A former aide to the first President Bush has released a series of secretly recorded audiotapes of the current President Bush speaking privately in 1998. On one tape record by Doug Wead, Bush suggests he once smoked marijuana and vowed not to answer questions by reporters on the issue. He said “I wouldn’t answer the marijuana questions. You know why? Because I don’t want some little kid doing what I tried.” Part of the tapes also suggest Bush may have used cocaine — an allegation that has surfaced before. When asked about cocaine, Bush replied, “I haven’t denied anything.” On another tape Bush states that John Ashcroft would make a “very good Supreme Court pick” or “fabulous” vice president. And Bush also privately criticized Bill Clinton and Al Gore in much hasher terms that he did publicly. Bush said Clinton “disgraced the nation.” He described Gore as a pathological liar. The tapes were released by Doug Wead who said he made the tapes because he believed the president was a historic figure. Wead is the author of two books on presidential history and a former Assembly of God evangelist.