bob still had control over his leadership. then, when george herbert walker bush picked dick cheney to become his secretary of defense, that was a real blow to bob michel, because he had opened up the whip position and everyone knew that newt was salivating and had a burr under his saddle to run for leadership, and the second most powerful leadership position on the republican side was the whip's job. - i was working for vin weber at the time. vin was close to newt, and he called that afternoon, and he said the president has nominated dick cheney to be secretary of defense. well, who's gonna run for whip, and i said the only name i've heard right off the bat was newt, and he laughed, and i laughed, telling him, you know, well, that'd be great, but newt can't win that race, and vin was one of his best friends, but it was just viewed as newt was the bottom thrower and it would be very difficult for him to get the votes.