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Show maks :gpod - Steve is the right-hand man to President Bush I ii i ,,-, I, II I i.i , ii , I Him n, , , ill , 1 ' ''" 1 I "J I -kX - c ' - ' - r- -f A (V v xrnA v) it . .-. I V I I ii i ii I in iiiiili I i ' mnil .II..II... ' By GARY R. BLODGETT WASHINGTON, D.C. If ever there was a story of a hometown boy who makes good, it's the story of Bountiful's Stephen M. Studdert Steve is not really a native of Bountiful, but he served here long enough, and diligently enough to be called a "native son." Steve is, however, a native Utahn born and raised in Spanish Fork, but he also spent some prime years of his life as a businessman and city council member in Bountiful. And it was from Boundful that ; Steve soared to greater heights-just about as high as you can reach without becoming the president of the United States. Although he is not president of this great country, he, is the president's presi-dent's right-hand man - literally! Steve was commissioned as an Assistant to the President of the United States for Special Activities and Initiatives on Jan. 23, 1989. He is one of only 13 full-time senior assistants to the president. Although this is not A Cabinet position, Steve is an advisor to the president on a regular basis- -sometimes several times a day. His office is in the White House and he is never more than a telephone call away from the president Everywhere the president goes, Steve goes. Or to be more accurate, wherever Steve, goes, the president goes. Steve is the forerunner of the president presi-dent outside the White House Bonnie Studdert, left, President George Bush, Barbara Bush and Steve Studdert pose for formal White House picture. pic-ture. Steve is Assistant to the President for Special Activities and Initiatives, and sets the pace for the president on trips to foreign countries. y former Bonnie Beck, and their six children. Active in community affairs, Steve was named One of three Outstanding Young Men in Utah. Twice he was chosen the Junior Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Outstan-ding Young Man of the Year once in Brigham City, where he served as police chief, and later in Bountiful. He is listed in 10 consecutive issues of "Who's Who in the West," and has been honored nationally for his work with Boy Scouts of America and for his work with the Indians. Steve was not available for comments during this writing. He had more important things to do for the president : grounds. It's up to Steve to make all Die arrangements for the president's foreign trips - including the recenj good-will tour of President Bush to the East Bloc countries of Europe. On that trip, as all other trips die president makes, Steve is the man to travel ahead qf , the, president sometimes several times in weeks prior to the, trip - to make the detailed plans for Pres. Bush. ' , - ; As one )urce-put H, "There? is no way to define the responsibilities of Steve Studdert When it comes jo I creatingplanning, and carrying out the duties of this young man, he is a student at BYU, he could get things done that others could not even think of doing. For example, there was the time i that he and his classmates visited i the Utah State Hospital in nearby American Fork, where they were ; told that the hospital was in need of I bedding, clothes, toys, etc. for their i patients. : -; 'Steve got the ball rolling, and livithjn ajJayor two-he 'had gathered Hnough -goods to not only fill a I 'pickup truck, but to fill a semitrailer. semi-trailer. His imaginative way got him what he wanted. "V ".. assistants to the president. . Although this is not 41 Cabinet .l position, Steve is an advisor to the . if president on a regular basis-- lit sometimes several times a day. His -V f-- office, is in the White House and he 1 is never more than a telephone call S J away from the president f Everywhere the president goes, IMrJ Steve goes. I " Or to be more accurate, wherever lk. WJI Steve, goes, the president goes. I Steve is the forerunner of the presi- I dent outside the White House ipllli j f & . ' a . . r ' s' ' "- '''. i Hi - - " , - ; Stephen Studdert, Who is serving as an Assistant to the President of the United States, was twice named "Outstanding Young Man of Utah" - once from Brigham City and once from Bountiful. .'-. .-- . - -- if - i creative genius, a thinker, and , above all, a doer. He is the best in the business." Steve earned his way to the top. He was always way ahead of t' anyone else in school where he served as senior class president at Spanish Fork High School. As a iSteve Studdert (with glasses) is in foreground during campaign tour of President Bush. N 4- Mr. Studdert shakes hands with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher That-cher of Great Britain during one of his recent tours. We has 1 visited more than 20 foreign countries during first six months in new presidential post. That's the way it's been with Steve. He was a staff assistant to President Gerald Ford and a special f assistant to' President Ronald Reagan. But during Bush's cam- ; " paign last fall, Steve proved his knack for thinking up, as well as carrying out 1 his responsibilities, and was appointed to the senior ad-: . visory post as an advisor for special activities and initiatives. "There's a huge difference between be-tween his position with Pres. Ford and Pres. Reagan than there is with Pres. Bush," commented one asso- ciate. "In his present position, . Steve does the thinking.. He must come up with the concepts as well as a means to carry out the idea." Steve is a "man on the go." Since his appointment last January,' he has visited 20 foreign countries, - making public appearances, and laying the groundwork for his boss. - His most recent trips to Poland and Hungary have been the most , important as well as the , most gruelling, trips of his new assign- . ; ment He was there at least three times before the president arrived ' ' "and followed in the footsteps" that Steve had grooved for him. Steve was the senior advisor to. , the president during the Jatter's nationwide campaign toqrrsnd he was the key figure in the successful ' National GOP Convention in New Orleans. . . ' ' " Steve was serving as a Bountiful City Council member when he suddenly and mysteriously -left the city for Washington, D.C Only -through the grapevine did the public' learn that he was working for the" White House, i . , His early assignments included security for the president Few local pccple really knew of his job and related responsibilities.- -" Steve has a deep love for Utah He's a devout Mormon and has ': purchased a "retirement ranch" in Morgan for his lovely wife, the' v - . i . . . yl;ifi:r!fj Ir-'TCS i t.. .. "XU M ..v:-?::-:W:;::-:v':.;:v:-.'.;:v.'..: 1 - - j. ' .. ' ' t . , ' I I .u. r" y lS A ' f &rtz h ' ' h -TO ' I H ll I - - i -v. ...". i I ; t I :,' : ': f I - ....... f i I,-'" .V, :- I 1 'S . ' . , ' ''"''-'-'',';:.;'-:':'' J.,.v;-:'"'. . XvX'.V'V;-: "tatt V M ' ' ' 1 ........'.. y N. - i- - t CscurXy control is important role for Steve as he leads the president on nation-to-natiori tours , v. and cartc!cphone comes in handy. , . r, ; :. c " 7v r :: . v I - . , Studdert spends a lot of time on the telephone making plans for the president's foreign trips. , |
