How quickly they forget

Almost 20 years ago, then-President Ronald Reagan routinely forgot the names of his top generals and cabinet secretaries, particularly towards the end of his second term when his health took a turn for the worse.

In one notable example from 1988, Reagan seemed to have no idea who Samuel Pierce was, despite the fact that Pierce, then the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, was the only member of Reagan’s cabinet to serve through all of Reagan’s two terms. At a cabinet meeting, Reagan didn’t recognize his cabinet secretary, and referred to Pierce as “Mr. Mayor.” Later, at a reception for urban executives, Reagan told Pierce, “I’m glad to meet you. How are things in your city?”

Reagan had an excuse; he was already showing signs of Alzheimer’s. What’s Bush’s excuse?

At a gathering of governors at the White House on Monday, Bush welcomed everyone for coming. As the Washington Post’s Dan Froomkin noted, however, Bush exhibited Reagan-like difficulties in recognizing his new secretary of agriculture, former Nebraska governor Mike Johanns, who was standing next to him at the time.

Bush: I appreciate the members of my Cabinet who are here. Your name is?

Secretary Johanns: Johanns. (Laughter.)

Bush: It takes a while to get to know every member of the Cabinet. (Laughter.)

The governors laughed, but whether the president was kidding is not altogether clear.

Keep in mind, Bush tapped Johanns for his cabinet only three months ago, saying at the time, “I’ve known Mike for a number of years, going back to my own service as a governor.” Yet now, he seems unsure of what the guy’s name is.

I’m not saying that Bush is suffering from some kind of debilitating mental illness, and I realize that he’s not known for his intellectual prowess, but is it too much ask that the president remember the name of his own cabinet secretary whom he’s known for years?

Let’s hope he was kidding.