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

by George H. W. Bush

  October 14, 1981

  Mrs. Sidney W. Davidson, Jr.

  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

  Dear Mrs. Davidson:

  I was, of course, pleased to hear from you but I must confess I was disappointed in what you wrote about. Thank God we have a President who is trying to get this economy under control after decades of reckless deficits and inflation driven higher taxes.

  On foreign affairs we do adhere to human rights. We are not propping up authoritarian governments all over the world, but we are determined to help those who are trying to resist the insidious onslaught of Castro-backed revolution or Soviet inspired mischief. We had better wake up in this country to what the Soviets and its friends are doing. Take a look at Poland; take a look at the Caribbean; take a look at Qaddafi.15 Don’t you think we should resist this kind of tyranny.

  I hate to disagree with you but I think the President is doing a first class job, and I have no difficulty in supporting him fully.

  Sincerely,

  George Bush

  January 12, 1982

  The Honorable Richard Nixon

  26 Federal Plaza

  New York, N. Y.

  Dear Mr. President:

  I received your warm letter of January 7 and I am very appreciative. A lot of people simply don’t understand the advice you gave me.

  A couple of months ago I had a letter from a very prominent Republican Senator, saying “separate yourself from the President”. This was written at the time of some tough budget vote. I have had lots of writers hone in on differences that I may have had with President Reagan during the primaries, trying to get me to highlight these differences now.

  I don’t believe a President should have to be looking over his shoulder wondering if the Vice President was out there carving him up or undermining his programs in one way or another. I guess every Vice President has had to endure the annual rounds of “whatever happened to V.P.______ stories”. They don’t bother me a bit. I like my job, I have plenty to do, and I believe I can be helpful to the President. So what else is there?

  Thank you so very much for that insightful letter. Barbara joins me in sending our best to Mrs. Nixon.

  Respectfully,

  George Bush

  January 13, 1982

  Mr. Stephen Offerman

  Amsterdam Color Works Inc.

  New York, N. Y. 10461

  Dear Mr. Offerman:

  . . . The President of the United States, together with Secretary of State Haig and others in this Administration, felt that the sale of AWACS16 to Saudi Arabia was not a threat to Israel but a calculated move to help advance permanent peace in the Middle East.

  The question is not simply one of Israeli versus Arab. There are exterior forces at play in the region, supported and financed by the Soviet Union or surrogate states such as Qaddafi’s Libya, who would like nothing better than to destabilize nations such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt or Jordan. We are confident of Israel’s strength. We are also committed to Israel’s right to exist within safe and secure borders and in peace.

  Honest men approach solutions differently. Our efforts towards peace in the region are as honorable as yours or any other American. I strongly challenge your assertion that the President is a “bully”. There is nothing in his make up that even the most critical observer would charge along the lines you suggest. I respect and support your right to fight for those principles in which you deeply believe. The President of the United States has the same right. . . .

  I have been in public life a long time. I have encountered great passions in the arena, and sometimes men of integrity, myself included I hope, realize they have made mistakes and say so. Think about it and write me back, for in spite of my first flush of anger at reading your letter, I have respect for a man who fights for his strongly held beliefs.

  Sincerely,

  George Bush

  March 15, 1982

  Mr. and Mrs. William McKenzie

  Dallas, Texas 75205

  Dear Billy Mac and Sally:

  You won’t know me. I look like the guy on channel 4—every hair in place, the natural dry look to perfection. Why? Why you ask—because of my new redkin (?) hair spray. It’s me after all these years—natural yet aggressive—quasi militant but not offensively so. I am very excited about all of this, and am entering the Senior Body contest relying heavily on the judges to ‘think hair’. Many many thanks. And much Love.

  George

  3-30-82

  Dear Miss Hepburn,

  We so enjoyed our meeting—too brief of course; but for Barbara and me, a highlight not soon forgotten. We respect you so—and I guess as a little kid I thought you were the meowest of the cat’s meows—Anyway now we’ve met.

  But this is about last night’s Oscar too.17 Hooray for you—3 cheers for excellence and style and class and honor and warmth. 3 cheers for your decency—

  Affectionate regards from yet another Hepburn fan—

  George Bush

  Given that I had recently visited China during a trip abroad, and given some recent statements from President Reagan about China, Barry Goldwater wrote me an angry letter, accusing the administration of forsaking Taiwan for China. I had great respect for Senator Goldwater but wholeheartedly disagreed with him.

  May 28, 1982

  The Honorable Barry Goldwater

  United States Senate

  Washington, D. C. 20510

  Dear Barry:

  Your letter about Taiwan and the PRC was, as they say in diplomatic circles, frank and candid, I’m not surprised. I long have known your views on this subject.

  I don’t expect you to change your mind, Barry, but I do think I should make a few points.

