All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings

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  CONTENTS

  GLOSSARY OF NAMES

  PREFACE

  EDITOR’S NOTE

  Chapter 1: Love and War

  Chapter 2: “Texas, Our Texas”

  Chapter 3: Potomac Fever

  Chapter 4: International Waters

  Chapter 5: The Eye of the Storm

  Chapter 6: China

  Chapter 7: Protecting Secrets

  Chapter 8: “Fire in the Belly”

  Chapter 9: A Heartbeat Away

  Chapter 10: The Rough-and-Tumble

  Chapter 11: The Long Home Stretch

  Chapter 12: “Mr. President”

  Chapter 13: On the Front Line

  Chapter 14: Peaks and Valleys

  Chapter 15: The Worst of Times

  Chapter 16: Looking Forward

  Chapter 17: Anchor to Windward

  TIMELINE

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  PHOTOGRAPHS

  ABOUT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH

  INDEX

  To Barbara

  and all my family,

  who have given so much love

  and support through these many years

  GLOSSARY OF NAMES

  Aga Khan, His Highness Prince Sadruddin—I first met Sadruddin when I was at the United Nations and Sadri was the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. We became close friends, and Barbara and I have stayed with him and his charming wife Katie in Geneva. He was a member of the royal Aga Khan family. He died in 2003.

  Allday, Martin—Martin and I became close friends when we lived in Midland during the ’50s. He served as my chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Martin died in 2008.

  Allin, The Rev. Jack—Jack served as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, after which he became the winter pastor of my mother’s church in Hobe Sound, Fla., and our summer pastor at St. Ann’s in Kennebunkport. He was a friend and an adviser, and it was a great loss when he died of cancer in 1998.

  Allison, James Jr.—A newspaperman from Midland, Jimmy was one of my closest political confidants and friends. He ran my 1966 campaign when I was elected to Congress and moved with me to Washington to run my office. He died in 1978 from cancer. His son Jay worked for me at the White House.

  Ashley, Thomas Ludlow (Lud)—We met at Yale and became the closest of friends. From 1955 until 1981, he was a Democratic congressman from Ohio’s 9th District. When I was President, he gave me sound advice, and his loyalty and friendship really mattered. My dear friend died in 2010.

  Baker, James A. III—Jim was perhaps my closest confidant during my political days. I trusted him completely. His appointment as secretary of state was the first I announced after being elected President. My doubles partner in tennis, my friend of more than fifty years, Jim has served our country with great distinction and honor.

  Bartlett, Charles—A Pulitzer prize—winning journalist and columnist, Charles and his wife Martha used to invite us to their home for movies all through our Washington days. Charlie was a close friend and adviser to President Kennedy, and certainly was the same for me.

  Bates, David—David became my traveling aide in 1979 and together we saw every airport in America. He also was my able tennis partner and adviser. He served in the White House as Secretary of the Cabinet before going over to Commerce. He’s now a successful lawyer and businessman in San Antonio.

  Bemiss, FitzGerald (Gerry)—We became the best of friends before 1930 since his family came from Richmond, Virginia, every summer to Kennebunkport. Gerry served for years in the Virginia legislature and became one of the state’s leading environmentalist and outdoors enthusiasts. Gerry died in 2011.

  Blake, Robert—A successful rancher and oil man from Lubbock, Texas, Bob helped in all my elections, and when I was President he stayed in close touch keeping me informed of the grass roots opinions of the people in the West Texas area. He died in 2007.

  Blanton, Taylor—Taylor, a very early campaign worker, was almost a son to us. He worked on all my early campaigns, later joining the Foreign Service where he served with distinction for twenty-four years. He currently lives in San Benito, Texas.

  Brady, Nick—Nick was head of Dillon, Read & Co. until he was bitten by the public service bug. He served for a brief time in the U.S. Senate and was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President Reagan in 1988, a position he kept throughout my administration. He and his wife Kitty remain great friends.

  Bush, Dorothy Walker—My mother, raised in St. Louis, Missouri, was born in Kennebunkport in 1901. She was my guiding light and led us all by example. She excelled in athletics and had a strong faith in God. She was unfailingly kind and gave us all love until the day she died in 1992, just a few weeks after I lost the election.

  Bush, George Walker—Our oldest child was born July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, but grew up in Texas where he was successful in the oil business and was managing partner of the Texas Rangers. He served as Governor of Texas from 1995 until he became President of the United States in January 2001. He was re-elected in 2004. He married Midland native Laura Welch in 1977. They have twin daughters Jenna and Barbara.

  Bush, John Ellis (Jeb)—Jeb was born February 11, 1953, in Midland, Texas. He and his wife, Columba, whom he met in Mexico during a summer internship, moved to Florida in 1981 where he helped start a real estate development company, the Codina Group. He was Governor of Florida from 1999 until 2007 and today is considered one of the leaders in our country on education-related issues. He and Colu have three children: George P., Noelle, and Jeb Jr. Jeb is co-chair of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

  Bush, Jonathan—My younger brother by four years, Jon and his wife split their time between Connecticut and Maine. A graduate of Yale, Jon was very successful in the investment advisory business. He is a song and dance man and a great joke teller.

