All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings
Page 18
Looking ahead to the day when we would return to Houston, Barbara and I had purchased an empty lot (later sold) where we could build a house. Our new neighbor wrote and asked permission to cut some trees down on the property line.
June 26, 1972
Mr. Paul G. Bell, Jr.
Houston, Texas
Dear Gervais:
Thanks for your great letter. Short of chopping down all the trees on our place, please make whatever minor adjustments are required. . . .
We are looking forward to being your neighbors someday. As a matter of fact, it gets kind of exciting thinking about building a house again. My future is kind of undetermined at this point as far as a time frame goes. I still love this job but I must confess I look forward to coming back to Houston someday too. . . .
Yours very truly,
George Bush
September 1972
. . . Mother called to say that Dad is sick, that there is a pain by his heart. I have a deep worry about him. He seems instantly old, unlike his old self in many ways . . .
I was at a dinner last night where the guest of honor didn’t get up to leave and finally at 11:15 p.m. I got restless, looked over at him, yawned, stretched, made somewhat of a fool of myself, but it broke up the party.
Memo for the Record—September 18, 1972
Security Officer Joe Glennon, accompanied by Tom Lias,26 talked with Ambassador Bush concerning the personal security of the Ambassador and his family. (Glennon had mentioned the evening before to Lias that there was some intelligence coming in which indicated that the Ambassador should take certain additional precautions.)
Glennon advised the Ambassador that intelligence sources indicated that the Black September27 organization was planning some new move, possibly in New York, and possibly against Israelis or Americans. Glennon recommended that steps be taken to arrange for Dorothy Bush to be driven to school instead of using public transportation as she has been doing.
There was some discussion of the handling of this proposal and the Ambassador agreed that beginning Friday morning, he and Dorothy would leave the Waldorf together and Jerry would drive the Ambassador to the Mission and Dorothy to school. Because Dorothy has been reluctant to arrive at school in a chauffeured limousine, it was further agreed that the car Jerry would use would be one of the sedans and not one of the black Cadillac limousines.
Glennon further suggested that the Ambassador consider the possibility of utilizing personal security guards for himself throughout the day and possibly to some extent at 42-A.28 At this point, the Ambassador said he would like to get the advice of his friend, Richard Helms at CIA, and a call was placed to Director Helms. The Ambassador and Helms discussed the situation and Helms advised the Ambassador the intelligence on this matter was not at all “soft” and that he was most concerned about some aspects of this and was following one situation very closely. . . .
Dad’s persistent cough was diagnosed as lung cancer.
September 27, 1972
A tough day. Dad had his prostate operation, unconnected with his cancer. It was supposed to be routine, but it became clear that he was having complications. There was some infection, constant fever, an irregular heartbeat, blood pressure bad. They stabilized the condition in the afternoon and Pres and I went up to talk to the doctor at length at 4:30. Doctor Beattie made clear that it was very serious. He was a very reassuring, confident and inspiring man. He pointed out that they were concerned about the lesion in the arm which could be an extension of the cancer, that they weren’t sure about that. He pointed out that the tumor in the lung could possibly be extending to rub on the heart. . . . He pointed out it could be a question of weeks or months. He said he would watch it very closely. I gave him my home phone number and the number at the Peruvian Embassy where I would be at 8:15 . . .
I got a phone call that they said was a matter of some urgency. I got Beattie who reported that there were quite a few complications. He suggested that we be at the hospital at 11:00 with Mother. She was already in bed, but I woke her up. I told her that I would meet her there and that I loved her. I met Dr. Beattie there, and went up to see [Dad]. He was full of tubes. He was conscious though very sleepy with drugs.
He kept asking what time it was. I told him about the dinner with the Russians. His answer was, “Who picked up the tab?”
[My father, my mentor, my hero, died on October 8.]
October 16, 1972
Dear Mr. President,
Your beautiful tribute to Dad then the lovely flowers, and now your warm letter of Oct. 9th all mean so much to me and to my Mother and to all our family. My Dad was the real inspiration in my life—he was strong and strict, full of decency and integrity; but he was also kind, understanding and full of humor.
He died of fast spreading cancer without too much suffering. So often we talked, even in the hospital, of your Presidency—he was in great admiration of your ability to make the tough decision. My mother is heroic—buoyed up by the kindness of friends. I expect I’ve concentrated less this last week on our U.N. problems than I should have, but things are getting clearer now and I’ve got a lot from my Dad to be thankful for.
Thanks for helping us all so much.
George
November 14, 1972
Mr. C. Fred Chambers29
Houston, Texas 77002
Dear Fred:
Dad was a spectacular man and our family was shattered when he died.
I guess you, probably more than any of our friends, knew what he meant to me in terms of inspiration in my own life. Wherever I was, whatever I did, he was the incentive behind everything.
He died fast, in less than a month, from rapidly spreading cancer. But the happy thing is that we now have great memories of this strong man and mom is fantastically unselfish and strong.
