All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings
Page 43
What has she meant to me—everything!!!!
George Bush
June 5, 1988
The Most Reverend John Allin19
23rd Presiding Bishop, ECUSA
Sewanee, Tennessee 37375
Dear Jack,
. . . Thank you for your helpful advice on the campaign. It is rough. There is a tendency to tear down—to destroy. The press loves to see blood on the floor and there is an ugliness about all of this that keeps some good people from being in the arena. Having said that, I would not trade. I know where I want to lead this country and I think I’d be a good President. There is an awful lot I don’t know, but I feel strongly about our ability to solve problems and to lead in this troubled world.
The problems are immense. The choice between Bush and Dukakis will be very clear. He is the consummate traditional McGovern-type liberal. People don’t see that yet. Indeed, on a national poll, two-thirds of the respondents that favored Dukakis think he is more conservative than I am. My job will be to get things in focus.
My job, also will be to do that which you suggest—establish my own clear identity. I will do that without insulting or tearing down the President.
Thanks for your most thoughtful and insightful letter. I am grateful. Barbara joins me in sending our love.
George Bush
June 26, 1988
Hawaii Islands Cockroach Racing Association
245 North Kukui Street
Suite 204
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Best wishes to the Hawaii Heart Association for a successful Cockroach Racing Classic. I understand that my previous entry, Yellow Roach of Texas, while retired at stud, has sired the awesome Oval Officeroach. He sounds like a sure winner.
Aloha.
Sincerely,
George Bush
July 11th
Home from Maine. Jenna and Barbara are our house guests, and the three of us have dinner. That was fun, and rather cute, the girls showing off claiming they should be in bed at 9:30 p.m. Well it was earlier, and then I got George on the phone, and he said 8:30 p.m. You should’ve seen their faces caught in the act, both of them. They are so cute, and Millie is glad to have company.
July 12, 1988
The Honorable Gerald R. Ford
Dear Mr. President,
Bar and I send our family love as you reach the 3/4 century mark—a day for great celebration. If I am successful in my quest, I only hope I can conduct myself in office with the same sense of decency, honor and integrity that you displayed.
To you and Betty, our warm personal regards.
Many happy returns,
George
Speechwriter Peggy Noonan was working on my acceptance speech at the Republican convention, to be held in August in New Orleans. I sent her some thoughts to work with:
7-15-88
TO:
Peggy Noonan
FROM:
The Vice President
I’m just me!
Know where I want to go—Have the experience to get there:
Jobs, peace, education
I know what drives me-comforts me: family, faith, friends.
• strengthen families
• invest in our kids
• everyone matters
the handicapped
the kid in that Harlem (????) hospital “thrown away” by drug addicted AIDS ridden parents—Good God we must help that child.
From child care to education in fighting drugs we need American helping American
Offended by those who deprive others of human rights, of freedom, racism, fascism, communism—whatever denies people liberty
My background is one thing I’m proud of—
I’ve worked
I’ve fought for my country
I’ve served
I’ve built
I want to lead—
When mistake is made admit & never apologize for U.S.—
Let others propose turning our decisions and our leadership over to a multilateral body—We have a special obligation to lead. We must not forget our responsibility.
As the strongest, freest nation in the world we owe it to the free nations of the world to lead, to stay strong, to care
We are just plain the kindest nation in the world so when a baby is starving in Ethiopia we reach out
Freest, most decent, I will never tear down this country
Strive for a truly bipartisan foreign policy—and never give up on liberty.
Need a reference to sanctity of human life
Yes, I do feel kids should say the Pledge of Allegiance
Words I like: family, loyalty, kids, freedom, grandkids, caring, love, heart, decency, faith, honor, service to country, pride, fair (fair play), tolerance, strength, hope, healing, kindness, excellence
I don’t fear the future
Opportunity, Experience, Jobs, Private lives, Faith in God
Don’t mention Dukakis—
Pledge of Allegiance—reference perhaps to ‘pride’ I felt when my grandson stood here leading the Pledge” (if “P” does it)
No unilateral cuts in the essential military strength of this country
Pride in staying firm until we accomplished what had never been done in nuclear age—ban an entire generation of weapons chemical-biological
The image of mother shielding her child from invisible death—horror—I want to lead world to find way to ban chemical, biological weapons
Education
Give a kid an education and just watch what that kid can do
Change—It is time for full equity Women—equal pay—whatever we do keep our families strong (child care)
What hurts? An abused child; a scared child; an unloved child
Others may speak better, look better, be smoother, more creative but I must be myself. I want you to know my heart beat—thus where I’d lead
I like people; I’m proud of USA; I like sports; I’m experienced; I love kids; I know good honest people when I see ‘em; Highest Ethical standards in terms of conflict of Interests; serve not profit
Now Peggy—I have done to myself, as I fly to Wyoming’s serenity, that which Gail Sheehy20 (that_____) tried to do—
Can’t wait to chat.
