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

by George H. W. Bush

July 9, 1989 Visits Poland and Hungary.

  Sept. 27, 1989 Hosts Education Summit with all fifty governors in Charlottesville, Virginia.

  Nov. 9, 1989 Berlin Wall falls.

  Dec. 2, 1989 Meets with Gorbachev off Malta.

  Dec. 20, 1989 Launches military operation in Panama to restore democracy and to capture renegade dictator and international drug trafficker Manuel Noriega.

  May 31, 1990 Bush/Gorbachev first official summit meeting in Washington.

  July 23, 1990 Nominates David Souter to Supreme Court.

  July 26, 1990 Signs Americans with Disabilities Act.

  Aug. 2, 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait.

  Aug. 5, 1990 Announces, “This will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait.”

  Sept. 30, 1990 Announces a bipartisan federal budget agreement that breaks a budget deadlock and is first move toward reducing the federal deficit.

  Oct. 3, 1990 West and East Germany are united.

  Nov. 15, 1990 Signs the Clean Air Act.

  Nov. 22, 1990 Spends Thanksgiving Day with the troops in Saudi Arabia.

  Jan. 16, 1991 Orders the beginning of Operation Desert Storm to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

  Feb. 27, 1991 Suspends combat operations in the Persian Gulf after Kuwait is liberated.

  July 1, 1991 Nominates Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.

  July 31, 1991 With Gorbachev, signs START I, reducing for the first time the strategic nuclear forces of the two superpowers.

  Oct. 30, 1991 With Gorbachev, opens historic Middle East peace conference in Madrid.

  Nov. 21, 1991 Signs the Civil Rights Act of 1991.

  Dec. 25, 1991 Gorbachev resigns and the Soviet Union dissolves.

  Nov. 3, 1992 Loses reelection bid for a second term, Clinton/Gore defeating Bush/Quayle.

  Dec. 4, 1992 Announces Operation Restore Hope to relieve starvation in Somalia.

  Jan. 3, 1993 With Boris Yeltsin, signs START II, banning the most destabilizing nuclear weapons in the superpower arsenals.

  Jan. 20, 1993 Returns to private life in Houston.

  Nov. 8, 1994 Son George W. Bush elected governor of Texas.

  Jan. 6, 1995 Celebrates fifty years of marriage to Barbara Bush.

  March 25, 1997 Fulfills a lifelong dream by making a second parachute jump.

  Nov. 6, 1997 Dedication of the George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University.

  September 1998 A World Transformed, coauthored with Brent Scowcroft, published.

  Nov. 3, 1998 Son Jeb Bush elected governor of Florida; George W. Bush elected to second term as governor of Texas.

  May 14, 1999 Commencement ceremony for first master’s degree graduates from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M.

  Jan. 20, 2001 George W. Bush sworn in as the forty-third President of the United States.

  Sept. 11, 2001 The worst terrorist attack in the history of the United States.

  June 2002 For the first time since being shot down on September 2, 1944, returns to Chichi Jima.

  June 12, 2004 Celebrates eightieth birthday by jumping out of another perfectly good airplane. Birthday party raises $56 million for MD Anderson Cancer Center, the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, and the Points of Light.

  Dec. 26, 2004 A tsunami in the Indian Ocean devastates Southeast Asia. At the request of the President, teams up with Bill Clinton to raise money in the private sector for disaster relief.

  Jan. 6, 2005 Celebrates sixty years of marriage with Barbara Pierce Bush.

  Jan. 20, 2005 George W. Bush sworn in for a second term.

  Aug. 29, 2005 Katrina comes ashore near New Orleans as a category 3 hurricane, and becomes the costliest natural disaster in American history. Teams up again with President Clinton to form the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, raising more than $135 million.

  Jan. 10, 2009 The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia.

  June 12, 2009 Another parachute jump with the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, to celebrate eighty-fifth birthday.

  Feb. 15, 2011 Receives Medal of Freedom from President Obama in a White House ceremony.

  March 21, 2011 Honored by Points of Light Institute at a star-studded event at the Kennedy Center—including Presidents Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush—for inspiring the volunteer movement.