And so the Bushes are OK. One of the things that makes us OK is that we have lots of friends who have told us good things about Dad.
. . . Let’s try to get together more. Darn it! We have missed you the last two times I have been in Houston. Love to Marion and all the gang.
Yours very truly,
George Bush
President Nixon summoned me to Camp David in November to discuss “the future.” I was not overly surprised. Immediately following the President’s landslide victory over George McGovern in early November, Nixon called a cabinet meeting. When it was over and he left the room, Haldeman announced that every cabinet member should have his letter of resignation sent over to the White House right away. It was not kind and gentle. He also said the President wanted to visit with each of us individually. I was not ready to leave the United Nations, but I suspected it would not be my choice. I already had heard talk that he might ask me to be number two at the Treasury Department, under George Shultz. Then the call came—President Nixon wanted to see me at Camp David.
November 21, 1972
Honorable Richard M. Nixon
President of the United States
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
. . . I want to thank you for yesterday.
Frankly, your first choice for me came as quite a surprise particularly to Barbara. The rarefied atmosphere of international affairs plus the friendships in New York and the Cabinet seem threatened to her. She is convinced that all our friends in Congress, in public life, in God knows where—will say, “George screwed it up at the U.N. and the President has loyally found a suitable spot”. Candidly, there will be some of this.
But—here’s my answer—
Your first choice was the Republican National Committee. I will do it!
The treasury slot—#2 there—is an interesting job but I wouldn’t really be running something—the stamp, the imprint would and should be George Shultz’. I have deep respect for George, but that slot is not for me.
. . . Number 2 at State, which I realize is all but committed, would be different. I have been dealing happily, and I hope effectively, with the top international
leadership. I could continue this—arrogantly tucking into the back of my mind the thought that a) if I performed and b) if all the other panting candidates for Secretary of State dropped by the wayside—I might get that—a slot which in my current thinking would be tops.
The under Secretary for Finance at State is like #2 at Treasury—a fascinating job but not really up to the offered Treasury post. My love affair is not with State, it’s with high-level policy dealings on international matters—this U.N. job has that—Deputy Secretary has it—the Under Secretary for Economics does not.
As to the Republican National Committee—access to you is all important, trying to gear up for the ’74 elections is important, the “imprint” or “image” I can bring to the job is important. You visualize a very different role—getting all politics out of the White House and into the Republican National Committee through its chairman. This I find really challenging. With [John] Ehrlichman’s approval I talked to John Mitchell30 today, and he was really re-assuring on this.
John Ehrlichman told me he raised a ticklish point with you—I can and will of course take orders, but I’d like to retain options on the style in which to carry them out. I can be plenty tough when needed, but each person has his own style, his own methods, and if I get too far out of character—I’ll be unconvincing and incredible and this will not serve you well.
Our Chinese friends here at the United Nations are proud but not vain—maybe I’m the same way—proud but hopefully not to the point of vanity. To the degree you can launch this thing with some “newness”, “change”, etc. it would help offset the cynic’s inevitable charge that we Bushes are going backwards. After talking to you and to Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Ehrlichman I am intrigued with the concept of helping you on a wide spectrum of political matters.
I believe we can fully develop this relationship on the “inside” political advisor basis that you spelled out at Camp David. I must have the personal access to you and Bob that we talked about. . . .
My thanks to you for your friendship and loyalty. I will repay it with hard work and loyalty in return.
My wife’s initial reaction is understandable, for she is but a mirror of how the real world regrettably views politics. Most people feel it is not the noble calling it should be—not the noble calling like affairs of state. One real challenge lies in enchanting the disenchanted young who view partisan politics with a worrisome cynicism.
But with your help maybe I can be a part of changing some of that. And in the final analysis that’s one hell of a challenge.
So my initial “no” has changed after a sleepless night to a happy “yes”. The shock has worn off, and Barbara will see that it makes sense. And besides, she’s your biggest fan.
So I’m ready.
Respectfully,
George Bush
Republican
National
Committee.
George Bush, Chairman
CHAPTER 5
The Eye of the Storm
At 2:30 A.M. on June 17, 1972, police caught five men breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. Despite rumors about political espionage with a possible link to the White House itself, it obviously did not affect Nixon’s successful bid for a second term. When I took over as chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) in January 1973, shortly before the President’s second inauguration, I still firmly believed that President Nixon had nothing to do with the unfolding scandal that became known simply as Watergate.
Mail poured into the RNC office, most of it from loyal Republicans. I spent an enormous amount of time as chairman trying to reassure them that our political system was sound, that the Republican National Committee, thus the party, had nothing to do with Watergate, and that our President was innocent. It was not an easy job.
April 9, 1973
Mr. H. E. Anderson
Piedmont, California 94611
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Thank you very much for your recent letter. It was good to hear from you.
I recognize that some people may be trying to blow the Watergate incident out of proportion, but at the same time I think that the connotations of Watergate are very serious, and I think they degrade our political system.
