[Sam Wyly] was somewhat reticent about his relationship with the president. He said he had spoken to [George W. Bush] "maybe once" since Bush took office, and not on energy policy. He was careful to note that he did not meet with Bush that day in April, nor Vice President Dick Cheney, who headed up the White House energy task force.

Wyly can date his relationship with the Bush family back to the late 1960s. Wyly wrote a letter to congratulate the elder Bush for being one of the few Southern congressmen to vote for civil rights legislation, and Bush called him on the phone.

Wyly bristles at the charge that he traded on his contributions to get the ear of someone at the White House. He tells the story of the elder Bush once telling Wyly's wife that he appreciated Sam and [Charles Wyly]'s support because "'these two guys...have helped with all I've done over the years, and they've never asked me for anything."'