  Aug. 13, 2011 Birth of first great-grandchild, Georgia Helena Walker Bush.

  June 12, 2012 Premiere of HBO documentary 41.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  More people than we can probably mention here helped us put this book together, but a number of them deserve special recognition.

  First, many, many thanks to Alicia Lee in my Houston office, who dutifully inputted every single word of the letters and diary entries into the computer. She was a key member of our team, and she is now one of the few people alive who can actually read my handwriting.

  The book would not have been possible without the support, encouragement, and hard work of Dr. David Alsobrook, director of the George Bush Presidential Library. David guided us every step of the way on every aspect of the book. Special thanks also go to several members of his staff, especially Warren Finch, Gary Foulk, Bob Holzweiss, Mary Finch, and Deborah Bush.

  Several close and trusted friends agreed to read the book, and they gave us invaluable advice that kept us on the right track. To Brent Scowcroft, Marlin Fitzwater, Don Rhodes, my attorney Terri Lacy, and my wife, Barbara: I hope you notice that we almost took out or added in everything you suggested.

  Both Ginny Lampley and Pete Roussel helped in so many ways, including finding obscure documents and letters, fact-checking, and helping us cut through government red tape in getting certain documents declassified.

  One of the reasons we decided to do this book was because of my reputation as a prodigious letter-writer. Although a majority of the letters in the book were either handwritten or self-typed, many of them (and thousands over the years) were produced with the help of my assistants. I have been blessed with the best, the brightest, and the most patient assistants over the years. This is a dangerous thing to do, to try to name them, but how can I do a book of letters and not try to thank them? Over the years they have included, in Midland, Juanita McBride Shannon; during the early Houston days, Vivian Flynn, Lee Goeppinger, and Velma Johnson; Aleene Smith, who was with me for years in Houston, on the Hill, and at the United Nations; also with me on the Hill, Mary Raether, Allie Matthews, Mary Lou Schwarzmann, and Mary Ann Fronce; Rose Zamaria, who oversaw the correspondence staff in Congress, at the RNC, and the White House, and then came to Houston as my chief of staff to set up my office in 1993; at the United Nations, Rita S. Brown; Jane Kenny, who was with me at the United Nations and the RNC; Jane Johnson at the RNC; in China, Henrietta Morris; also in China, Jennifer Fitzgerald, my executive assistant, who then went to the CIA, the 1980 campaign, and my vice-presidential office; at the CIA, Karen Tillotson and Debbie Geer; back in Houston again, Margaret Wolfe and Darlene Brown; from 1978 until 1989 in Houston, Betty Green; in my vice-presidential office, Barbara Hayward, Patty Presock—who went on to be the Oval Office supervisor—and Susie Peake; at the White House, Bridget Montagne and Robin MacLean; and last but certainly not least, my current loyal assistant, Linda Casey Poepsel, who has been at my side for nineteen years, through the vice presidency, the White House, and up until the very end, I hope. To those of you I failed to mention, please forgive me and just know I was always grateful to have you at my side.

  Most of the letters in the book came either from my personal collection or my presidential library. However, I would like to recognize the Richard M. Nixon Library and Birthplace, the Gerald R. Ford Library, the Jimmy Carter Library, the Ronald Reagan Library, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, the Virginia Historical Society (the FitzGerald Bemiss letters), and Yale University (Ethan Allen letters) for sharing their letter collections. We also owe a debt of gratitude to a small army of people at the United N
ations and the State Department who helped track down my United Nations files, and to everyone at the CIA who first made it possible and then assisted us in looking through my classified CIA files.