I don’t believe that politics is a grubby business. I personally gave up a successful business life and a very interesting career in diplomacy to get re-involved in the political process, and incidents of this nature—no matter on what side they occur—downgrade the political process.
I consider myself a very loyal Republican, but I don’t consider the bugging of Democrat headquarters to be the kind of thing we should condone or cover up. I know the President feels this way.
I hope this letter does not sound naïve to you. I believe politics to be a noble calling and these kinds of incidents hurt it. I recognize they go on both sides—to a degree—but I’d like to lend a hand in making politics a cleaner business. I’m sure you agree.
Thanks, again, for a good letter.
Yours very truly,
George Bush
On April 30, President Nixon announced the resignations of three of his top aides: H. R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and John Dean. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst also resigned. Nixon named Elliot Richardson the new attorney general, and together they approved the creation of a special prosecutor’s office, headed by Archibald Cox, to investigate Watergate.
May 18, 1973
Mr. John Alsop
Hartford, Conn. 06101
Dear John:
Thank you for your thoughtful letter of May 11. These indeed have been troubling times for agony and concern. In the long run, though, I’m not pessimistic. I think out of it will come a stronger and more independent Party, and a more sensitive and compassionate White House.
I also think that in the next few weeks we’re going to see more return to civility on all sides, including the press. The press has done a good job in many ways, but they have overlooked some of the basic principles, such as a man is really innocent until proved guilty.
I share your indignation. Putting it on a very personal basis, everything that my Father stood for in life seems from time to time threatened by the arrogant behavior of a handful of people, but we must look ahead. We must accentuate the positive. To the best of my knowledge the Party is clean and though my life has been hell in lots of ways, I see this job much more of a challenge now than when I took it on. . . .
Yours very truly,
George Bush
The Senate’s Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, under the chairmanship of Senator Sam Ervin, began their hearings in May. The testimony of John Dean (for whom I had little respect) riveted the nation as he linked Nixon to the cover-up. Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and John Mitchell denied wrongdoing and defended the President. Like the rest of the country, I was confused.
June 27, 1973
MEMORANDUM
TO:
General Alexander Haig1
FROM:
George Bush
RE:
Presidential Press Conference on Watergate
Prior to Dean’s testimony I had dictated a letter strongly recommending a Presidential press conference. I had in mind the meeting we had with the Republican leadership, and my own conviction that the more information that could be put out directly by the President on the subject of Watergate the better off we are.
There is a feeling of confusion; there is a feeling of “not knowing”; and there is a feeling of wanting to believe the President which can be totally shored up by yet another Presidential statement. . . . I recognize there are certain complications, but I would strongly urge that the President have another press conference as soon as some of the rebuttal witnesses to Dean have been heard.
I worry about the lack of civility at some of the recent White House press conferences. The President should not be subjected to the shouting, screaming and accusing that have faced some of the White H
ouse staff and many of us on the outside. In all likelihood the press corps would be more civil to the President than they have been with others. The hysteria surrounding the revelations on Watergate should be subdued by the fact that this was a Presidential press conference. To avoid any risk, however, thought should be given to an interview type press conference with the three major television network interviewers asking the questions.
SUMMARY:
People want to believe in the President and the Presidency. Basically they do, but particularly in Party circles there is a feeling that they must have more information. This is especially true now in light of Dean’s testimony. I therefore recommend:
a) That the President hold a press conference soon selecting the optimum format, and
b) The President should move around the country as much as possible speaking on major issues, meeting Party leaders—business leaders, labor leaders, etc. I would think that possibly four trips two weeks apart over widely dispersed geographic areas would be good. I am convinced the President will be warmly received.
[All these years later, I do not remember how the White House reacted to my memo. Apparently, it was not memorable.]
June 28, 1973
Mr. Elias F. Buckley
Colorado Springs, Colo. 80906
Dear Mr. Buckley:
Thank you for your good letter of June 21. I am glad to know of our family connections.
Thank you, also, for your words about Watergate. I believe you have it in proper perspective. It has been ugly and outrageous, but there are things much more important in terms of the ongoing nature of this country, I continue to have confidence in the President and I will until he is proved guilty, which I am confident will not happen.
About the family,29 Aunt Margie is Mrs. Stewart Clement. Her husband is ailing and aged but she is full of life and pep and lives in New Haven, Connecticut. Her sister, Mary (Mrs. Frank House) is widowed. She lives in New Haven, also, and she and Aunt Margie remain very close. Uncle Jim Bush is a sad case. He has vanished—literally vanished from the face of the earth. He was married about four times, was living in Italy, left his wife there and has not been heard of since—that was about two years ago. At the time of my own father’s death last Fall nobody even heard from Jim and he was very close indeed to my father, Prescott. As for my own family, there are four boys aged from 27 to 16, and one daughter 13. They are all doing great—spread out all over the country—from Texas to California to New England.