[Willie Green]

If Novak knew the President knew, he would have said 'The President knows.'

No. Novak isn't as blunt and straightforward as someone like, say, Pat Buchanan.
Rather than coming right out and saying 'the president knows', Novak is more likely to "beat around the bush", so to speak.

[Eagles Talon IV]

"Novak is more likely to "beat around the bush", so to speak."

Beat around the bush? Is this anything like chokin' the chicken or slappin' the monkey?