Stubborn or Stalwart, Bush Is Loath to Budge

Despite Bush's reputation as unbending, he has reversed himself before in the interest of expediency. During battles over education legislation or funds for religious charities, he changed key positions. Perhaps the most notable example was the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, which he strongly resisted until embracing the idea as if it were his own.

"He always starts out by stressing his maximum position and then doesn't budge until he absolutely has to," said Bruce Buchanan, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who has watched Bush's career for years. "He could conceivably be doing that right now."

Advisers reject the idea that Bush never changes. " 'Stubborn' is just a convenient characterization that's not really accurate," said Mark McKinnon, his political strategist. McKinnon recalled how Bush pivoted after losing the New Hampshire primary in 2000. "That was a serious blow, and we had to really redirect the campaign strategically. He recognized that we had to amend our strategy, and we did."

John Bridgeland, Bush's former domestic policy adviser, said the president is more interested in other points of view than people think he is. He drills aides with questions that challenge even his own beliefs. "He's like a boxer, and he'll hit you right between the eyes with a really tough question," Bridgeland said. "And if you don't have a really good answer, he'll tell you you're losing altitude."

Still, history shows that Bush does not change easily or quickly. For years, he ignored calls to fire Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, even when the idea was endorsed by his own top aides. He waited to oust Rumsfeld until the day after midterm elections handed Congress to Democrats -- too little, too late, in the minds of Republicans who grumbled that he cost them their majorities. Robert M. Gates will take over the Pentagon tomorrow with different views about how to proceed. The question is whether Bush will heed him.

"He changes his mind all the time, as any thinking human being would," said David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter and sometime critic. "He probably changes his mind somewhat less than other politicians do, but he's not set in concrete." Having said that, Frum said Iraq is too critical to waver on. "A lot of people want him to change his mind on the central decision of his presidency. And on that, he hasn't, he shouldn't, and he won't."

Staff writer Michael Abramowitz contributed to this report.