  Bush, Marvin Pierce—Marvin also was born in Midland, Texas, on October 22, 1956. He graduated from the University of Virginia, where he met his wife, Margaret Molster. Marvin is president of Winston Capital Management, LLC, and a managing director and founder of Winston Partners, L.P. He and Margaret live in Arlington, Virginia, and have two children, Marshall and Walker. Like all our children, Marvin is a Point of Light and does a lot of work for Wounded Warriors and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

  Bush, Neil Mallon—Another Midland, Texas, child, born January 22, 1955, Neil and his wife Maria live in Houston, Texas, where Neil is CEO of ATX Oil. They have six children: Lauren, Pierce, Ashley, Lizzie, Pace, and Alexander. Neil is chairman of the board for the Points of Light Institute.

  Bush, Prescott S.—An imposing man of 6 feet 4 inches, he was perhaps the most powerful influence in my life. By example he taught all five of his kids a great deal about character. He did it through action, not words. He was managing partner of Brown Bros. Harriman & Co. In 1952 he was elected U.S. Senator from Connecticut, serving for ten years. He died of cancer in 1972.

  Bush, Prescott S. Jr.—Two years older than I am, Pres and I roomed together as kids and were very close. His successful business life was largely spent with Johnson & Higgins, a leader in the insurance field. He died in 2010 and is survived by his wife Beth, who lives outside Boston.

  Bush, Robin—Ou
r second child, Robin, was born December 20, 1949, while Barbara and I were living for a short period of time in California. When Robin was three, she was diagnosed as having leukemia and died six months later, in 1953. She will always be a part of our life.

  Bush, William H.T. (Bucky)—Bucky, the youngest of our siblings, was a successful banker in both Hartford, Connecticut, and St. Louis, Missouri, before starting his own financial advisory firm in St. Louis, Bush-O’Donnell & Co. He and his wife Patty live in St. Louis. He also is a great musician and joke-teller.

  Chambers, C. Fred—We met Fred and Marian Chambers in Midland in the early 1950s. We did some oil deals together, but more importantly, became good friends, which continued when we all moved to Houston. Bar named one of our dogs in Fred’s honor, C. Fred. In our family, that’s quite an honor. Fred died in 1989.

  Crichton, Flo—Flo has been a leader in the Republican Party in Texas and served as a national committeewoman. She was one of my earliest, strongest supporters, along with her husband Holt Atherton until his death. Today, she lives in San Antonio, where she is very active in the community.

  Eagleburger, Larry—A seasoned foreign service officer, Larry served as Jim Baker’s No. 2 at the State Department, then followed Jim as Secretary of State. He was very close to Brent Scowcroft, my National Security Adviser, which made for very smooth relations between the National Security Council (NSC) and State. Larry died in 2010.

  Ellis, Nancy—My only sister is twenty months younger than I am, born right in the middle of the Bush boys. She is full of energy and has a real zest for life that inspires us all. She campaigned tirelessly for me and later my boys, her nephews. Her husband Sandy died in 1989. She lives in Boston in the winter and Kennebunkport in the summer.

  Fitzwater, Marlin—In my opinion, Marlin is the best press secretary the White House has ever seen. He was and is a valued counselor and friend. I tried to include him on all serious deliberations, and that trust was never compromised. He also earned the universal respect of the tough White House press corps.

  Foley, Tom—Although as Speaker of the House Tom opposed me on many of the domestic initiatives we took to Congress and is a tough opponent in many ways, I had great respect for his integrity. I always felt our personal relationship was such that I could talk frankly to him on any and all problems.

  Fuller, Craig—Craig was one of the brightest and most effective staffers in the Reagan White House and then became my chief of staff in 1985. He played a key role in the 1988 campaign, then decided to go back into the private sector where he has been very successful.

  Gates, Robert—Bob was No. 2 at the NSC until I named him Director of the Central Intelligence in 1991. Very knowledgeable on world affairs and a man of the highest integrity, he later served as President of Texas A&M University before serving two presidents—George W. Bush and Barack Obama—as Secretary of Defense.

  Gregg, Hugh—The former governor of New Hampshire and father of the former governor and senator, Judd Gregg, Hugh worked tirelessly for me in 1980 as we crisscrossed the state in his old station wagon. He was at my side again in 1988 and 1992, and no one in any state was more effective or dedicated. He died in 2003.

  Harlow, Bryce—Trusted friend and adviser to Republicans, Bryce served President Nixon as a speech writer and a top assistant in the White House. With his great propensity for humor, wisdom, and sound judgment, he had the respect and confidence of all who knew him. He died in 1987.

  Koch, Dorothy (Doro)—Born August 18, 1959, in Houston, Texas, our only daughter is particularly close to her dad. She worked at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C., before resigning to become a full-time mother of four. She and her husband Bobby live in Bethesda, Maryland, and have four children: Sam, Ellie, Robert, Gigi. Doro is one of the brightest Points of Lights in our family and is co-chair with Jeb of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

  Lias, Thomas L.—One of the best political operatives I have ever known, Tom was my right hand man at the Republican National Committee and my executive assistant at the United Nations. He went on to work in both the Nixon and Ford administrations. My loyal friend died in 1988.

