Really Smart People Work at the White House

Proof of that came in the form of U.S. President Bush's visit Jan. 30 to mega-helicopter maker Robinson Helicopter Co. ("Mega" because it set a record for civil helicopter production with its 2007 total of 823.) White House staffers some time back were looking for a good setting for Bush to win public and congressional support for more liberal trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. So they contacted Frank Robinson, founder and owner of the Torrance, Calif. manufacturer, soliciting his interest in "inviting" the president to visit his factory. Of Robinson's record sales over the last several years, 70 percent have gone to customers outside the United States, making the company a showcase for the value of vigorous foreign trade. (Bush didn't deal with the boost Robinson sales get from the weak exchange rate of the dollar with major foreign currencies.) Frank Robinson said the "very personable" Bush's visit boosted his workers' morale, a benefit that offset the disruption of production schedules caused by the president's visit. For related news