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dale_kooyenga's review against another edition
5.0
A well written book about an honorable man. Meacham does a great job of telling the story.
I didn't understand the full extend of George H.W. Bush's ware service and it's the making of a movie. A true hero who subsequently lived out those values in public service, business and his family life. Yes, he came from money and his father was also a US Senator, but as a man on his own merit he did rely upon his pedigree but made his own way in his military, business and political career.
Meacham is fair in his praise and criticism. The criticism is, as you would guess, surrounding the "read my lips" no new taxes oath that he broke. I also criticize his for this broken oath - it wasn't just about the departure from economic policies that were working, but also represented his willingness to make a promise it was clear he didn't intend to keep. It was a time that the Reagan wing of the party, led by Newt Gingrich, began to take over and the tax increase coupled with a recession was probably the result of him not winning a second term. Earlier in the book Meacham in part credits his tax increases for assisting balancing the budget in Clinton's Presidency. I disagree, the balanced budgets in the 90's were the result of historic economic growth and compromises Clinton made with the Congress under Newt Gingrich's leadership.
Another reason he didn't win a second term was that his heart wasn't in the '92 campaign. He wasn't feeling it and it showed. Lesson learned, don't run for office if your heart is not 100% in it. I've been in a couple rough campaigns and it take every bit of your mind, body and soul. He should of walked away and let the new generation of conservatives take over.
The third reason I would cite that he didn't win in '92 is he would often listen to the wrong people. For example, Nixon would consistently give him advise and consistently, in my opinion, it was really bad advice.
Finally, the press wanted Clinton to win. The media bias in support of the left is evident throughout the biography. The evidence in the book makes it clear that Perot probably didn't serve as the spoiler in the election, Bush was already trailing when Perot reentered the race. The fact was the economy was in recovery mode the later part of '92 but the facts didn't fit the media's storyline that Bush was a failure. Dan Rather in particular once again comes across as a political hack.
His role as Commander and Chief and chief diplomat is arguably among the best of any President. He's underrated in this regard. After learning the details, he is probably at par with Reagan in the credit owed for putting an end to the 20th Century Cold War - (I say the 20th century cold war because I would argue a new 21st Century Cold War is upon us).
Where most President's stories would trail off after their Presidency it's an even better story to see Jeb and George W. enter public service following his Presidency. The biography does a good job keeping the focus on GHWB while also not glossing over these important and consequential years of his and Barbara's life. It's also admirable the relationship he built with Bill Clinton despite all the differences.
Overall the greatest strength of the book is a reminder that President's are simply humans that are not immune to the rigors of politics. The story of him and Barbara losing their young daughter to leukemia has a profound impact on the Bush family and the reader.
Great read -- Highly recommend to anyone interested in military, history, leadership or politics.
I didn't understand the full extend of George H.W. Bush's ware service and it's the making of a movie. A true hero who subsequently lived out those values in public service, business and his family life. Yes, he came from money and his father was also a US Senator, but as a man on his own merit he did rely upon his pedigree but made his own way in his military, business and political career.
Meacham is fair in his praise and criticism. The criticism is, as you would guess, surrounding the "read my lips" no new taxes oath that he broke. I also criticize his for this broken oath - it wasn't just about the departure from economic policies that were working, but also represented his willingness to make a promise it was clear he didn't intend to keep. It was a time that the Reagan wing of the party, led by Newt Gingrich, began to take over and the tax increase coupled with a recession was probably the result of him not winning a second term. Earlier in the book Meacham in part credits his tax increases for assisting balancing the budget in Clinton's Presidency. I disagree, the balanced budgets in the 90's were the result of historic economic growth and compromises Clinton made with the Congress under Newt Gingrich's leadership.
Another reason he didn't win a second term was that his heart wasn't in the '92 campaign. He wasn't feeling it and it showed. Lesson learned, don't run for office if your heart is not 100% in it. I've been in a couple rough campaigns and it take every bit of your mind, body and soul. He should of walked away and let the new generation of conservatives take over.