  Liedtke, J. Hugh—We met Hugh and his brother Bill in Midland and became close friends. Together with my partner John Overbey we started Zapata Petroleum Corp., Years later, after I was out of the oil business and under Hugh’s creative and brilliant leadership, Zapata eventually became Pennzoil. Hugh died in 2002.

  Mallon, Neil—Yale classmate of my Dad’s, Neil was an intimate family friend. He founded Dresser Industries and built it into a huge manufacturing company. He gave me my first job after college, as an equipment clerk in one of Dresser’s subsidiaries, in Odessa, Texas. He died in 1983.

  McKenzie, William A. and Sally—Bill Mac (as everyone called him) and Sally were among my earliest political supporters in Texas. As chairman of the Texas A&M University Board of Regents, Billy Mac was instrumental in getting me to locate my Presidential Library on that wonderful campus. They both died in 2010.

  Michel, Robert—The House Minority Leader was perhaps my most loyal and dependable supporter in the House. Often under attack by some in his own party, he brought maturity and strong stable leadership to the House Republicans. He is now retired and enjoying private life.

  Moore, Dick—A close friend and adviser, I named Dick ambassador to Ireland where he served with distinction. He was a very close adviser to Richard Nixon but was unscathed by Watergate. He was a wonderful writer with a great sense of humor and contributed to many of my major speeches. He died in 1995.

  Mosbacher, Robert—A highly successful businessman, Bob was one of my earliest supporters and one of my closest friends. His specialty was fund-raising, but his business acumen led me to ask him to serve as Secretary of Commerce, a post he held with great distinction. My dear friend died in 2010. I am very proud that the Mosbacher Institute of Trade, Economics, and Public Policy is part of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M.

  Murphy, Admiral Daniel—Dan, former commander of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, was one of my two deputies at the CIA. He subsequently became my Chief of Staff during my first term as Vice President. He died in 2001.

  Overbey, John—John, a native Texan, became my business partner in 1952 when we formed Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company. He was a knowledgeable land man, and I learned a great deal about the royalty, leasing, and production business from John. He died in 2006.

  Pierce, Marvin—Barbara’s father was president and chairman of the board of the McCall Corporation. The family lived in Rye, New York, where Barbara grew up adoring her father. Tragically, Barbara’s mother, Pauline, was killed in an auto accident in 1949. Mr. Pierce died in 1969.

  Presock, Patty—Patty was a career civil servant who came to work in my vice presidential office, and she ended up being my right hand person in the Oval Office. She was imaginative, considerate, and had a wonderful sense of values. We called her “Miss Perfect.”

  Rendon, Paula—Paula has lived with us in our house since 1959, coming to us from Mexico. She is more than a housekeeper. She is a trusted friend and a confidante to our four sons and daughter. She lived in the vice president’s house and in the White House, making our lives easier every day.

  Rhodes, Don—Don first came into our lives in 1964 when he volunteered for my Senate campaign. When I was elected to Congress in 1966, Don went with us to Washington and became an integral part of our family. He was my right-hand man until he died in 2011. I know no man who was more honest or principled.

  Rostenkowski, Dan—A Democratic congressman from Illinois, Dan rose to be chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. We became friends when I served on that committee from 1967 to 1970. Although he did not vote with me on many issues, we respected each other’s views, and we remained good friends until he died in 2010.

  Roussel, Peter—Son of a prominent Houston newspaper columnist, Pete was at my side in most of
my early political battles. He was my press secretary in Congress, at the United Nations, and at the Republican National Committee. He now lives in Houston, Texas.

  Scowcroft, Brent—When I became President Brent was my first and only choice to head the NSC. He handled that job with total dedication and skill. One of my closest friends and today my closest adviser on all things, he and I co-authored the book “A World Transformed,” which was published by Knopf in 1998. The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs is located at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service.

  Shevardnadze, Eduard—The former foreign minister of the Soviet Union will go down in history as one of the people directly responsible for the peaceful end to the Cold War. He worked closely with Jim Baker and often helped bring Gorbachev along on difficult issues. He served as president of Georgia for eight years before retiring.

  Siller, Ray—Ray was the lead joke writer for Johnny Carson for many years, and he would help me with speech material along the way. His one-liners saved the day—or at least the speech—many times. He remains a close friend and is now living in New York City.

  Simpson, Alan K.—The former senator from Wyoming, whose sense of humor is legendary, became one of my closest friends. As the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, he was a great leader, and I depended on him for advice. He continues to serve his country with distinction, most recently co-chairing the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform with Erskine Bowles.

  Skinner, Sam—Sam was Secretary of Transportation in my Cabinet and then became Chief of Staff in late 1991. He and his wife, Honey, life in Chicago and remain close personal friends.

  Smith, Aleene—I first met Aleene when I ran for Chairman of the Harris County Republican Party in 1963 Aleene was a loyal Republican and savvy in the ways of politics. When I was elected to Congress, Aleene came with me to Washington to be my secretary, then on to New York while I was at the United Nations. She died in 2006.