Special Section: Bush Visits Louisiana
Bush Comes to Dine and Money Is on the Menu
By Shearon Roberts
NYT Institute

METAIRIE, La., May 21 -- President George W. Bush came to an affluent suburban community here for lunch at the home of developer Edward B. “Trip” Ludwig III with local businessmen and supporters who paid up to $25,000 for the pleasure of dining with the president.

By the time he emerged three hours later, his campaign war chest was $2 million richer.

Two white tents erected on the freshly cut lawn of the Ludwig’s Woodvine Street mansion sheltered guests who paid $2,000 to attend the reception.

  
 
 
Garrison L. Vereen II/NYT Institute
  Ruth Goodman and her son protest Bush's visit outside the Ludwig home on Friday.

Bush had delivered the commencement speech at Louisiana State University earlier Friday morning.

His host, who is the president of Ludwig Buildings Inc. in Harahan, La., has made political action committee donations to Louisiana Republican candidates. Among the donations was $1,000 to Representative David Vitter in his 2000 run for office.

Ludwig declined comment on the presidential visit.

Businessman Joe Canizaro, coordinator of Bush’s local Victory 2004 campaign, who organized the private luncheon, said the event raised more money than expected. Donors were shuttled to the luncheon on private buses from a downtown parking lot.

Metairie resident Bobby Patrick, who paid $25,000 to attend the luncheon, said Bush told guests that he felt extremely positive that he would be re-elected and he is committed to promoting freedom universally.
Patrick quoted the president as saying on the war in Iraq, “It’s going to be costly, but I am going to stay the course.”

During the luncheon Bush expressed his commitment to diversity and listed the names of blacks and female officials in his administration, Kenner physician James Denson said. “He has the most diverse cabinet ever put together,” said Denson, who is black.

According to Dr. James Eason, another donor, Bush spoke on topics ranging from Medicaid reform, to the war in Iraq and the educational initiative No Child Left Behind in support of his record.

By mid-afternoon, Secret Service agents, state troopers and police officers cordoned off streets lined with supporters of President Bush, protesters and onlookers in the quiet, wealthy Old Metairie neighborhood.
Outside the Ludwig home and beyond police barricades, Ruth Goodman, dressed in a white suit, blue shoes and holding a red “Stand Up For Kerry” sign, accused Bush of retreating to what she called “David Duke country.” Goodman said she picked her son up from the neighboring Metairie Park Country Day School early so that he could join her in protesting the expensive gala.

“Bush should be really proud that he is being supported in the heart of David Duke country,” she said.

“I think he is a lousy president and Kerry is going to replace him very soon.” Members of the anti-war group Community Concern and Compassion for the Workers Democratic Network were among the protesters.

Jay Arena, the director of the local chapter, said the group wanted to denounce the torture inflicted on detained Iraqis.

“We’re calling for the release of detainees and justice that not only prosecutes the guards but that leads all the way to the Pentagon,” Arena said.

“We don’t think we need to pay $2,000 to get to the president,” he said. Across the street from the protesters, Bush’s supporters applauded the president for visiting Louisiana.

“It’s a great compliment to this community that the president decided to show his appreciation to his supporters,” said Billy Hankins, who lives down the street from the Ludwigs.

“I think it can only help his chances to win the state for a second time in a row.”
President Bush Draws Long Lines
By Ashley Kelly
NYT Institute

BATON ROUGE, May 21 -- Laughter and chatter filled the air as friends and family gathered Friday for Louisiana State University’s 253rd commencement ceremony. Though many came to see their loved ones walk across the stage, some came to hear President George W. Bush give the commencement address.

“I came here at 5 a.m. just to see him make the turn,” said Lawrence Camel, who arrived five hours early to see the president’s cars drive into the parking lot adjacent to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

By 8:24 a.m., a line had formed around both sides of the building.

“We don’t get much excitement like this in Louisiana,” said Jaime Butitta, who said she has lived in the state all her life and was at the center to see her brother graduate. She said that most people arrive at LSU events early because of the shortage of parking. Bush’s visit made it even harder to secure parking spaces, Butitta said.

Several on-campus lots were cordoned off as a security precaution, forcing drivers to park farther from the event.

Tara Dupre avoided the parking problem altogether.
Dupre, who is an administrative specialist at LSU, had her mother drop her off. “We can’t park anywhere,” Dupre said.

As the parking lots filled with vehicles, mainly with Louisiana tags, the line for commencement continued to grow.

Although approximately 99 metal barricades stretched from the parking lot adjacent to the Maravich Center to the back of the university’s track they were not long enough to contain the growing line.

Lyle Lowery, who reached the end of one line about 9:15 a.m., said he had never seen the campus as full as it was.

“I had no idea the line would be this long,” Lowery said. “I heard the line was supposed to cut off at 9:45 a.m. and that’s 30 minutes from now.”

Both lines were brought to a halt at 9:25 a.m. for the arrival of the president.

Mark Shaw, a major in LSU’s police department, could have been mistaken for a Secret Service agent because of his black suit and ear piece. Shaw stood on North Stadium Road, which was closed to traffic for Bush’s arrival, and he made sure any person moving toward the barricades was stopped.

Moments later, President Bush arrived with an entourage of about 16 vehicles, followed by at least 30 police officers on motorcycles. The crowd cheered as the man of the hour finally made his entrance.

After the police officers successfully led the president onto the campus, they parked their motorcycles in a straight line across the street from the Maravich Center while the remaining guest proceeded to the front entrances.

Security around the campus, which is in a residential area, was tight. Officers were posted on top of buildings, in parking lots around the campus, and inside the building.

Shaw said the graduation, which usually requires only 6 LSU officers, required 70 officers inside the building and 150 outside for the motorcade. Shaw said that the number did not include officers the Secret Service brought to the event. Shaw also said that all attendees were required to go through metal detectors.

The president’s visit not only affected security, but also the number of tickets students were allotted to attend the graduation.

Carolyn Collins, the associate vice chairwoman of the university said that the number of tickets distributed decreased this year. Collins said most undergraduate students were allotted four tickets, one less than previous graduates. Students receiving higher degrees could get up to eight.
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