. . . The Vice President does an outstanding job for this Administration directing the Space and Competitiveness Councils. He’s extraordinarily effective working with Congress; and, as I am sure you’ve witnessed, he’s well received by audiences all across the country. When he travels overseas, he does first rate work, too.
I guess whoever is Vice President will always take some pounding in the press. So, put down some of what’s Dan’s been through to just plain cynicism about the Vice Presidency.
I have great confidence in the Vice President and will continue to do so.
Sincerely,
George Bush
October 10, 1991
Mr. Robert W. Blake
Lubbock, TX 79408
Dear Bob,
I am writing this to you on my computer. Incidentally I now use this regularly though I have lots to learn.
Anyway thanks for your supportive card written on Sept 30th. Aren’t these amazing times?
The Libs charge that I am not interested in Domestic Policy. Wrong!! The problem is I am not interested in their spend spend spend agenda. I have had to veto a lot of bad stuff, and I will continue to do that in an effort to get good legislation.
What is happening to Clarence Thomas is just plain horrible.49 All the groups that tried to beat him on abortion or privacy or affirmative action have now come out of the woodwork. They are trying to destroy this decent man. I do not think they will succeed but they are in a frenzy around here. The most liberal of the women’s groups are really outrageous; and then you have the smug liberal staffers who leak FBI reports to achieve their ignoble ends. It is sinister and evil, but I doubt the Senate under the control of the one party will do a damn thing about it.
I know nothing of Ms. Hill who makes a nice appearance, but I know a lot about Clarence Thomas, with whom I visited again yesterday; and I continue to have total confidence in his honor and decency. This is an ugly process and one can see clearly why so many good people elect to stay out of public life.
Bar sends her love. Treat this letter in confidence; but I just felt like telling an old friend how I feel.
Sincerely,
GB
October 10, 1991
Your Majesty,50
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that letter of friendship, written from your heart. Time heals a lot of wounds.
I appreciate your cooperation as we try to be genuine catalysts for peace in the Mid East. And I am certain that, whatever happens, the personal relationship that I, too, value will be strong—is strong.
My Respects & Best Wishes,
George
GB
October 21, 1991
Brent:
Please discuss:
Does Mil Aide need to carry that black case now every little place I go?
Let’s discuss.
GB
[The President’s military aide always carries the “football,” a black briefcase that holds the necessary codes for the President to launch a nuclear strike. With the Cold War over, I did not think it was necessary for the “football” to go everywhere with me. However, Brent and others disagreed, given the uncertainty of who had nuclear capability.]
One of Clarence Thomas’s biggest defenders was Senator Al Simpson, who took on the press, the women’s groups, and the Democrats.
Oct. 21, 1991
Dear Al,
After you left today I got to worrying. I don’t like to see my friend burdened down by anything at all. You seemed a little low. . . .
You were right on all this. You helped a decent man turn the tide.
You walked where angels feared to tread by zapping some groups and some press; and, in the process, they climbed all over your ass—but dammit you were right.
Besides even though some are sore at you, they won’t stay sore. They like you, they respect you and they know you to be fair.
Having said all this I’ll confess—there are days when I just hate this job—not many, but some.
The articles that demean one’s character sometimes get to me, too. The ugly columns don’t set very well when we’re trying our hardest on some project or another—but then, always, the sun comes up.
Yesterday at Camp David I was a little down. I picked up 2 bright red leaves, and I did something I haven’t done in the last 60 years. I put the leaves pressed into a heavy book in my little quiet office.
I felt better—strange but I really did.
Don’t let the bastards wear you down.
Your friends love you.
This President depends on you and believes in you and is grateful to you.
Nothing you can do can change that. . . .
Abortion, Immigration, Deficits, Judiciary Hearings, all these together pale in importance when up against friendship—
George
Mikhail Gorbachev and I opened the historic Middle East Peace Conference, cohosted by the United States and the Soviet Union, in Madrid on October 30. It began the peace process that led to the historic handshake between Israeli prime minster Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yassir Arafat on the White House lawn in September 1993. The night before the conference opening, Spain’s King Juan Carlos hosted a private dinner for Spanish prime minister Felipe Gonzalez, Gorbachev, and me.
October 30, 1991
His Majesty Juan Carlos I
King of Spain
Madrid
Your Majesty,
I landed in Washington about 30 minutes ago.
Last night’s dinner was very very special. . . . They, your family, really made me feel at home—the very minute I walked in I felt that way.
Then the dinner—so terrific. Yes, I over ate but with gusto, not by accident.
Wasn’t the conversation with Mikhail stimulating?
Every time I think “Wow, I’ve got problems”, I think of what he faces every day he climbs out of bed.
Thanks for a very rare treat of an evening; and special thanks, too, for all your wonderful country did hosting this historic conference. We sure appreciate it—so does the whole world.