Let’s aim for the right or left field seats—just inside the foul line—top deck though.
Jim Baker, who had left his job at Treasury to head up my campaign, suggested that during the Democratic convention, he and I leave it all behind and go fishing in Wyoming. It was a brilliant idea.
July 19th
It’s now the 19th, Tuesday, outside of Cody, Wyoming. I came up here with Jim Baker. We flew in a Gulf Stream III with a minimum staff out of Andrews into Cody. We changed into a helicopter; flew up to the park; and then we completely escaped. . . .
Baker and I share a tent. We go to sleep every night by 9:00 p.m. or 9:15 p.m., and dawn comes early; but this morning, Tuesday, I managed to sleep until 7:15 after getting up once at the crack of dawn, and then back to bed.
I’m dictating this lying on my bedroll outside of my tent looking at the most beautiful ridge of pines in the mountains, a crystal clear blue sky, and there is not a cloud in the sky today. Fly casting that I learned years ago at the Adirondacks come back to me, and I haven’t done it since, but I love it—throwing the fly where you see a rock, or under a log, or behind a tree. It’s a real skill. You stand out alone and think, and it’s beautiful. I’m getting better with the fly casting. The little fly floats, and you see these little fish come up. There are tiny fish in the river, cut throats, brook, rainbow, and they are delicious. We had some for breakfast . . .
I took a bath under an ice cold waterfall. I didn’t get totally in, but I took the crystal water to clean myself off and to wash, and I felt like a million dollars. Today I plan to bathe in the river when the sun is at its height.
We woke up with ice in our pail this morning, a pail of cold clear water outside our tent to brush our teeth and wash our faces,
and now, three hours later, I’m lying with no shirt on a bedroll out in front of the tent. Things seems far away. . . .
I have concluded from this trip that I can be very happy in what follows on. If I lose, I don’t know what I’ll do, but I know I’ll be happy. But the main thing is, I’d like to do something to help others, though I don’t know what it will prove to be. I still feel confident that I will win, but the polls are tough. Bentsen is seen as a stroke of genius21 even though he’s way, way apart on the issues, but we’ve got to get it in focus. We’ve got to make people understand how far left Dukakis is. . . .
But as I dictate this, Saturday night blends into Sunday, then into Monday, and now Tuesday, it doesn’t seem to matter—I feel rested, and my mind is clearer. We’ll go back to the rat races; the copies of memos; who has the action on this letter and that; the stacks of paper; the endless criticism; great pressures; and the ugliness; but this little jaunt has proved to me that you can get your soul refurbished.
July 27th
What a funny lull of a period. After the Dukakis triumph at the convention, we’re getting all kinds of cosmetic advice: wear dark suits, stand up straighter, wear Cary Grant glasses—those are the ones with the dark frames—hold hands with Barbara more, be politer to her, didn’t you see the way the Dukakises were hugging there in public; and I’m thinking, come on, this stuff about them dancing with no music in the holding room, and the press finding out about it—that’s crazy; or that arm around his shoulder looking like they’re madly in love—it just doesn’t seem real. And yet, I’m being advised to do that, reach out, hold Bar’s hand, and she and I laugh about it and think how ridiculous it’s gotten in this country; but that’s the way things go, and that’s probably why I’m 18 points back. . . .
Kitty and Michael Dukakis were getting lots of great publicity, especially during the Democratic convention, for being romantic and affectionate. My nervous campaign staff immediately began fretting that Barbara and I needed to do the same. So I wrote Barbara a note:
8-8-88
Sweetsie:
Please look at how Mike and Kitty do it.
Try to be closer in, more—well er romantic—on camera.
I am practicing the loving look, and the creeping hand.
Yours for better TV and more demonstrable affection.
Your sweetie-pie coo-coo.
Love ‘ya
GB
August 21st
Sunday, and the convention has come and gone. I’ll just make a few general observations.
Having the family there was great. The kids and the grandchildren were front and center, and they did well. Doro speaking so beautifully for her Mother and also on the convention floor. The boys, all of them, on the television and speaking at the convention, all were terrific. Our family got much more focus. They took the heat well, and they showed great presence and great warmth.
. . . I worried some about the speech and worked on it over and over again—first with Peggy [Noonan] and then with Roger[Ailes]22 alone. We changed it, and in the final analysis, we shortened it a little though it ran over 50 minutes in all. It was less than Dukakis’, but more than we originally planned. There was nothing to say on the speech except that it worked far better than I thought. I remember sitting there when the family had all gone to the convention hall . . . I felt calm; I knew what I had to do. I can’t say that I was absolutely positive that it would be a “home run,” but I was determined to do my best. I knew, having rehearsed the speech, I felt very, very comfortable with the humor, with the punch-lines and with the challenge. The press was building it up and up and up—had to do this, had to do that—and it was the biggest moment in my life, which it was; and almost setting expectations so high, that they couldn’t be matched and, yet, they were.
