding policy requirement.
My evidence could clear this matter up once and for all.
The committee chairman’s staff promised to get back to me.
So, one day a month or more ago, while sitting at home checking travel and air fare brochures, my telephone rang. Naturally, I expected it to be someone from the committee secretariat to arrange a date and time for my appearance to give evidence that would save the government any further unwarranted embarrassment.
But no, on the other end of the line was a young lass who said the Prime Minister wanted a word with me.
Soon John Howard came on the line and, in his usual businesslike manner, came straight to the point.
“Rufus, I want you to be my special observer at the US presidential elections. I’m sending air tickets and we’ve made all the bookings for you. You leave tomorrow,” he stated.
“I want you see out the election and then stay on for as long as it takes to help us establish a positive working relationship with the new President.”
As a professional public servant, I knew I could not refuse. The committee would have to wait.
I hastily packed and said my good-byes the next day to my good wife, Devon, who unfortunately was confined to bed with “women’s problems”.
Luckily her close lady friend Les was, as usual, there to keep her company and her spirits up and had even taken to staying in bed with her.
As all readers would know, the voting outcome in the US was – and perhaps still isn’t – clear cut.
But, after weeks and weeks of legal and political manoeuvering, Vice-President Al Gore conceded and George Bush was declared the winner.
Seizing the initiative, I put in a call to Mr Bush as soon as Mr Gore threw in the towel.
It was the next day before he rang back, but I told him I understood how busy he must be.
I told him that Prime Minister Howard had authorised me to provide him with whatever support he needed, and that the Australian government was – as usual – taking a vital interest in the steps he was taking to shape his new administration and the policies he would implement. In short – and calling upon all the authority Mr Howard had bestowed upon me – I said that on this occasion I spoke directly for the Prime Minister, his government and indeed all Australians.
I congratulated him on becoming the 43rd US President.
I had read that Mr Bush was never one for detail, so I politely corrected myself when he informed me that he was in fact the 41st President.
I asked him to pass on to his good wife Barbara the best wishes of the Australian people who were looking forward to seeing her in the role of First Lady again.
He went quiet for a moment but promised he would do so.
Knowing his time was precious, I concluded by saying that even before assuming office, he had created history by being only the second person to win the Presidency twice – the only other one being Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.
Mr Bush then made some remark about his son – although I had read he had only two daughters – before saying he had another pressing appointment.
I told him I fully understood and that he should feel free to call on me at any time if there was anything the Australian government could do for him or his administration.
Ever so polite, he said he didn’t think he would be calling too soon, or words to that effect.
Unfortunately the line dropped out at that point, but I felt satisfied I had made a good impression and that US-Australian relations were still on a solid footing.
Soon after speaking with Mr Bush, the phone in my Washington hotel rang again.
It was the Prime Minister. I gave him a summary of my talk with the President-elect and told him I was prepared to return home.
I also asked about my crucial evidence in support of him and his government which I was still eager to put before the parliamentary committee.
He said the committee planned to hold further hearings in the New Year, but that he wanted me to stay on in Washington a little longer.
So, I am here for Christmas – away from family and friends – and likely to remain at least until Mr Bush’s inauguration on January 20.
I look forward to catching up with him in person and continuing our conversation.

Rufus Badinage MBE, now retired, is one of Australia’s leading
experts on politics and public administration having worked as a
senior bureaucrat for various state and federal governments.