XFA Boston, Massachusetts - 3 November 1999 / Aboard U-S Presidential Aircraft, Air Force One - 3-4 November 1999 / RECENT FILE
WDHD - Boston, Massachusetts
1. Mid view of George W. Bush with reporter
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
APTN - FILE
3. Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov
WDHD - Boston, Massachusetts
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
APTN - FILE
6. Taiwanese leader Lee Teng-hui
WDHD - Boston, Massachusetts
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
APTN - FILE
8. Graphic of Pakistani leader General Pervaiz Musharraf
WDHD - Boston, Massachusetts
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
APTN - FILE
10. Graphic of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
WDHD - Boston, Massachusetts
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
12. Two shot of reporter and Bush
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
ABC - Aboard Air Force One
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bill Clinton, United States President
English/Nat
As Republican Presidential hopefuls are put through their paces, the front runner has stumbled in a T-V station's quiz on foreign leaders.
Although denying he had any weakness in foreign policy, George W. Bush could not name three of the four leaders of present international hot spots when asked in Boston on Wednesday.
Due to roll out his foreign policy platform in two weeks, the Republican presidential front runner was quizzed on his knowledge of the subject this week.
A Boston T-V reporter Andy Hiller, known for his tough questions of political candidates, asked Bush to name the leaders of four current hot spots -- Chechnya, Taiwan, India and Pakistan.
Bush denies he has a weakness in the foreign policy area.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Nah, I got a clear vision of where I want to lead America.
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
Chechnya has been a top international story for months, with Russia pursuing a military campaign against Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Q: Can you name the President of Chechnya?
A: No, can you?
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
The one question that Bush correctly answered was about the present leader of Taiwan.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Q: Can you name the President of Taiwan?
A: Yeah, Lee.
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
It was his answer on Pakistan which has caused most concern.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Reporter: Can you name the general who is in charge of Pakistan?
Bush: Wait, is this a, uh, 50 questions?
Reporter: No its 4 questions of 4 leaders in 4 hot spots.
Bush: The new Pakistani General has just been elected, he's uh, well not elected this guy took over office and appears to bring stability to the country and I think that's good news.
Reporter: And can you name him?
Bush: General, I can name the General.
Reporter: And it is ...
Bush: General...
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
Campaign workers later said that Bush opposes the overthrow of a democratically elected government.
Asked to name the Indian leader who was about to start another term in office, Bush could not.
The Prime Minister is Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Reporter: And the new Prime Minister of India?
Bush: Uh, the New Prime Minister of India is uh, uh no."
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
The exchange prompted the presidential candidate to pose a question of his own.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Q(Bush): Can you name the foreign Minister of Mexico?
A: No sir, but I would say to that I'm not running for President and I don't ...
Bush: I understand that but the point I say to you is that you know, if what you're suggesting is, what I'm suggesting to you is if you can't name the Foreign Minister of Mexico therefore you're not capable of what you do but the truth of the matter is you, is you are whether you can or not."
SUPER CAPTION: George W. Bush, Republican presidential hopeful
Aboard Air Force One, the President had a diplomatic response in reaction to Bush's blunder.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"If Mr Bush were President he would soon enough learn their names. I think that as a Presidential candidate, in the main trouble spots of the world, he should, and probably would pick up those. But the most important thing is, do you have a clear idea of what the world ought to look like, and what America's policy ought to be in these areas."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, United States President
Defending their boss, George W. Bush's campaign workers says he's a presidential candidate, not a quiz show contestant.