  You think the U.S. stands on two different policies—one for the PRC and one for Taiwan. But in fact, we have one policy—there is one China and we acknowledge the PRC view that Taiwan is part of China, a view that is shared by Taiwan. We respect the sovereignty of that one China. We believe it is best to let the PRC and Taiwan work out their differences peacefully, without outside pressure or interference. We stress a peaceful solution. We remain a loyal friend to Taiwan while we simultaneously try to advance our relationship with the PRC. We believe that good relations between the U.S. and the PRC advance the cause of peace worldwide and that we would be irresponsible to let the opportunity for improved relations pass us by without a principled effort on our part. Note, I say principled. We will not turn our back on an old friend, Taiwan. We will uphold the law of the land. President Reagan and I took an oath on this.

  I spent hours telling the PRC leaders that President Reagan is a man of principle. He is a friend of Taiwan. He will uphold the laws of the U.S.A. He wants to improve relations with the PRC but within his principles, commitments, promises, and oath of office. We seek some formula that allows the U.S. to have good relations with the PRC while at the same time maintaining our historic friendship with Taiwan. We know that’s not easy. And it will not be made any easier if you say the things you hint at in your letter.

  One last point—every friend and ally we have in Asia . . . all urge that we strengthen our relationship with the PRC. They see it as in their strategic self-interest, and ours as well. The same is true for our European allies.

  Barry, you are a highly respected U.S. leader. What you say is very important to the people of America, Taiwan and the PRC. As we search for a way to insure peace in the world—a way to influence and control a very dangerous Soviet Union—we need your help.

  Sincerely, and with warm

  personal regards,

  George

  June 2, ’82

  Dear Hugh,18

  Thanks for the clipping which Don Rhodes19 handed me along with your note when I arrived home tonight from Colorado.

  I keep hearing rumors of early activity up there . . . Majority Leader of the US Senate20 was getting active; then this clip about Jack Kemp.21

  . . . My problem is that I will do nothing at all of any kind
that could even marginally be considered as moving around for ‘84. I am too devoted to the Prez to do this and it would be wrong. Others may have different plans—quite obviously they do. I’d love to get the Gregg advice on this.

  Life continues full blast, exciting, frustrating at times—the latter because of the persistent economic problems.

  I have learned a great deal and am doing some fascinating things. This week flew in an AWACS to Colorado from Oklahoma—a fantastic learning experience. Doing a lot of travel and speechifying—a lot on pure politics already, but also much civic stuff.

  Dying to chat soon—Maine maybe??? Love to Cay.

  [UNSIGNED]

  I had been exchanging letters with my friend Bart Giamatti, the president of Yale University and later the commissioner of baseball, about the religious right. Here is one in the series:

  July 29, 1982

  Mr. A. Bartlett Giamatti

  Yale University

  New Haven, Connecticut 06520

  Dear Bart:

  But what is the difference between the Religious Right and the Religious Left? If I felt that the Religious Right or Left could impose their views on me by use of political power I would be upset; I don’t feel that way. But given your concern, why do you feel a threat from the Religious Right but not the Left?

  I’m not sure what God wants of us; but that others think they know what God wants is okay with me. Why is it all right for Coffin22 to urge defiance on Viet Nam, tolerance on Khomeni, or advocate “gay marriages” but it’s not okay for the Right to get together and work against abortion or for prayer in school.

  My problem Bart is that until the Religious Right got involved because of their concerns on drugs, decline in family, shifting views on homosexuals or divorce, no one gave much of a damn. We might not have agreed with the more liberal activists when they were (are) up in arms: but we said okay, let them do their thing.

  Now the Religious Right is up in arms. Most of them (while believing deeply) are not totally intolerant of the views of others. Most get lumped in with some few that do what you say—namely, refuse to tolerate any difference.

  Your letter was great. You say things better than I do—much better; but like you I have been across the country a lot and met with lots of people. We must be careful not to lump all the Religious Right in together. We must understand that in our post-Viet Nam post-Watergate guilt, we have condoned things we should have condemned. Now a decade later a lot of people are concerned. Some of them are totally intolerant, but in my view most are not.

  They have seen those espousing different views asked to speak at prestigious schools, or had the Mary McGrory’s do well written editorials about their conscience. They have been deeply troubled as they see religious men of the Left deliberately break laws (Thoreau might say “okay”, but a lot of people worry about that).

  Now, clumsily at times, vindictively at others (ask me, some of them took a big bite out of my behind during the campaign), they are trying to stand up for things that fundamentally I believe in. I differentiate between the “extremists” and the Religious Right in general.

  I love Billy Graham, I really do; some of the flamboyant money-mad, teary temple builders worry me.

  Okay, friend, now where am I wrong?

  Best.

  Sincerely,

  George Bush

  P.S.: I think you’re wrong on prayer in schools. It is not just ideologues who want the voluntary prayer in school. Believe me Bart it is much deeper than that. And then there’s the Pledge of Allegiance. The journalists slouch through it, the cynics might look down on Middle America, but Bart it feels good to go to some Rotary meetings in Iowa and say the Pledge—it really does—especially that part “one nation under God”. It’s all winners and no losers. I have a funny feeling it keeps us a little more together. Is it okay to say the Pledge in schools but not to have voluntary prayers [?]