With Respect and thanks to you and her Majesty from your new friend (and I mean it)
George
On Halloween, a terrible storm pounded our beloved Walker’s Point and destroyed much of the downstairs of our house. I wrote Gerry Bemiss:
11-9-91
Hague to DC
Mr. FitzGerald Bemiss
P.O. Box 1156
Richmond, VA 23209
Dear Gerry,
W. Point-K’Port had its body bent and broken but its soul is OK. Our ground floor is shot—books, pictures—so many treasures like that gone; but it will bounce back inspite of its truly historic pounding. Thanks for caring old friend
George
The country had been in a recession despite our many attempts to jump-start the economy. It was beginning to dominate the headlines and influence 1992 politics.
Nov. 26, 1991
The Right Honorable Brian Mulroney, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Ottawa
Dear Brian—
You sensed that I might be concerned about all the piling-on, and you called me. Thanks so very very much for that.
We are in a tough period. There are no easy “fixes” to this economy and, yes, things are slow and lack of confidence abounds; but there’s a lot of fundamental strength out there, too.
Every day I am grateful for true friends (That’s you!!)
George
For several months John Sununu had been under fire from the media, who accused him of using government planes for personal use. John had been a great chief of staff, but the clamoring and discontent got to the point where we all knew it was probably time for him to go.
December 3, 1991
Governor John H. Sununu
Chief of Staff
The White House
Dear John,
I now have your letter resigning as Chief of Staff effective December 15. It
is with reluctance, regret and a sense of personal loss that I accept your resignation as Chief of Staff.
I am very pleased, however, that you have agreed to remain as a Counselor to the President, with Cabinet rank, through March 1, 1992.
During the period, December 15th to March 1, you will be an official member of my administration and I will continue to seek your counsel on the important issues facing our country.
John, I find it very difficult to write this letter both for professional reasons and for personal reasons.
On the professional side, thanks to your leadership we have made significant accomplishments for which you deserve great credit.
Working with others here in the White House, throughout the administration, and on Capitol Hill, you have played a major role in achieving some of our significant goals.
And, yes, from my vantage point and our families as well, the friendship we treasure is stronger than ever.
I hope you and Nancy, free of the enormous pressures of the office you have served so well, will enjoy life to its fullest. You deserve the best.
Most sincerely from this grateful President,
George Bush
12-6-91
The Honorable Sherwood L. Boehlert
U. S. House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515
Dear Sherry,
I won’t reply to every point in your good letter, but I really appreciated it.
. . . I know that this economy will turn. I know our staff changes will help quell the attacks John was under. And I darn sure am not down. I’m used to the heat and I plan to be in the kitchen for 5 more years.
With friends like you—I will be. All Best from a grateful
George Bush
Ironically, the attempted overthrow of Gorbachev by hard-line communists had the exact opposite effect of what they planned. After the coup was squelched, more and more republics announced they wanted independence from Moscow. Led by Yeltsin, the republic leaders began systematically dismantling the old Soviet Union. On Christmas Day, 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union. Our onetime greatest enemy no longer existed. The Cold War was officially over. I received a message that Gorbachev would like to talk to me. It was an emotional conversation—the last one between a president of the Soviet Union and a president of the United States. I assured him he would be my friend always and that history would treat him kindly. I recorded the conversation in my diary. This is how we ended:
GB: “At this special time of year and at this historic time, we salute you and thank you for what you have done for world peace. Thank you very much.”
MG: “Thank you, George. I was glad to hear all of this today. I am saying goodbye and shaking your hands. You have said to me many important things and I appreciate it.”
GB: “All the best to you, Mikhail.”
MG: “Goodbye.”
It was the voice of a good friend; it was the voice of a man to whom history will give enormous credit.
There was something very moving about this phone call—a real historic note. I mentioned to him Camp David and wanting him back up here—the place where he threw the “ringer”—and I think he would like that; but this is the way I feel. I didn’t want to get too emotional, but I literally felt like I was caught up in real history with a phone call like this. It was something important, some enormous turning point. God, we’re lucky in this country—we have so many blessings.
Aboard Air Force One
CHAPTER 15
The Worst of Times
We began 1992 with an important trip to Asia, visiting Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. The main purpose of the trip was trade, and we took with us a large contingent of American businessmen and CEOs. We considered the trip successful and felt a lot of progress had been made on opening up Asian markets to American products.
However, I’m afraid that is not what most people remember about this trip.
January 9th
I’m dictating this on Thursday in the Akasaka Palace [in Tokyo.] Last night, I went to the dinner given by [Prime Minister Kiichi] Miyazawa, and half way through the receiving line, I began to feel very faint and broke out in a big sweat. I knew I was going to throw up. I asked to be excused from the receiving line, and this caused a lot of consternation, so I went into the bathroom, threw up in there, came back, finished the line, and I felt very, very weak.
