she brought in democrats, the late robert strous, former head of the democratic party and ambassador to russia to the soviet union then. she brought in all sorts of figures to talk and better inform the president so he was not isolated in the white house. and she protected him, perhaps excessively from too much travel after his first pretty much well-viewed as disastrous trip to europe in 1982 when he was overscheduled and barely got through a three country day, ending in a state dinner after starting out in rome and meeting with the pope. but the fact is that she in keeping his travel schedule, preserved his presidency in realizing that he needed more time, that for him to go to china, he needed to first go to hawaii for a few days and ak la mate and then go to gaum and see the troops. she managed to organize the white house, and she was feared by the white house staff. all of those trips to an a br barbara, people dreaded getting that duty. there was no buffer between you and the calls from the first lady. it was all in the interest of her husband and his presidency. and i have to