  Other letters in the book came from the personal collections of Martin Allday, the Reverend Jack Allin, Lee and Walter Annenberg, Marjorie Arsht, Thomas Ludlow Ashley, Robert W. Blake, David Bocskor, Jonathan Bush, Neil Bush, William Bush, Barber Conable, Flo Crichton, Trammell Crow, Mike Deland, Tom Devine, Vivian Flynn, Roy Goodman, Dick Jackman, His Highness Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, Henry Knoche, Dorothy Koch, Dr. Burton Lee, Tom Lias, Allie Page Matthews, Fred McClure, Sally and William McKenzie, Robert Mosbacher, Sally Novetzke, Heinz Prechter, Sig Rogich, Peter Roussel, Brent Scowcroft, Raymond Siller, Alan Simpson, Debbie and Craig Stapleton, Janet Steiger, Joci and Joe Straus, Bob Strauss, Sheila Tate, Charles Untermeyer, and Fred Zeder.

  Finally, a huge thank-you to everyone who sent us letters to be included in this book. We received literally hundreds of letters from all over the world, but unfortunately Lisa Drew would not let us print every single one of them. We are very grateful for the time you took to find and send us the letters. Reading them again reminded me of many happy memories and special friendships made over the years.

  I sent this photo to our daughter-in-law Laura Bush in 1983 with this note: “Thirty years ago your husband looked like this—so did your father-in-law; and so did Robin, who might well today be your best friend had she lived.” (Bush Library)

  I sent this photo to Texas congressman Jack Fields in 1989. However, it was taken in March 1956 at commissioning ceremonies for one of our offshore drilling rigs, the Scorpion. That’s the governor of Texas with me. (Bush Library)

  Sent to our friend and campaign volunteer Taylor Blanton on election night, 1964. I lost. (Courtesy of Taylor Blanton)

  The RNC co-ed softball team. I’m way in the back, with a woman sitting on my shoulders. Pete Roussel, my press secretary at the RNC, is the guy lying on the ground in front. (Courtesy of Peter Roussel)

  Photo taken by Pete Roussel sometime in 1973 or ’74. That’s C. Fred, one of our literary dogs. (Courtesy of Peter Roussel)

  Playing golf with President Reagan and Donald Reagan in 1983. I sent this photo to my mother with this note: “Do you think Dad would approve of the swing on the guy farthest away? Much, much love, Pop.” (Courtesy of the Reagan Library)

  “Dear Geraldine [Ferraro]—Here’s a couple of lunch shots. I enjoyed it. Merry Christmas to you and yours—George Bush.” December 6, 1984. (Bush Library)

  “Dear Aunt Marge [Clement], Here’s our family picture from the inauguration. (Green Room in the White House) I love you—George.” January 20, 1985. (Courtesy of the Reagan Library)

  Jogging in Houston, October 9, 1986. (Bush Library)

  Hunting in Beeville, Texas, with Will Farish, December 30, 1986. (Bush Library)

  “Mum—I love this shot of Jenna and Barbara, taken on Air Force II as we flew to Amer. Legion Convention in San Antonio.” August 25, 1987. (Bush Library)

  “Dear Mum, I love this picture of you and me . . . Devotedly, George.” September 2, 1987. (Bush Library)

  Showing off to Swedish tennis star Bjorn Borg, September 10, 1987. (Bush Library)

  With New York Mayor Ed Koch at the annual Al Smith Dinner in New York, October 20, 1988. (Bush Library)

  Governor Michael Dukakis, December 2, 1988. (Bush Library)

  Sent to Dan Quayle. (Bush Library)

  Sent to Gorbachev on December 10, 1988, when I was president-elect. The shot was taken in Maine on August 7, 1988. (Bush Library)

  Sent to John Sansing at the Washington Magazine after they named Millie the ugliest dog in Washington. April 20, 1989. (Bush Library)

  Jogging with Nancy Ellis, January 7, 1990. (Bush Library)

  Fishing with Senator Alan Simpson in Islamorada, Florida, April 21, 1990. (Bush Library)

  Facing off against White House residence staffer Ron Jones in the Horseshoe Tournament Finals, June 24, 1990. (Bush Library)

  Thanksgiving Day in Saudi Arabia, November 22, 1990. (Bush Library)

  A gift from Mexico President Carlos Salinas. I sent him the photo with this note: “If you see a slightly overweight, 6′2″ gringo in an enormous sombrero in black with silver on the legs smiling happily, that’ll be me. George.” November 28, 1990. (Bush Library)

