Sincerely,
George Bush
THE VICE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON
CHAPTER 9
A Heartbeat Away
Even in the beginning, when we were really just getting to know each other, President Reagan always made it clear to me that I would have direct access to him and that he would welcome my advice and suggestions. I didn’t waste a lot of time. Here are the first two memos I wrote him:
November 10, 1980
Memorandum for President-elect Reagan
From:
George Bush
Subject:
Intelligence Community
I feel strongly that the Director of Central Intelligence should be a professional—preferably a person coming up through the ranks of CIA. This will do much to restore the confidence in the Agency and in the intelligence community that has been lacking. It will help with our Liaison Services abroad such as the British, French, Israelis, etc. It will be a signal to all that you plan to have a thorough going professional service.
I am confident such a move would be very well received abroad and inside the Intelligence Community—on the Hill as well.
I have no person in mind but I would be glad to assist Ed [Meese] in searching for such a person if the idea has your approval.
There are several people who have been working for us in this campaign, who if appointed, would demoralize the intelligence community. I will communicate my views on this to Ed Meese1—no need to bother you.
I also favor reinstituting the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. I would recommend a smaller board than before. This move would be particularly appropriate if you go with my suggestion above—appointing a “pro” to head CIA.2
November 10, 1980
Memorandum for President-elect Reagan
From:
George Bush
Subject:
Texas Appointments
I understand that it is traditional that the Vice President be consulted on all appointments from his home state. I would like very much to have this same understanding with you. Needless to say, if you feel strongly about any appointment that would of course override any objection that I might have and I would strongly support your decision.
I can assure you there will be no problems between you and me on this if you instruct your staff to consult me on all Texas appointments. In fact, in some sensitive cases, I can see a good “out” for you.
P. S. When I mention home state, I am not talking about Connecticut, Maine, Ohio or Massachusetts—just little old Texas.3
The transition period was intense. We needed to hire a staff, get ready for the inauguration, and answer the literally thousands of letters that poured into our office from people seeking jobs, airing their opinions, or voicing their concerns. I took some time out in December to do some hunting—and to write a friend:
12-21-80
Dear Gerry [Bemiss],
I’m heading back to the home after 2 relaxing nights in So. Tex.4—reminiscing in the back of this long black car. Alone—except for State Police—2 S Service guys in front—Back-up car following but alone with my thoughts. So much has already happened. So much new, and challenging exciting & frustrating lies ahead. And yet I’m sure of one thing—I am lucky to have friends who really count—who have been at my side to help with advice and criticism and the willingness to do tough thankless things—That all counts. Thanks & love at Christmas.
GB
On January 20, 1981, President Reagan and I took our oaths of office. Our entire family—children, grandchildren, my mother, brothers, and sister—everyone came to help us celebrate. I wrote my aunt Mary, Uncle Herbie’s widow.
2-8-81
Dear Mary,
Life has been too darned hectic lately, but it is full and fascinating and Bar and I have never been busier in our lives.
My only regret over the whole inauguration was that we didn’t have a second to really visit with family and friends. I have had so many letters from friends saying they were here—people we never laid eyes on in the crowds.
The house5 is warm and livable and Bar has put in many little family touches. My public life is almost out of control, in terms of complex scheduling but the President is a joy to work with and for; and he and Nancy have both shown us so many courtesies you wouldn’t believe it.
The Point is coming along well,6 we are told. Longley Philbrick is the contractor. We have no written contract—just mutual trust; but that’s just fine because he is conscientious.
I don’t know how much of the big House will be ready for summer, but “worry not” is my motto.
The garage will be the Secret Service Command Post. They are fixing up the gates, wiring the House for fire and break in alarms and will be covering the place year round as the law provides.
We want the Point to be as Herby [sic] would want it to be—open to all family to come and go and love it as we all always have. I am grateful to you for your patience and understanding on all the details of transfer. . . .
Our house is your house. Walker’s Point is your Walker’s Point and your kids’ too.
The Secret Service will be there but they will not obstruct family coming and going.
Thanks, Mary, for working all this out. I hope we can give the place the same love Herby did. We want it to keep its character. We want it to be the anchor for all the family.
Much Love,
Poppy
One of the first things President Reagan asked me to do was to head up a special Task Force on Regulatory Relief. Our goal was to eliminate or at least revise unnecessary federal rules and regulations. In other words, get rid of red tape. I sent a copy of this letter to all cabinet members:
February 10, 1981
The Honorable Terrell Bell
Secretary of Education
Washington, D. C.
Dear Ted:
As I indicated at last Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, it would be very helpful to our Task Force on Regulatory Relief if you could designate a representative from your Department who can speak for you in dealing with our Task Force staff. . . . I think this will expedite our joint efforts to reduce the burdens of regulation and facilitate the workings of the Task Force.
I think we are going to produce solid results, and I look forward to working with you and your staffs on these important regulatory issues.
