Presidents Buck Up, Tee Off For Tsunami Aid

By Michael C. Bender and Rachel Harris
Palm Beach Post

HOBE SOUND, Fla. -- The group of wealthy executives and CEOs knew spending the day with former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush would be memorable.

And then fellow ex-President Gerald Ford phoned.

"Hi Jerry," Bush said, taking Clinton's cellphone.

The moment took place during a charity event at the Medalist Golf Club on Wednesday that, despite a consistent, daylong rain, left many donors feeling as if they got their money's worth. The event, which attracted 54 golfers, cost $30,000 a head.

"It was a moment in history," Adam Falkoff said of the phone call.

Falkoff, a Washington lobbyist and one of the event's participants, was near the ex-presidents when Ford called. He figured it was to wish Clinton good luck with his operation, scheduled for today.

Clinton will undergo a procedure this morning to remove scar tissue in his chest that developed after quadruple-bypass surgery in September.

The most recent ex-president joked Wednesday that, unlike his first attempt at playing the Medalist, this time he would be going to the hospital after he played golf. The last time he tried it, in 1997, he slipped and injured his knee while visiting professional golfer Greg Norman's estate on nearby Jupiter Island hours before tee time.

"I've stepped off that step about three times now, so I'm three for four," said Clinton, who stayed with Norman again Tuesday night. "I may go over and step off of it a few more times before I leave just to get my percentage up."

Bush, whose late parents once lived on Jupiter Island, said Wednesday was the first time he returned to the area since 2001, when Norman hosted a fund-raising event for Bush's son, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

"That was when (Jeb) was up for reelection of this state and that touched me and (wife) Barbara very much," Bush said. Bush said he made Norman agree to a "no-laughing rule" when they were on the course Wednesday.

Norman organized Wednesday's event to aid victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami that hit Asia and Africa. The event, known as "Three Friends: One Goal," raised $1.8 million, some from donors who did not play Wednesday.

"This country is the most philanthropic country I've ever seen in the world," Norman said. "From the private sector, it is just phenomenal."

U.S. citizens and corporations have donated more than $1.1 billion for tsunami relief, according to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. The U.S. government has pledged about $950 million.

Clinton said the donations have earned the United States goodwill in Indonesia. He said a State Department survey he received Tuesday showed Osama bin Laden's popularity had fallen from 58 percent to 23 percent in the country since the tsunami.

"There is now a plurality in Indonesia that believes America should lead the war on terror, the first Muslim country to believe that," Clinton said. "When they were asked why, everyone cited because of the way America responded with tsunami relief. They know we had no ulterior motives. They know all these contributions came on a totally human level."

The event's proceeds will go to two charities with close ties to the presidents: the Stamford, Conn.-based AmeriCares, for which former first lady Barbara Bush is an advisory board chairwoman, and UNICEF, which teamed with the William J. Clinton Foundation to rebuild areas the tsunami hit.

"I give these guys an awful lot of credit, not just for coming out in the rain, but for being here at all," AmeriCares Chief Financial Officer Peter Farnsworth said of the former presidents. He was among those scheduled to golf Wednesday.

Others included Patrick Moynihan, a relative of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan; Thaddeus Shelly III, a senior managing director for Bessemer Trust Co.; Palm Beach financier Nelson Peltz; Coral Gables attorney Jack Thompson; Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Malley; Hobe Sound businessman Robert Binder; Georgia realty CEO Joe Jillson; Outback Steakhouse CEO Chris Sullivan; Budweiser distributor Fred Dana; and Norman's brother-in-law Richard Andrassy.

Before teeing off, Norman and the ex-presidents fielded questions from the press in a firelighted study.

While other players sipped mimosas and bloody Marys, it was strictly water for Clinton while playing the course, Medalist bartender Patrick Keegan said. Bush opted for Diet Coke and water.

There was some discussion around noon about playing just one hole and handing out the tournament prizes, which included two customized, high-end golf carts. All the participants received gift bags that included $350 sunglasses, a cashmere sweater and a MacGregor golf club.

When it became apparent the rain was not going to let up, one player suggested scratching the golf and playing a round of Texas Hold 'Em poker for $400 a person.

So at about 1 p.m., the former presidents, Norman and about half of the 54 golfers scattered across the course and played about 15 holes. On the driving range, Clinton and Bush took practice swings less than 100 yards from U.S. 1.

Some players joked that Clinton and Bush seemed to be the most determined to play through the storm.

Clinton said he was worried about "some people wussing out" because of the rain.

"The presidents playing through the rain was pretty impressive to me," Moynihan said after the event. "Those guys were troupers."

Clinton downplayed today's operation, saying it is "not a dangerous procedure" and is "no big deal."

Clinton is expected to remain in the hospital for three to 10 days after the operation.

"I've had a very unusual life. If I get struck by lightning on the golf course today, I'd wind up ahead of 99.999 percent of the people who ever lived did. So I'm just grateful for every day."