"I'm not afraid to surround myself with strong and competent people,"he said when announcing three Cabinet nominees."I hope the American people realize that a good executive is one that understands how to recruit people and how to delegate,how to line authority and responsibility,how to hold people accountable for results."

Former employees often mention Bush's sense of humor."My mother taught me not to be a know-it-all.I didn't let her down,"Bush likes to quip.

And those who know him say he has an uncanny memory for names,for everyone from power brokers to the janitors at the Texas state capitol.

"I had been working for the state for 10or 12years,and the day after his inauguration as governor,he came to everybody's offices to introduce himself,"says Catherine Uptain Sims,a Democrat who worked in the Texas governor's budget and planning office under Bush and former Democratic governor Ann Richards.

"He saw the pictures of my family.He was so engaging and so genuine,"Sims says."In the years I worked for the state and worked for so many politicians,never has anybody showed me that much respect."

Bush often campaigned on his ability as Texas governor to reach across party lines and get things done.Paul Sadler,Democratic chairman of the state House Public Education Committee,says that is the way Texas government works,because state legislators are paid $600a month and are eager to compromise so they can go home to make a living.The U.S.Congress has no such motivation.

That said,Bush is very personable,Sadler says,and shares credit for accomplishments.Few Texas Democrats agree with his policies,but they like him,he says.

"We're not idiots in Texas.We would see through insincerity,"Sadler says."He's genuine."

Firing the manager

"(Bush)is demanding,but super to work for,"says Robert McCleskey,a certified public accountant in Midland who did Bush's tax work during his days in the oil business."Someone who doesn't tend to business,doesn't work out."

Some get fired.

When Bush was a Texas Rangers partner,he fired manager Bobby Valentine,who then landed a job with a baseball team in Japan.

But Valentine,who worked his way back to managing last year's National League champion New York Mets,has no resentment in his voice when he talks about his 1992dismissal.

He says Bush was a good boss who handled the firing as well as he could.Bush got straight to the point,then quickly shifted the focus on the well-being of Valentine's family.Indeed,Valentine's description of the meeting has the makings of a campaign slogan.

"He was compassionate,yet firm,"Valentine says.

While with the Rangers,Bush used the stadium to jog and lift weights hours before a game .After using Valentine's shower,he would get "dressed and put his feet up on my desk and talk about a trade or that night's pitcher,"Valentine says.Sometimes he would offer "out-of-the-box"ideas ,such as a 10-player trade.joozone.com