“The Washington Post recently featured a column in praise of Shakespeare’s plays,” written by former Bush speechwriter and current Bush adviser Michael Gerson. “In a way, Shakespeare has hovered over this administration from the beginning. After the 2000 recount, plenty of us hoped – we really had no choice – that Bush would turn out to be Prince Hal in Henry IV, the layabout brat who, on succeeding to his father’s throne, finds the maturity to lead. His presidency has indeed turned out to be like Henry V, but in reverse.”