Washington D.C. • Growing up in Kaysville, Peter Watkins didn't know that later in life he would fly around the world with the president of the United States and even serve as the commander in chief's spokesman.

A graduate of Davis High who has now returned to live in North Salt Lake, Watkins spent several years working at the White House in various roles, including helping to set up the news announcement with President George W. Bush when soldiers captured ex-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003.

But it took some work to get that West Wing pass.

Watkins' first experience in the nation's capital came courtesy of an internship set up by the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics to work for Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

It was 1999, and Hatch was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and knee-deep in a battle with President Bill Clinton over judicial nominations. Watkins said he valued every minute of that time.

"It was one of the first times I really enjoyed the present and didn't dwell on the past or look ahead to the future," he said, noting that it was the first time he really grasped the awesome power of Washington.

Watkins returned to the University of Utah to finish a degree in communication but had his heart set on returning to the nation's capital to work in the executive branch.

So, he took a chance and wrote a letter to Bush's press secretary Ari Fleischer, whom Watkins only knew from watching his briefings on TV, and then packed up his things and started to drive back to the District of Columbia.

"My attitude was that things happen if you're in the right place and it wasn't going to happen from Salt Lake," he said. "I had to be in Washington."

Along the way, Watkins got an e-mail from Fleischer's secretary and got an interview at the White House on Sept. 10, 2001. There were no paying jobs, but Watkins was offered a spot answering the press office phones after 5 p.m.

Soon enough, Watkins volunteered to help with setting up the president's travel to far-flung places, a move that later translated into a full-time gig.

From there, Watkins nabbed a job in the White House press office and later served as deputy press secretary to first lady Laura Bush, whom Watkins praised as a great boss.

"She gave us a wedding present," says Watkins, who in 2006 married Adrianne Bergs, with whom he now has a 2-year-old son, Charlie. "She definitely cared for people who worked for her."

While working for the White House, Watkins got to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, visit Buckingham Palace and a smattering of foreign countries.

Josh Deckard, who served as Bush's assistant press secretary and now runs his own consulting business, praised Watkins as a trusted friend and colleague during their five years together in the West Wing.

"Peter is honest, hard working and thoughtful, which is why he was one of the most universally loved members of President Bush's team at the White House," Deckard said.

Watkins and his wife returned to Utah four years ago and he formed his own consulting business, Watkins Global Strategies, and started teaching a political communication class at the U of U. He says he misses Washington, but Davis County is home.

"I definitely love it here," he says. "The reason I came back is because I love it here and my family is here. Fortunately, I have an opportunity to get to Washington as much as possible and stay involved."

tburr@sltrib.com —

Peter Watkins

Age • 33

Hometown • Kaysville

Experience • White House spokesman, assistant press secretary to first lady Laura Bush and now head of Watkins Global Strategies

Family • Wife, Adrianne, and son, Charlie