  September 19, 1982

  Rabbi Hyman Judah Schachtel23

  Congregation Beth Israel

  Houston, Texas 77096

  Dear Hyman:

  You are a thoughtful guy. How kind of you to write me about Doro’s wedding.24 You must have known that it was a very special day for the Bush family and maybe you knew, too, how much I love my daughter and how close to her I feel. I must make a slight confession, I shed a few tears as she and I drove to the Church, but don’t worry! The Secret Service didn’t see them.

  Warm regards.

  Sincerely,

  George Bush

  In 1982 I undertook an increasing number of foreign trips on President Reagan’s behalf, representing him and the country in talks with leaders around the world. In the spring, I had taken a huge trip to Asia; in June, I represented the United States at the funeral of Saudi king Khalid; in August, I attended the inauguration of President Betancur of Colombia; and in November, Barbara and I went to Africa. However, the trip was interrupted by the death of the Soviet Union’s longtime iron-willed leader, Leonid Brezhnev. (It could have been about this time that my dear friend Jim Baker penned the saying “You die, I’ll fly.”) Truthfully, these funerals often resulted in many useful bilateral meetings with the incoming leaders. I sent this cable to President Reagan after I met the new Soviet leader, Yuri Andropov.

  Nov. 15, 82

  FM Vice President Bush Aboard Air Force Two

  TO White House for The President

  Subject: My visit to Moscow

  . . . I am glad you sent us. The Soviets clearly appreciated the gesture and shared their appreciation in several ways.

  . . . By way of example: George Shultz25 and I walked to the receiving hall, took off our coats, and went to the rear of the line, when we were halfway up the stairs walking along with the likes of [Pakistani] President Zia, [Japanese] Prime Minister Suzuki and many more. A Soviet protocol officer pushed through the crowd on the stairs and told us to come forward. Reluctantly we obliged, being led obtrusively past all the waiting dignitaries. . . .

  There were other little gestures, but the major event was our meeting at 4:30 p.m. with Andropov and Gromyko.26 Soviet watchers were amazed that Andropov received us.

  I will not report here on the conversation. A verbatim report is being prepared, but since this was the first known visit with Andropov by Americans, let me convey some impressions.

  He seemed sure of himself. He read his three page brief but with ease and self-assurance.

  He conveyed strength, but not in a bellicose way.

  He dished it out, but did not flinch as I mentioned Poland, Afghanistan, and Human Rights.

  He smiled and seemed genuinely warm when I made joking reference to his having been KGB Chief while I was head of CIA.

  It is of course too early to predict how things will evolve in Moscow, but for some reason I feel up-beat, opportunity may well lie ahead, though much of the rhetoric was predictable and accusatory.

  I am writing this cable as we fly Moscow to Frankfurt—A Soviet navigator up front in the cockpit. The impressions of Red Square and the pageantry of Brezhnev’s funeral fresh in my mind.

  We were very close to the front. When the goose-stepping, arm-swinging, Elite Guard marched in I at first saw only hostile troops and hostile power. We had a little wait and I watched the changing of the Guard and looked at the faces and then I saw my sons and yours: George, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Mike and Ron.

  I saw a funeral without tears, save for the immediate family, I saw a funeral without God and thought “How sad—how lonely.”

  I can’t speak for George Shultz with whom it was a total joy sharing these responsibilities, but let me say two things now: First, thanks for sending us on an unforgettable mission. Second: we must succeed in our quest for peace.

  Now back to Africa.

  Warm Regards,

  George

  Barbara and I then returned to Africa to resume our trip. Here are excerpts from a memo I wrote President Reagan about my impressions:

  . . . I have been deepl
y struck by the gravity and extent of Africa’s economic crisis. Many of our best friends are in serious trouble and face a difficult political future unless the world economy turns around. I stressed the vital importance of each getting his economic house in order and discouraged them from expecting increases in assistance from us. They were impressed by what we are going through at home and have a better understanding of the tough decisions we have had to make. . . .

  I return confident that we have strong relationships in Africa. Our diplomatic and aid missions are ably staffed and lean; the Peace Corps is making an outstanding contribution. Each of the leaders I visited was impressed by your interest and sympathy. The policies we are pursuing are sound, and we gained increased trust in our purposes. . . . Africa needs us, and all those I visited make it clear the Soviets have little to offer. We will have to be imaginative in finding ways to meet the continent’s many needs.

  The day after Christmas, our church in Houston, St. Martin’s, asked me to speak to the congregation. Here are excerpts from my remarks:

  It’s great to be back at St. Martin’s. The happy memories come flooding back. I remember teaching Sunday School here, so does Barbara. I remember the sixth or seventh pew from the back, how it wiggled and shook as our four boys and, sometimes, Doro got the giggles or got mad or couldn’t see during the Christmas Pageant. . . .

  I don’t want to hold it over the rest of you, but how many of you can say of the Christmas Pageant, “My grandson was a shepherd in 1980 and Noelle, his sister, was an angel.” Imagine both in the same year! Barbara said, “Did it ever occur to you they both may have made it because you had just been elected Vice President of the United States a month before?” No, it didn’t. I still carry the picture in my wallet. I am convinced they made it because, with all respect to you other grandfathers of potential angels, our angel looked like an angel and our shepherd—he was four then—had that dark nomadic look of a real shepherd who knew how to tend his flock by both day and night. . . .