B. Foster's State Of Mind During The Weeks Prior To Suicide Foster's position at the White House generally demanded that he work from between 7:30-8:30 in the morning until 9:30 or later at night, either six or seven days per week. He took no vacation or weekends off until the weekend immediately prior to his death. The demands of the Counsel's office were severe, and Bernard Nussbaum heavily relied upon Foster to assist him in accomplishing a wide range of tasks. Friends and associates recall that in the last two to three months prior to his death, he showed signs of stress and had virtually no time to relax in the ways that he had in Arkansas.
In the last six to eight weeks of his life those close to Foster observed that he appeared exhausted much of the time, his face drawn and grey. He confided to some that he was having difficulty sleeping, and on certain mornings commented that he had not slept at all. (1) Although no one noticed a loss of appetite, it was obvious to many that he had lost weight. In the last few weeks of his life Foster seemed uncharacteristically fretful, and more quiet and subdued than usual. Family members noted that he had lost his sense of humor and appeared distracted. Lisa Foster described him as constantly worried and under stress.
Bernard Nussbaum noted a marked decrease in Foster's productivity in the weeks prior to his death. During his first few months in Washington, Foster actively involved himself in most of the important matters within the Counsel's office. Nussbaum came to rely on him to accomplish matters quickly and with sound judgment. During the particularly busy period of late June and July, however, Foster was virtually uninvolved. For example, Nussbaum noted that Foster uncharacteristically provided little assistance in the selection of a new FBI Director, a task that Nussbaum considered one of the most important he faced during his time in Washington. Nussbaum repeatedly suggested to Foster during this period that he should take some time off, but Foster was reluctant. Deborah Gorham, his Executive Assistant, confirmed that Foster's productivity dropped significantly in the last few weeks of his life. Lisa Foster said that Foster received no joy from his work during that time.
Some family members have stated that Foster appeared depressed in the weeks prior to his death. Although it is impossible to determine precisely what triggered this depression, certain matters were cited repeatedly by those interviewed during this investigation.
Notes:
(1) Foster had a prescription for sleeping pills but did not want to take them for fear of becoming addicted.