The third reason I would cite that he didn't win in '92 is he would often listen to the wrong people. For example, Nixon would consistently give him advise and consistently, in my opinion, it was really bad advice.
Finally, the press wanted Clinton to win. The media bias in support of the left is evident throughout the biography. The evidence in the book makes it clear that Perot probably didn't serve as the spoiler in the election, Bush was already trailing when Perot reentered the race. The fact was the economy was in recovery mode the later part of '92 but the facts didn't fit the media's storyline that Bush was a failure. Dan Rather in particular once again comes across as a political hack.
His role as Commander and Chief and chief diplomat is arguably among the best of any President. He's underrated in this regard. After learning the details, he is probably at par with Reagan in the credit owed for putting an end to the 20th Century Cold War - (I say the 20th century cold war because I would argue a new 21st Century Cold War is upon us).
Where most President's stories would trail off after their Presidency it's an even better story to see Jeb and George W. enter public service following his Presidency. The biography does a good job keeping the focus on GHWB while also not glossing over these important and consequential years of his and Barbara's life. It's also admirable the relationship he built with Bill Clinton despite all the differences.
Overall the greatest strength of the book is a reminder that President's are simply humans that are not immune to the rigors of politics. The story of him and Barbara losing their young daughter to leukemia has a profound impact on the Bush family and the reader.
Great read -- Highly recommend to anyone interested in military, history, leadership or politics.
wadebearden's review against another edition
5.0
President Obama once said that he believes Bush 41 to be "one of our most underrated Presidents." I probably agree. I'm trying to read a biography on each president, and even though I have a long way to go, I find myself gravitating to men like GHWB.
To be clear, Bush was a good statesman, but a poor politician. He detested theatrics and he didn't always have the desire (or ability) to communicate his vision for the country (or even to explain the "why" of his decisions.) He was a careful man of substance. He didn't like big rhetoric and when he used big rhetoric it often came back to bite him ("Read my lips..."). In other words, he would never get elected today. (Which explains why his son Jeb—who is more like his father than W.—fell so flat with voters.)
Yet his international policy—during such a volatile time as 1989-1993—was prescient.
I also got to see him at a bunch of Astros games when I was a kid!
To be clear, Bush was a good statesman, but a poor politician. He detested theatrics and he didn't always have the desire (or ability) to communicate his vision for the country (or even to explain the "why" of his decisions.) He was a careful man of substance. He didn't like big rhetoric and when he used big rhetoric it often came back to bite him ("Read my lips..."). In other words, he would never get elected today. (Which explains why his son Jeb—who is more like his father than W.—fell so flat with voters.)
Yet his international policy—during such a volatile time as 1989-1993—was prescient.
I also got to see him at a bunch of Astros games when I was a kid!
kanejim57's review against another edition
4.0
A helpful assessment of the 41st President of the United States. Meacham takes the reader to periods of HW Bush's life that serve as a reminder that he was a witness to history during momentous times such as Watergate.
I liked this biography as it seeks to honestly portray Bush as a man who always tried to do the right thing.
I liked this biography as it seeks to honestly portray Bush as a man who always tried to do the right thing.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very interesting book. In many ways Bush offered conflict. Some of his actions and decisions were textbook, others were human and didn't fit. It was interiquing to read about the times and the conflict points that defined him.
kaisemic's review against another edition
2.0
This is certainly one of the more thorough books on Bush, a president overshadowed by the presidents on either side. Meacham had access to Bush’s journals, so it’s filled with intimate detail. Unfortunately, that largely replaces critical analysis; this book is completely fawning toward Bush.
We get details on Bush’s exercise routine, his favorite meals; there is no mention of the AIDS epidemic, nor his attitudes or (in)action during it. While much is made of Hussein’s evil during the Gulf War chapters, there was no mention of the Reagan administration's support of him. Bush’s moral character is repeatedly extolled, yet little is made of his hiring of, and friendship with, Lee Atwater and Roger Ailes. It’s chalked up to merely hardball politics, and those two figures’ vile nature is completely minimized.
The few criticism Meacham makes are always light and excused in such a way that it’s almost a compliment, along the lines of "Bush should have been more forthright, but his sense of loyalty toward the president was too strong”.
We get details on Bush’s exercise routine, his favorite meals; there is no mention of the AIDS epidemic, nor his attitudes or (in)action during it. While much is made of Hussein’s evil during the Gulf War chapters, there was no mention of the Reagan administration's support of him. Bush’s moral character is repeatedly extolled, yet little is made of his hiring of, and friendship with, Lee Atwater and Roger Ailes. It’s chalked up to merely hardball politics, and those two figures’ vile nature is completely minimized.
The few criticism Meacham makes are always light and excused in such a way that it’s almost a compliment, along the lines of "Bush should have been more forthright, but his sense of loyalty toward the president was too strong”.
careydnelson's review
5.0
I wrote a whole review for this then it got deleted.
It's a good, fair (?) book, and very interesting!
It's a good, fair (?) book, and very interesting!
mattneely's review against another edition
4.0
Long. Not a struggle, but one would need to enjoy Am. Political History to stick with it. Only 15 of the pages get into Cheney-Rumsfeld. Much more on the GOP (Eisenhower to W)
yreg's review against another edition
5.0
Coming closer to my goal of reading a biography about every US President, I was looking forward to reading this highly rated book by the Pullitzer-Prize winning author Jon Meacham. A truly enjoyable biography of the forty-first president of the United States, Meacham skillfully crafts a compelling narrative of George H. W. Bush's life, describing in enough (but not excessive) detail Bush's early life and moral upbringing so as to allow the reader to interpret his policy decisions based on his personality. I thoroughly enjoyed such behind-the-scenes insights as Bush offering Gorbatschew his personal month-long schedule, which the latter happily accepted noting that he had to modernize and make his own schedule and office more efficient.
While reading the book, I felt like I could grasp some of the personal struggles Bush 41 went through in his election campaign against Ronald Reagan, and then his decision to accept the Vice Presidential position on the Reagan-Bush ticket in 1980. While Meacham describes Bush as having his differences on policy with Reagan, I believe it would have been appropriate to expand on the either ignorance/naivety or the outright delusive campaign promise that under a Bush presidency there would be no new taxes. It was mentioned that Bush called out Reagan's 1980 campaign commitment of supply-side economics as "voodoo economics". While I can understand that Bush would not criticize then President Reagan for dramatically increasing the national debt through the so called "voodoo economics" in his position as VP, I believe it to be unfair to not question Bush's motivation in promising no new taxes. Surely Bush did not believe that keeping the US government on track with Reagonomics could in any way benefit the United States.
This being said, I still enjoyed the book. I believe Bush 41 will in several decades be considered one of the most honest, unpartisan and patriotic Republican Presidents of the 20th century. His generally moderate views and willingness to work together with Democratic leadership throughout his presidency are reasons as to why I hold George Herbert Walker Bush in high esteem.
While reading the book, I felt like I could grasp some of the personal struggles Bush 41 went through in his election campaign against Ronald Reagan, and then his decision to accept the Vice Presidential position on the Reagan-Bush ticket in 1980. While Meacham describes Bush as having his differences on policy with Reagan, I believe it would have been appropriate to expand on the either ignorance/naivety or the outright delusive campaign promise that under a Bush presidency there would be no new taxes. It was mentioned that Bush called out Reagan's 1980 campaign commitment of supply-side economics as "voodoo economics". While I can understand that Bush would not criticize then President Reagan for dramatically increasing the national debt through the so called "voodoo economics" in his position as VP, I believe it to be unfair to not question Bush's motivation in promising no new taxes. Surely Bush did not believe that keeping the US government on track with Reagonomics could in any way benefit the United States.
This being said, I still enjoyed the book. I believe Bush 41 will in several decades be considered one of the most honest, unpartisan and patriotic Republican Presidents of the 20th century. His generally moderate views and willingness to work together with Democratic leadership throughout his presidency are reasons as to why I hold George Herbert Walker Bush in high esteem.