I should have gone home but I didn’t. I could not eat anything at the dinner—a beautiful dinner, beautiful music—and I couldn’t even carry on a conversation. I remember breaking out into a cold sweat, water just pouring out of me, and then the next thing I knew, literally, I was on the floor. I woke up, and I had this euphoric feeling. It’s hard to describe it, but it was a light, out of body feeling, 100 percent strange. I looked up and there staring at me were the faces of nurses, the doctors, and the Secret Service guys. I realized I was lying flat on the floor, having thrown up all over Miyazawa.
Barbara saved the day by injecting a little humor, and she stayed at the dinner. They brought in an ambulance, and I decided, no, I would walk out. I put my tie back on, rebuttoned my collar and walked out. I didn’t feel all that bad.
The press is dominated by the news of my illness and apparently it was all over the television—my collapsing.
Frankly, we think the visit has been very important, and I think it has gone well. We’ve re-established our position as a Pacific power, talking about security as well as trade. But the carpers and critics are bitching away at home.
[Miyazawa] was so understanding about my humiliating illness. That was the damnedest experience. Not the best for him either. He is a decent man, older man, has a good perspective and knows the importance of the United States to Japan.
[I have great respect for Kiichi, and he and I remain good friends. Since I’ve left office, we have met in both Tokyo and Houston.]
January 11, 1992
Dear Ron [Reagan],
I am writing this to you on my new computer at Camp David.
When I got back from throwing up on our friend P.M. Miyazawa, I found that large, lovely picture of the 5 of us.1 It will go into that beautiful frame that you gave us. Thanks so very much for such a special present.
The trip to Asia, in spite of the carping and whining from the Democrat protectionists, aided and abetted by the Washington Post, was a success. We made progress getting into the glass, computer and, yes, auto markets. Much left to be done but at least we tried and did it without reverting to Protectionism.
Again my sincere thanks for that present.
I hope you are well and enjoying life to the fullest. Warmest Regards,
George
1-12-92
Mr. John P. Ellis2
Harvard University Institute of Politics
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
Dear John,
Just back from barfing on Miyazawa (bad news) to find your good letter of Dec. 26th (good news)
Thanks for the coffee machine. Yes, it will be a key item this summer. The house is well down the comeback trail according to Danny Philbrick.3
. . . I’m convinced the economy will bounce back—if it does, I think we’ll be OK. Clinton, absent Mario [Cuomo], is getting a good ride; but he hasn’t been through the big time meat grinder yet. . . .
Love to all,
GB
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
February 6, 1992
THIS IS AN ALL POINTS BULLETIN FROM THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT: MY DOG “RANGER”
Recently Ranger was put on a weight reduction program. Either that program succeeds or we enter Ranger in the Houston Fat Stock Show as a Prime Hereford.
All offices should take a formal ‘pledge’ that reads as follows:
“WE AGREE NOT TO FEED RANGER. WE WILL NOT GIVE HIM BISCUITS. WE WILL NOT GIVE HIM FOOD OF ANY KIND”
In addition Ranger’s “access” is hereby restricted. He has been told not to wande
r the corridors without an escort. This applies to the East and West Wings, to the Residence from the 3rd floor to the very, very bottom basement.
Although Ranger will still be permitted to roam at Camp David, the Camp David staff including Marines, Naval Personnel, All Civilians and Kids are specifically instructed to ‘rat’ on anyone seen feeding Ranger.
Ranger has been asked to wear a “Do not feed me” badge in addition to his ID.
I will, of course, report on Ranger’s fight against obesity. Right now he looks like a blimp, a nice friendly appealing blimp, but a blimp.
We need Your Help—All hands, please, help.
February 16th
We’ve left New Hampshire after an upbeat final day and I’m now back in Washington. So many thoughts go through my head. This will be my last campaign in New Hampshire. I went through the fields of New Hampshire in the summer of ’78, and then of course, ’79, ’80, and ’88, and now this. It’s hard to tell what’s happening.
Right now, some of the polls have us 58 to 30—a couple of them there—but then there is this Bennett poll which has it much, much closer. Buchanan4 is attacking and he’s mean and ugly. The five Democrats continue to attack. My pitch is enough ugliness, enough campaign rhetoric, enough highfalutin plans with no detail to them. I’ve got to govern, and we’ve got our plan before the Congress. . . .
February 25, 1992
(Aboard Air Force One)
(Enroute San Francisco, California)
The Honorable Paul Cellucci
Lieutenant Governor,5 State of Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts 02133
Dear Paul:
As I head west, my mind flashes back to my final campaign in New Hampshire. In ’80, ’88, and ’92 you were right there by my side, and I just wanted you to know that I am very grateful for your steadfast support.
Despite the spin the press put on last Tuesday’s outcome, the win was substantial.6 We are all pleased with Sunday’s great showing in Maine, and I look forward to the upcoming Southern Primaries.
All the best to you, Paul, and my sincere thanks again.
All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings Page 59