  This was taken the day we found out Gorbachev had survived the attempted coup against him in the Soviet Union, August 21, 1991. I sent the photo to him several months later with this note: “Everything in this picture, except for Barbara, is now gone. This is our bedroom and the wave knocked down a wall and sent all these things out to sea.” The storm occurred on Halloween 1991. (Bush Library)

  With my brother Prescott in Maine, June 30, 1991. (Bush Library)

  Giving two great Americans the Medal of Freedom, July 3, 1991. (Bush Library)

  I sent this photo to my Yale baseball coach. “Dear Ethan . . . Here’s a picture taken on opening at Camden Yards, the new magnificent ball park of the Orioles. ‘3 Georges’—George ‘P,’ the newest ball player threw a perfect strike on his opening pitch. Mine, clocked at 39 mph, ran out of gas at the plate. Geo W., the Ranger’s man, didn’t throw. Poppy.” April 6, 1992. (Bush Library)

  I sent this photo to the mayor of Shanghai, after he sent me a note of congratulations on my parachute jump in March 1997. Holding on to me are my jumpmasters, Glenn Bangs (left) and Andy Cerrano of the United States Parachute Association. I jumped again, with the same team June 9, 1999, to celebrate my seventy-fifth birthday. (Tom Sanders, Aerial Focus)

  Two very proud parents look on as our son becomes the 43rd President of the United States on January 20, 2001. (Official White House photo by Wally McNamee)

  I reach for the President’s hand after his remarks at the National Cathedral on September 14, 2001, three days after 9/11. (Official White House photo by Eric Draper)

  George and Laura hosted a wonderful dinner for Barbara and me on our 60th wedding anniversary, January 6, 2005. This family photo was taken in the Red Room at the White House. Seated, from left:Marvin Bush, Barbara Bush (the granddaughter), Laura Bush, George W. Bush, Barbara Bush (the matriarch), George H.W. Bush, Jeb Bush. Standing from left:Gigi Koch, Margaret Bush, Walker Bush, Jenna Bush, Doro Koch, Bobby Koch, Pierce Bush, Maria Bush, Neil Bush, Ashley Bush, Sam LeBlond, Robert Koch, Ellie LeBlond, Jeb Bush Jr., Mandi Bush, George P. Bush, Columba Bush. (Official White House photo by Eric Draper)

  President Clinton and I visit with a group of school children in Sri Lanka in February 2005. We were on a four-country swing, visiting the areas most devastated by the South Asia tsunami that had hit Christmas Day 2004. These children were attending school outside, in the dirt. (Joseph Reilly)

  Getting the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 15, 2011. (Official White House photo by Lawrence Jackson)

  I was so proud when the USS George H.W. Bush went on its first deployment in 2011, helping support the efforts of the Navy’s 6th Fleet. I was even prouder when the ship and her crew won numerous awards for its outstanding service during the trip. Here the ship pulls out of Cartagena, Spain, en route to the Suez Canal. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Billy Ho)

  Our first great-grandchild, Georgia Helena Walker Bush—daughter of Jebby and Sandra—comes to visit her great-grandparents in October 2011. She is enchanting. (Barbara Bush)

  With our five children at Walker’s Point during the summer of 2011. (C.A. Smith Photography)

  GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH, forty-first president of the United States (1989–1993), is the author of Speaking of Freedom, a collection of his speeches, and coauthor with Brent Scowcroft of the critically acclaimed 1998 book A World Transformed. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Houston, Texas, and Kennebunkport, Maine.

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HOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDERS OF HOUSTON

  COPYRIGHT © 2013 SIMON & SCHUSTER

  ALSO BY GEORGE BUSH

  LOOKING FORWARD (with Victor Gold)

  A WORLD TRANSFORMED (with Brent Scowcroft)

  SPEAKING OF FREEDOM: THE COLLECTED SPEECHES

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  INDEX

  Letters are indicated by boldface page numbers following the names of recipients.

  Abdullah, Crown Prince, 490

  Abdullah, King of Jordan, 682

  Abernathy, Ralph, 114–16

  Adriance, James R., 607–8