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shaank's review against another edition
4.0
This is another informative and even-handed entry into the American Presidents Series, which is a real underrated gem.
My recollections of George H.W. Bush's presidency are hazy since I was only an elementary schooler at the time. I remember watching the Berlin Wall fall and coverage of the Gulf War on CNN. Then there was "read my lips, no new taxes" - but I picture Dana Carvey saying it.
The 1992 election was the first that I paid any attention to. My social studies teacher gave us a state-by-state map to color in with the election results and I was STUNNED that I had to use so much blue. I had only known 2 presidents in my 11-year old life: Ronald Reagan and Bush - and Bush was Reagan's VP. Now there was a new president and he wasn't even a Republican! How was this possible? What went wrong???
This is the question that the author sets out to answer.
The book moves quickly, giving enough background on each issue without dwelling for too long. Emphasis is given on Bush's early congressional terms, rise through the ranks of the Republican Party, ambassadorships and leadership of the CIA. Aside from his time at the CIA - which always make me think of that Simpson's episode - this was mostly new to me.
The author describes Bush I as a "political chameleon". He was not a charismatic force - like Reagan or Bill Clinton - and so he lacked that superpower to get through a difficult situation on personality alone. Instead, Bush stayed close to the Republican party, rather than try to re-define it. I got the sense that his party loyalty and ambitions outweighed whatever convictions he may have had.
This loyalty paid off in spades. In 1980, many lifelong republicans viewed Reagan with apprehension as he represented the emerging conservative wing that were more disciples of Goldwater than traditional republicans. Selecting Bush as running mate unified the party and addressed these concerns - for the time being. I wonder how many at the time could have predicted the full-scale takeover of the republican party by these ultra-conservatives.
The author portrays Bush I's presidency as a largely successful continuation of Reagan's policies - especially in regards to the fall of the USSR and foreign policy. However, the economy proved to be his undoing. Bush never held sway over the ultra-conservatives in the party like Reagan did. So, when he needed their support to help him ride out his tax increase, Gingrich and co. hung him out to dry.
This seems like a grossly simplistic explanation, but once Bush lost the fiscal conservatives the republican party fractured. