Deborah Gorham, Foster's Executive Assistant, stated that Foster did little work during the week of July 12, and instead concentrated on "cleaning-up" matters that he had not been able to get to for some time, such as dictating thank-you and congratulatory notes. Gorham rarely had personal conversations with Foster, but on Thursday, July 15, he told her that he was frustrated because well-intentioned people were trying to build something and others just kept knocking it down. Gorham asked Foster if he ever felt that he was in "spiritual default." He said that he did, and Gorham recommended a church located near the White House.
Lisa Foster recalls that during that same week, Foster told her that his heart had been "pounding". Records reflect that on Friday, July 16, he went to the White House medical unit to have his blood pressure taken, which was recorded as 132/84. On the same day, Foster called his sister, Sheila, and told her that he was battling depression for the first time in his life and did not know what to do about it. Sheila Anthony described Foster's voice as tight and strained. She asked him to let her contact a psychiatrist and set up an appointment for him. Foster told her that he was hesitant to see a psychiatrist because it could jeopardize his White House security clearance. Sheila Anthony said that she would discuss this concern with the psychiatrist before making any appointment.
Sheila Anthony contacted a psychiatrist in the Washington area who was recommended by a friend. That doctor agreed to see Foster one time on an "off-the-record" basis. Sheila Anthony then called Foster and provided him with the names and telephone numbers of three psychiatrists, including the one she had spoken to, and encouraged him to call right away. He said that he wanted to think about it over the weekend.
Telephone records reflect that in the early afternoon of July 16, Foster made two calls to one of the psychiatrists recommended by his sister. At 12:41 p.m. and again at 1:24 p.m., Foster called the psychiatrist from the telephone in his office, and charged the calls to his home telephone. Each call lasted one minute or less.(1) The psychiatrist called by Foster often uses an answering machine during the lunch hour when no one is in the office. It is possible that Foster reached the answering machine and did not leave a message. Neither the psychiatrist that Foster attempted to reach nor the other psychiatrists recommended by Sheila Anthony ever spoke with Foster. The list of psychiatrists was found on a piece of paper in Foster's wallet following his death.
During the same telephone call in which Foster told Sheila Anthony that he was depressed, he asked her to recommend a place he and his wife could go to relax for the weekend. She called Lisa Foster with two or three possibilities, and Lisa Foster made arrangements for them to go to an inn on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Before they left, Foster told his wife that he was depressed, and she could tell that he was still under great stress while they were driving through Maryland.
Coincidentally, Webster Hubbell and his wife were also on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for the weekend staying with friends, Michael and Harolyn Cardoza, who also knew the Fosters. On Saturday, July 17, the Cardozas invited the Fosters to their home, and the group spent Saturday evening and Sunday together. Hubbell described it as a relaxing weekend during which Foster jogged, went boating, hit some golf balls, read the newspaper, and ate fresh crab for the first time. Foster and Hubbell spoke about the need to change their lifestyles and spend more time away from work. Foster mentioned that he missed spending time during June and July at his house in Michigan, as he had while at the Rose Law Firm.
Somewhat in contrast to Hubbell's perception of the weekend, Lisa Foster stated that the weekend did not go particularly well for Foster. When Foster returned on Sunday evening, July 18, he spoke to Lyons by telephone. They discussed the Travel Office matter for approximately thirty minutes and confirmed that they would meet in Washington to further discuss it on July 21.
(1) Calls of less than one minute are reflected on a telephone bill as one minute in length.