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

by George H. W. Bush

  December 17, 1974

  His Excellency Chiao Kuan Hua

  Minister of Foreign Affairs

  Peoples Republic of China

  Dear Mr. Minister:

  My mother and an aunt will be here for a couple of weeks. Even though Barbara is with our children in the United States and thus won’t be here to greet you, I would love to have you come for a very small, very informal supper next week.

  Could you and your wife join us on Thursday, December 26th at 7:00 p.m.? If that day is impossible the 27th would be fine too.

  I know how busy you are, so if dinner doesn’t seem possible perhaps we could call on you some day during the next couple of weeks. My mother would enjoy seeing you again.

  Maybe you would like to bring some others with you. If you want to do that I will invite an equal number from the USLO—otherwise there will be just us.

  Respectfully yours,

  George Bush

  December 17, 1974

  . . . A lot of our mail is opened when it goes international. Indeed it has been checked through some very sophisticated methods that international mail is read rather regularly. . . . In checking around I find this is not unusual. I write the mail that I send international knowing that it will be checked.

  Mother arrives tomorrow. I have that kind of high school excitement—first vacation feeling. Weather still cold, but very clear. Great for bicycling. I hope it holds out for her. Mr. Wong hustling around the house. Three guest bedrooms have been painted and they are pale yellow. Much different and better than the flat water paint. Apparently they started using some kind of a plastic paint.

  December 18, 1974

  Mother arrived on a beautiful day. Gave her a nice 20 minutes or so to shape up and then we took a long bicycle ride down past the Great Hall of the People. You should have seen the people stare at old momma on the bicycle. They would stand by and watch her. It reminded me of the old joke—about the railroad train crossing at the time zone—it left at five minutes of and arrived 100 miles later at 3 minutes of. The crowd stood around to watch that mother take off. At each traffic light a little group would stand around, nudge each other, look at each other, the kids were openly incredulous, but she cycled majestically off at each stop, doing beautifully in her PLA hat, teenage looking ski outfit and did just great. . . .

  December 19, 1974

  The big game is trying to figure out whether what they say in public is what they mean or not. Example. Mobutu22 is here. He is praised—the toasts of the dinners hit the super powers. Mobutu enters in by saying “For Africa the peril is white rather than yellow.” Mobutu I am sure will have a different view when he talks to the United States. But I am increasingly upset at the public blasts at the United States. . . . I am absolutely convinced that American public opinion will turn against this at some point and a relationship which is very important to China will be damaged. Maybe China’s rhetoric is more important to them than the relationship, but I don’t really think so. . . . Most people in this town feel that this relationship is the most important one they have got. But they have a funny way of showing it. . . .23

  Christmas Day

  . . . We had our first Western meal at the house. Turkey, cranberry sauce, tons of vegetables. Mr. Sun doing a first-class job, Peking dust for dessert.

  . . . Called home. Couldn’t hear the kids except to get the feeling that they had been broken out of the sack at 7:45 a.m. their time. All was well at home. Neil having racked up good marks. Jeb made Phi Beta Kappa officially. Marvin’s starring in basketball. All these little mundane things are of tremendous importance here in China. It was funny to see Peking bustling here on Christmas Day. Worlds apart in some ways and yet most of them wished us a happy holiday etc.

  . . . Our USLO kids played hockey down at the Russian embassy, being whipped by the Russian kids. There are hockey games every Sunday for the Russian kids versus an international team. Sports really are marvelous for getting across political lines. It is hard to equate the decency, kindness, humor, gentility of the people of China with some of the rhetoric aimed against the United States. I think back to our own recent experience in World War II. We sought no territory. We were trying to defeat a common enemy. We came to help and yet we are bitterly attacked and lumped in with those who tried to colonialize and pillage. We are the imperialists.

  December 27, 1974

  In bed, fever about 100.5. Tons of great fresh orange juice. Decision having to be made as to whether to cancel the dinner for Chiao Kuan Hua. I decided to go ahead with it in spite of feeling rotten. Six Chinese, three Bushes counting Aunt Marge, and the Holdridges will be there. Mr. Sun has gone through the darnest orgy of preparations you have ever seen. The menu is something to behold. And the concern has got to be unsurpassed. I did a little reading but most of the time I just slept—tired and aching.

  Out of the sack. Fever dropped at four thirty miraculously. Then fantastic dinner prepared by Mr. Sun. Pigeon eggs, swallow nest soup, crisp duck, shark fins, stuffed mushrooms, grilled chicken, mushroom and fresh bamboo shoots, steamed pancakes, rice, sugar and white fungus and a lot of mao tai. It was a great evening. Chiao Kuan Hua was in good form—relaxed. We had a lot of good warm discussion with Chiao Kuan Hua. Chiao tells me at the end that Rumsfeld24 had told him we ought to stay in very close contact. I told him I would like to do more of that and all he had to do was say when. I didn’t want to impose on him but I was available. . . .

