"Frankly, I hope it wasn't Papa Bush. He needs to get out of the picture, and take his cronies with him."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1748938/posts?page=32#29
"Bush acknowledged, however, that he did consult with the 41st president before nominating Robert Gates, CIA director under his father, to replace Donald Rumsfeld as defense secretary. But he said the elder Bush had no advance knowledge of the appointment.
Asked to comment on widespread view that his father's influence was coming to bear on his administration, Bush insisted: "I am the commander-in-chief." "
I heard that interview. President Bush asked his father, AFTER he had decided pretty much on Gates, what kind of guy his dad thought he was. I think that is a pretty normal question, and does not indicate that his father is running the show.