Immediately after the speech, I knew it was good. . . . all the people on the platform vigorously giving me an up-signal. At conventions, you can’t tell because of the mandatory “spontaneous” demonstration; but there was something different, and there was something pretty special about it all, and I felt that it had worked.
The kids came out on the stage. I loved standing next to the Oak Ridge Boys and hearing them sing the closing number. Shirley Jones with her great big voice gave a marvelous close, and all in all, it worked very, very well, indeed.
Of course, we’re plagued by the Quayle-National Guard Service, and they’ve been pounding the poor guy.23
. . . I think the press understands that there has been a feeding frenzy over Quayle, but they haven’t proved anything wrong. A few demonstrators are cropping up yelling about Quayle being a draft dodger, but there is going to be an awful lot of people out there that understand that the Guard is honorable; that he played by the rules; and that’s the point.
. . . There is a definite sea change since the speech—you can feel it in the crowds, and it’s something fantastic. We’re here in Cleveland on the 21st; but first to Indiana, then Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Ohio, then on into Springfield, Illinois at the State Fair, and then into Chicago. All along the way, it’s amazing—it’s a different change, and things have changed dramatically. . . .
September 2nd
Forty-four years ago this very day, I was shot down in combat, and I think how my life has changed. That was one of the most formative experiences, obviously, and here I am now 44 years later, one of two people to be the next President of the United States of America. And yet, I think today about life and death: The life of Delaney and Ted White, and the life of Davis Patrick Murphy, a young police officer. Delaney and White died in service to their country; 44 years later to the day, Murphy is lying in a funeral home, having given his life for his country yesterday or the day before.24 . . .
Life goes on with all its mystery and wonder. I think of when I was a little tiny boy how I feared death, and now I don’t fear it at all. I want to live to do good things and partly to meet the challenges that lie ahead, but I don’t fear death. Oh, how I love life—how I love my life with my family and my kids and my grandchildren. I love them!
9-4-88
Mrs. Ann Redington France
Kennebunk Beach, Maine 04043
Dear Ann:
Here’s a shot at my views on being a Grandfather. Pardon typing. I’m rushing to the West coast early in the morning.
The most important things grandchildren contribute to us? They make me feel young. They hug me, and they pull at my hand getting me to do all those fun things—you know—putting up the tent, reading to them, going on the boat and suddenly I feel young, very young, again.
Some of the grandkids are aware of my position—some are not. All of them are relaxed unspoiled and couldn’t care about all the publicity etc. They are so natural.
They call us Ganny and Gampy (same as I called my grandparents)
I have all the fun of the grandkids without having to discipline them.
Once in awhile I get a little tired—when the minnows keep churning and when I’ve seen [“Karate Kid”] for the third time in one day, or when a tear just won’t dry up—yes sometimes a little tired but not often.
I hope my public position will never encroach on the quiet time with them and that it will never distort their values. Family love is our anchor and it must never be weakened or strained by public attention.
And, yes, we treat them as we did our own but without the responsibility of making them mind.
In sum these 10 grandkids brighten my life and give me great joy. I love them all very much.
Best Wishes,
George Bush
I received a distressful letter from Tom DeFrank of Newsweek, a reporter whom I respected. Newsweek was seeking special access during the campaign to facilitate the writing of a book when the election was over: I felt strongly Newsweek should be treated fairly, but given the “wimp” cover, I couldn’t see why they should be given special treatment.
September 6, 1988
Mr. Thomas M. DeFrank
Newsweek
Dear Tom:
I was distressed to get your letter of September 4th, handed to me yesterday here in California.
I am afraid I have not made my position clear. Indeed, you do have many friends working in my campaign. Certainly you are not “forbidden from doing business” with them. The last thing that I want or would condone would be taking a person for whom we all have real respect and making that person a “journalistic leper.”
On the book project itself—I thought, when you and I talked long ago, that you understood my position. I even felt, perhaps wrongly, that you personally were somewhat sympathetic. I have made very clear to all concerned that NEWSWEEK is to be treated with total fairness. NEWSWEEK reporters are to be granted the same access and shown the same courtesy as others. I have no reason to believe this is not the case.
When it comes to going beyond these guidelines into giving NEWSWEEK special consideration, giving them access to internal memoranda, indeed, giving them special treatment, I just can’t do that. In my view, I would be proving NEWSWEEK’S point—that controversial editorial conclusion they reached and chose to express the very day I announced for the Presidency.25
Some day I would be glad to discuss this further. As a matter of fact, Kay Graham26 mentioned this to me and I gave her a “burst transmission” telling her I would be glad to discuss it in further detail.
You and I both know and appreciate the fact that some journalists are more respected than others. Some build confidence where others build disdain. All should, in my view, be treated fairly.
In your case, Tom, every single one of us involved in this campaign has great respect for you and great confidence in your fairness. You have earned this and, quite properly, friendships have developed.