Sincerely,
George Bush
February 23, 1981
Miss Irene Cassert
Starpoint Central School
Lockport, New York
Dear Miss Cassert and Children:
How thoughtful of you to send me one of the folders you made for your parents in honor of the release of the hostages.7 I wish you could have shared with me the wonderful experience I had when I greeted the hostages at Andrews Air Force Base, and felt the outpouring of faith and affection from those thousands of Americans who were there to greet them and also from those millions of people across the country who were there in spirit. It was a moment I shall never forget.
It is young people like you who will be the backbone of our country in the future, who will keep the American dream alive. You must work hard and stay involved. I’m sure your parents are very proud of you.
Warm wishes.
Sincerely,
George Bush
March 9, 1981
Mrs. H. Webster Smith
Hart House
Tenants Harbor, Maine 04860
Dear Mrs. Smith:
I am writing this note sitting in front of a beautiful mahogany secretary bookcase in my office four doors down from the President. As you know, thanks to your enormous generosity this [case] has been used in the White House since 1973. I find it extraordinarily beautiful, and urged the curator, my friend Clem Conger to permit me to have it in my office where many visiting dignitaries would see it.
It just occurred to me that having lent this beautiful piece to the government, you might ha
ve a personal interest in where it is. I am attaching a picture. I am the one standing next to your beautiful mahogany piece. . . .
Sincerely yours,
George Bush
On March 30, John W. Hinckley Jr., shot and seriously wounded President Reagan as he left the Washington Hilton Hotel. Three other men were wounded as well: Press Secretary Jim Brady, Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy, and police officer Tom Delahanty. I was about to land in Austin, Texas, when we received word, and I immediately headed back to Washington. Like the entire nation, I was stunned. I jotted down these notes on my Air Force II flight information card. “Murphy” was my chief of staff, Dan Murphy; Ed Pollard was head of my Secret Service detail. You will see at the time I wrote this, we thought Jim Brady was dead.
April 10, 1981
Mr. Frank Osanka
Naperville, Ill. 60540
Dear Mr. Osanka:
Thanks so much for your thoughtful letter of March 31. We were all shocked by the terrible events of last week, but are grateful that the President is now well on the way to recovery.
I understand your feelings entirely concerning the protection the President is receiving, but I am sure you will agree that in a democracy such as ours it is almost impossible to have a 100% success record unless we stopped him from going out in public at all, which I don’t think any of us would want to see happen. You can be sure that all possible measures will be taken in the future to ensure that something like this does not happen again.
Sincerely,
George Bush
Secretary of State Alexander Haig came under terrible criticism the day of the shooting when he announced during a White House press conference he was “in control.” Haig made the comment to reassure both the country and our allies, especially since I was still in the air rushing back to Washington. I wrote this letter to a first cousin:
April 13, 1981
Mr. George Walker
Iuka, Ms. 38852
Dear George:
Thanks so much for your thoughtful letter of March 31. Fortunately, we all came through the tragic events of last week very well. It certainly proved that our system of government really works, and that we can survive a crisis of this kind. We feel that Secretary Haig acted just as he should, and he has the full support of both President Reagan and myself.
The President returned to the White House today, and I’m happy to say he is in very good shape. He is truly a remarkable man.
I’m glad to hear that all is well with you and the family. Life is very hectic for me—more than ever before—but I am enjoying the challenge.
Love to you and Connie from both of us.
[copy unsigned]
April 18, 1981
Mr. Ralph P. Davidson, Chairman of the Board
TIME Incorporated
New York, New York 10020
Dear Ralph:
I have now read the major TIME essay on “American Renewal” . . .
First, let me congratulate TIME Incorporated on its bold project to spark such a renewal. I was impressed that many of the changes for which you called would have been attacked by the liberal establishment (maybe even by TIME) only a short while back as endorsing the Imperial Presidency, a Cold War Strategy, a Powerful Speaker, and Laissez-Faire Capitalism, to use a few epithets. I believe a new national consensus is forming that says, okay, we tried the sackcloth and ashes routine and we’re worse off than before. America is a great country and should act like it. This was the clear message I got on the campaign trail for two years, and it’s certainly the message with which President Reagan won the 1980 election.
A couple more comments: Otto Friedrich’s “To Reform the System” despaired over the vice presidency but made no clear proposal to alter it. He was correct in saying that the most important thing any Vice President can become is “senior adviser with portfolio”. Indeed, to saddle the Vice President with the job of White House Chief of Staff would serve to weaken rather than strengthen him, diluting his prestige as the only nationally-elected official other than the President with decisions over who gets the parking spaces right next to the West Wing. My predecessor, Fritz Mondale, forged an agreement with President Carter which was wholly adopted by President Reagan and me. By this, the Vice President has total access to the President and all his meetings, where his voice can be heard in the highest councils on matters of national policy. Further, the much derided role of being President of the Senate gives a Vice President a unique opportunity to work for the Administration’s programs on Capitol Hill without being considered a crass lobbyist.