  In January I was called back to the States for consultation. I stopped in Pakistan en route and contracted some terrible bug while there, resulting in a severe intestinal disorder. I was hospitalized several days in Washington and suffered recurrences for months. On the way back to Peking, I wrote our friends Flo and Holt Atherton (Flo was formerly Flo Kampmann):

  Dear Flo & Holt,

  . . . This bug has had me really weak, but as each day goes by I get stronger. Bar is lonely and I can’t wait to get back to our home half way around the world.

  Washington depressed me—the mood ’mongst my hill colleagues and at State was one of down, down, down.

  I hate to see that for our country’s sakes.

  I worry lest our friends-foes around the world really begin to wonder if we can keep a commitment in foreign policy.

  All you have to do to have real renewed respect for the U.S. is to live in a country where our taken-for-granted freedoms are non-existent. Yet sometimes our press or some of our people want to alter all institutions and tear us down. . . .

  Love—

  George

  February 15, 1975

  People universally stare of course everywhere one goes. I am wearing my PLA army hat, my Marlborough country wool jacket, sometimes my Chinese overcoat. The diplomats look askance at this informality or at least some do. But on the other hand I get the feeling that the Chinese like the feeling that the U.S. ambassador is not some stuffy guy above everyone else. In fact I am quite confident of this though not absolutely positive. We prefer not to use our car when we go to the International Club 3 blocks away but I notice our African neighbors all driving up in Mercedes with the flags flying. I like to see the American flag flying here in China both on the flag pole and on the car going around town. But I think it is a little inconsiderate to the driver to have him come all the way in, wait three hours to take us home three blocks.

  The staff is doing very well. Mr. Wong25 continuing to be the supervisor, a marvelous fellow. I showed him the moon landing, he and Sun and Chen the other day on the VTR.26 They were absolutely amazed. They stayed glued to their chairs throughout the whole performance. I asked Mr. Wong if the staff would all like to bring their children to watch cartoons if we ever got them and they said they certainly would like to do that. He is the politest guy and the best fellow . . .

  I am amazed when I went back to the States at the malaise, the tearing down of institutions, the broadcasts this far away. I have more confidence in our country than the mood that was prevailing back home wou
ld have one believe one should have. . . .

  It is a tough situation we are in but I am confident that this country can and will prevail. We just must not lose sight of our own perspective and of our own raison d’etre as a nation. So much of the world depends on the United States, so much depends on our own self-confidence in our own ability to cope. If we project this confusion and failure and discouragement it will show up all around the world. People wonder anyway when they see commitments unkept. I think of Cambodia and I think of Vietnam and I think of what that means to the Chinese government and others as they see us unable to fulfill commitments made. I happen to be concerned about Cambodia and Vietnam and think the American people don’t care about them anymore. But that isn’t the point. The point is that if we make a commitment we ought to keep it. We must deal straight forward so we can have trust. I hope that the Chinese continue to trust the United States. It is important to our relationship that they believe what we say and that we deal truthfully and openly and honestly with them. In spite of the fact that they in history did not always deal direct, much of their dealings have traditionally been through nuances and in great subtleties. I don’t think we must adopt the same method in dealing with them. We must be Americans. We must be what we are. We must be sure they understand what we are. And that we not be devious or be indirect in dealing with them. I think they would appreciate it if we are more frank. End of George Washington’s Birthday, Monday, February 17, 1975.

  February 25, 1975

  Driving along the street it is so interesting here. One gets the feeling among other things of strong family ties. One of the misconceptions I had before coming here was that family was no longer important. Yet on the holidays and on any day one gets the strong feeling of family. Grown girls looking after their grandparents. Grown parents looking after their mothers. Children together with parents. . . . Respect for family. Talking about family. Talking about visiting family. All very important. . . . There is this feeling that we are close to the forest but somehow are not seeing the trees. And yet the other side of it is that you do get much more flavor for China by being here. You don’t know exactly what’s going on in the government. They are secretive. The preparations for the National Peoples Congress were done in total secrecy. They are not outgoing. You can’t go into their homes and yet you get a general impression of China that you can’t get from outside. You see kids slugging it out on the streets, playing, fighting, just as you do in the States. You see little girls doing that funny jump rope game with kind of elastic looking jump-ropes in parallel, low to the ground where their feet weave almost like weaving on a loom. You see young teenagers kind of hanging in together smoking. Men smoke a lot. You get used to people spitting on the street although I am told that they are working against this.

  The grayness is beginning to give way a little bit as warm weather approaches. The padding doesn’t look quite as great on the clothes, both women’s and men’s. I am anxious to see summer and spring here. Interesting lunch today. Chicken, a great soup and one of the ingredients was chicken blood. Fresh blood of chicken made into a jelly, almost like a bean curd which was then cut into squares and served. Barbara told me what it was after we finished. I must say it tasted delicious, but I am glad she didn’t let me know ahead of time what I was eating.

  New discovery to go with the orange juice (not fresh) that is served absolutely everywhere in China. A lemon juice. I have got to find out where we get it. Pretty good. Marvelous letter from Marvin, saying things are great. Bar sat and cried as she read it. The kid has had a tough go until the last couple of years when he has really done a first-rate job. He was admitted to the University of Texas, still waiting to hear from North Carolina and Colorado.27 Basketball going great. His great sentence was, “Johnny Bush is coming down to see a basketball game. You can’t help but love a guy that would do a thing like that.” I miss the children a lot every day and yet they seem to be holding together. They seem to be getting strength from each other. They spell out their love for their parents. We are very lucky.

