About the Bush call, I ran across this (while searching for George Will's article):
I just got a recorded message from President George W. BushMy Telephome | 10 am EST Sunday 10/13/2002 | error99
Posted on 10/13/2002 7:14 AM Pacific by error99
"....It's President Bush calling (recorded message) encouraging me to fill out my absentee ballot and support the republican candidates. ..."
Looks like a lot of other people got the call, too!