As for the changes in the political process listed in Friedrich’s article, I agree that campaigns are too long. Yet, I cannot forget that without hard, steady work at the grassroots, I would probably not be sitting where I am today. Because there are as many minuses as pluses to the question of changing the rules of American politics, the best course is to let matters evolve on their own without some new edict out of Congress. . . .
I really didn’t mean to write a counter-essay. But the “American Renewal” . . . proved quite thought-provoking.
Sincerely,
George Bush
6-1-81
Frederick J. Harrigan
Colebrook, New Hampshire 03576
Dear Fred,
I was delighted to get your letter. My only regret is that you don’t look like me—I could use a surrogate around here.
I do appreciate your offer for the President. Security is such that it would be hard to do what you suggest, but the offer is what counts.8
Also, it was very thoughtful of your dog George to remember Fred, Fred. Lest George forgets what it is Fred looks like, here is a relatively recent shot. Incidentally Fred is writing a book, immodestly titled preliminarily “Famous People who know Fred”.9 It is mainly pictures. Fred has forsaken us at night, finding he likes the raccoon action at the security post near our gate. Besides the midnight shift must be feeding Fred for he has more than his normal amount of stomach gas which regrettably he vents a lot.
I am getting a bum rap on being a preppy, but other than that things are going very well here. It would be nice to get to the North Country—to see you, to run with your fleet footed son, to hear your latest jokes, and to relax. We were in Kennebunkport, Maine for two nights last weekend and I came alive. We are fixing up a house my grandfather built near the sea at the turn of the century.
President Reagan is a great man to work for and with. He gives me plenty of things to do, and he is a guy you can discuss things with without getting your head bitten off. We know the problems are immense, but I believe we can turn things around.
Again, thanks for your offer, and my warm best wishes to you—joined in all of this by Barbara and Fred am I.
Most Sincerely,
George Bush
7-20-81
Martin Allday
1600 lst Nat’l Bank Bldg.
Midland, Texas 79701
Dear Martin,
I loved your newsy letter about Midland. It was just great. I will try to work something out for Midland C of C [Chamber of Commerce] but not sure if it will fit. I have asked Jennifer Fitzgerald in my office to call you on this. It would indeed be great to see booming Midland, to see friends, and hopefully to see our new grandchild10 out there. We still miss Midland, you, our other friends.
Life is full and hectic. I am typing this at home—Bar in Maine moving into new house up there—well rather, an old house that we are doing completely over. It will be winterized and summerized so we can spend a good deal of time there when we retire. Someday you’ve got to see it.
My job is full and fascinating. Not enough hours in the day. Pres. R is great to work with. He is quite a guy—marvelous sense of humor, unthreatened by people or events, a superb person. The top staff are good people too—of course Jim Baker being here is great.11
Better run, but thanks for your great letter. Warmest Regards. Love to all.
George
After
Labor Day I finally began keeping a diary again, having quit when the campaign ended in 1980. Despite my best efforts to make note of something every single day, I would sometimes let the diary lapse for weeks, even months—something I profoundly regret today. Most days, the schedule was too busy to reflect on what had been. It was all I could do to keep up with what was ahead. Anyway, I have scattered some diary entries throughout the vice-presidential and White House chapters.
September 7, 1981
My first day back in Washington after a fantastic time in Maine. . . . It’s a great joy being there with the sea pounding into the rocks, the boat, the new [tennis] court, being with Mother, seeing the Walkers and the kids, and our own grandchildren running around the place. It was supreme joy, a physical lift. I ran comfortable and fast, played reasonable tennis, took up golf again, learned to putt, and had two birdies on the front nine against Ed Muskie12 and the pro from Kennebunk Beach, only to clutch on the back nine—minor interest.
. . . The job is still totally fulfilling, and I must say I got that feeling tonight having gotten home after a light run—I’m ready to get back to work again.
October 6, 1980
Today was the day that Sadat was shot and killed. Two days ago, Mubarak, the new President of Egypt, was in our house sitting in the corner of our living room looking out on the porch, wanting to go for a walk, but chatting about Egypt. It was my second meeting with him, and today, he is wearing the crown, and heaven knows how easily or uneasily in Egypt, the turmoil, the killing and the plotting—it gets you down. At the NSC planning group meeting, I made some joke about . . . I hated to leave the room because somebody would vote to send me to [a] funeral;13 and then I realized later that maybe the President would take it seriously. So I called him up in the Residence—he had gone home around 6 p.m.—and said, “I hope you understand,” and he said, “No, I don’t think either of us should go. We have three former Presidents going, and I think you should be treated the same as me in this regard.” I told him that I wasn’t worried about it, and if things mounted and the pressures mounted, that I would be glad to go.14
All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings Page 34