  I am finding a little more time to study China’s history, read about Chairman Mao. There are great inconsistencies in Mao, what he says now and what he used to believe. Nothing too fundamental but time and again one can find them. But come to think of it who shouldn’t “change his mind.”

  March 2, 1975

  . . . Marvin, Neil, George will have a great time hitting with the Chinese in both ping pong and tennis. The philosophy of the Chinese government is not competition itself, the friendship developed from those sports is what counts, not the victory.28 I believe this somewhat though I am a little bit more like Bear Bryant29—frankly the Chinese guys I am playing tennis with are a lot like Bear Bryant. They are stoic in that they don’t show their emotion and they don’t get mad. They don’t get sore when they lose but I am absolutely convinced from playing that they like to win. . . . Beginning to feel that the informal style, riding on the bike, the informal dress, the openness with the diplomats and the Chinese may pay off. At first I wondered but Mr. Lo at the store said, “You are getting to be a legend in your dress.” He wasn’t ridiculing me I don’t think. In fact I am sure he was not. And they all talk about our riding our bikes, Barbara and me. One mission man from Italy told me, “I can’t imagine my ambassador riding a bike.”30 And I am convinced the Chinese like it. They are not themselves as open and outgoing but they are warm and friendly, and I remain convinced that we should convince them, even through the limited contacts we have, that Americans are not stuffy, rich and formal.

  March 3, 1975

  Mr. Jerry Weintraub31

  Management Three, Ltd.

  New York, New York

  Dear Jerry:

  I have a long shot thought. Think about it and tell me if it would have any appeal at all.

  This 4th of July here in Peking we are going to have the first 4th of July National Day reception held by the U.S. in Mainland China in a long, long time.

  We will invite Chinese friends and we will invite the Diplomatic Corps. Last year the U.S. did not attend diplomatic receptions but we have changed that now, and it is appreciated. Typically we have no budget, but Bar and I are prepared to spend enough personal money to make it a fun event.

  We want it to be informal—it will be hot in Peking then. We want it to be typically American—maybe a bring the kids kind of outdoor thing—with beer and hamburgers and hot dogs. And we want it to be patriotic.

  Now for my long shot idea. Is there any chance that John Denver will be traveling in this part of the world around that time. He would be the ideal guy to put on a short show of his great American ballads. . . .

  . . . I don’t believe that at this juncture he would be permitted to sing before any Chinese audiences in a public place in Peking. I can’t even offer him plane fare unless we could get the USIS to spring for that.

  We can only offer him a week in our home with tender loving care, a chance to see Peking, and one hell of a lot of gratitude for coming to this isolated post to help us celebrate a very special day. His wife, who we met at your house, would be most welcome of course. We couldn’t get permission for technical people, lights, cameras, etc. It would be a one man, informal kind of thing.

  Does it make any sense at all?

  If it has no appeal to John is there anyone that you know of who will be out in this part of the world who might conceivably like to do what I am suggesting. It’s a long shot but I am determined to try to do something different—something that will bring a touch of American talent to this land—even in this very confined way.

  Bar and I thought of John Denver because we will never forget that night at Carnegie Hall when I was at the U.N. You invited us to hear him sing, and his rendition of “America the Beautiful” and other songs as well made a lasting impression on our hearts. The impact of this sincerity and love of country in Peking would be fantastic. . . .

  Warm regards.

  Yours very truly,

  George
Bush

  [Although he was interested, it did not work out for Denver to come.]

  March 8, 1975

  . . . I have been reading a fair amount of books: Centennial, Dogs of War, a mystery story, and now Before the Fall32 by Safire. On the Chinese side I have read Pearl Buck’s Good Earth, I read the story of Empress Tz’u Hsi, The Dowager Empress, Barnett’s book After Mao, Teddy White’s book Thunder Out of China. I am reading a book by Han Suyin.

  March 12, 1975

  . . . In Chinese I still feel a certain frustration. When I just sit and chat with Mrs. Tang33 I lose my embarrassment factor and I can do it, but my problem is practice, practice, practice. But I love the Chinese lessons and I hate it when I have to miss them. Mrs. Tang has enormous dignity and a kind of serenity and I wish I could find out what is really in her heart. . . .

  March 13, 1975

  Mr. Jack Valenti

  Motion Picture Association

  Washington, DC

  Dear Jack:

  It was good seeing you all too briefly when I was home for the Alfalfa dinner and consultations. . . .

  This year we at USLO have started going to the National Days of various countries who have embassies here in Peking. This 4th of July will be the first National Day to which USLO has invited foreign diplomats. Most of the diplomatic corps will be invited and so will many of our Chinese friends.

  I want to do something American, something fun, something informal. Nothing is final but I am beginning to plan a typical American 4th of July picnic to celebrate our 199th year.

  If the logistics all work out we will have red, white and blue bunting; we will have beer, coke, burgers and dogs. (In fact if we can get the crowd quiet I might even give a 45 minute campaign speech.)