简介：Aftersurvivingoneoftheroughestpresidentialelectionsinmoderntimes,PresidentGeorgeW.Bushsingledoutonememberofhisteaminparticular,callingKarlRovethecampaign's"architect."ButRove,alongtimeBushadviserandconfidant,ismuchmorethanapoliticalguru,heisalsothesinglemostpowerful--andambitious--policyadviserintheWhiteHouse. In"KarlRove--TheArchitect,"FRONTLINE®andTheWashingtonPostjoinforcestotracethepoliticalhistoryandmodusoperandiofthecontroversialfigurewhohasbeenontheinsideofeverymajorpoliticalandpolicydecisionoftheBushadministration.Withthecampaignover,RovehasturnedhisattentiontothebattleforBush'slegacyonissueslikeSocialSecurity,taxesandtortreform.Buthisultimategoalissomethinglarger. "IthinkwhattheyaretryingtodoisbiggerthantheGreatSociety,andapproachestheNewDeal.Theyaren'tkiddingaround."WashingtonPostreporterThomasEdsallsays. "KarlRove--TheArchitect"tracesRove'sbiographyandpoliticalcareerfromhisdayscampaigningforRichardNixonasthechairoftheCollegeRepublicanstohisrecentappointmentasdeputychiefofstaffinchargeofcoordinatingdomesticpolicy,economicpolicy,nationalsecurity,andhomelandsecurity.DrawingoninterviewswithmostofthemajorfiguresintheBush2004campaign,Rove'sassociatesfromTexas,Washingtonpowerbrokers,aRovebiographer,andreportersforTheWashingtonPost,thefilmexaminesRove'splanforthere-electioncampaign:a"basestrategy"thatwouldmobilizeBush'scoresupporterstoturnoutinrecordnumbers. "AcloselookatRove'smethodovertheyearsrevealsadualstrategy,"saysFRONTLINEproducerMichaelKirk,"onepartin-your-face,eye-gougingpolitics,andanotherparttranslatingcomplexpolicyintosimple-to-understandconcepts.Bothapproacheshavenourishedanewconservativeimpulseamongvoters,animpulsethatisbeingusedtochangethenatureoftheAmericangovernment." TheprogrambeginsonElectionDay2004.AsthepresidentemergedfromtheCrawford,Texas,firestationaftervoting,thepresscorpswassurprisedbywhattheysaw."Thepeoplearoundhimwereveryconcernedthattheyhadlost,"WashingtonPostreporterMikeAllentellsFRONTLINE,"andyouseetheaides,includingthepresident'sdaughters…lookingliketheywereatafuneral." Andasthedaywenton,earlyexitpollsdeliveredtoKarlRoveonAirForceOneseemedtoshowasubstantialvictoryforSen.JohnKerry. "Theairwentoutoftheairplane,"saidBushchiefmediastrategistMarkMcKinnon."Theairjustgotsuckedout." ButRove,whohadspentyearscourtingwhathecalledtheRepublicanconservativebase,immediatelycrunchedthenumberstoseeifallthehandholdingandpoliticaldealmakingwiththatgroupwouldyieldtheturnoutheexpected.BeforelongRoveknewtheexitpollswerewrong. IntheendBush'sre-electionwastheresultofmanyfactorsincludingthecountry'sdeepconcernovernationalsecurity.Butnofactorwasmoreimportantthanthesophisticatedefforttoturnoutcoresupporters.ItwasaneffortKarlRovehadbeenworkingonforyears--identifying,learningabout,andtailoringpoliciestomeetthepoliticaldesiresofakeygroupofconservativeRepublicans. "Theevangelicalsdidn'tjustcomeonboardforhim,theywerecampaigning.Theywereattheevents,theywerethepollvolunteers,theyweremakingthephonecalls.Youknow,that'showyouwinelections,"saysWashingtonPostreporterDanaMilbank. Overthepast35years,KarlRovehashonedhisskillsathardballpolitics,usingwedgeissues,surrogates,andattackads,butthesemethodsthattheprogramtracesinTexas--whereRove,inthewordsofTexasMonthlyexecutiveeditorSamGwynne,helped"midwife"thestatefromsolidlyDemocratictosolidlyRepublican--SouthCarolina,andinthecontestwithJohnKerryareonlyapartofthestory.Rovetacticshavebeeninserviceofalong-standingbeliefintheneedtoreshapetheAmericanpoliticallandscape.AndinGeorgeBushhefoundtheperfectcandidatewhohashisownambitiontoleavealargelegacy. SayslongtimeconservativepoliticalactivistGroverNorquist,"IthinkRoveunderstandsthenatureofthemodernconservativemovement.RoveandPresidentGeorgeW.Bushhavestakedoutveryradical,meaningfundamental,conservativepositions...Ithinkthere'slessdaylightbetweenBushandRove--it'sliketwohalvesofabrainorsomething.They'rebothoperatinginsyncandhaveforyears."…