On January 5, 2006, President George W. Bush welcomed all former Secretaries of State and Defence to the White House. The event brought about television programs and a photograph to be remembered. During the conference that followed, Bush highlighted that not all guests had supported the military intervention in Iraq although they all agreed the troops had to remain there. The president also boasted about the support he gets from the ruling class to reject the calls made by some congressmen to withdraw from Iraq.

However, Bush’s option of using the ex Secretaries of State and Defence actually evidences he could not appeal to the former presidents. Therefore, he does not have the total support of the ruling class.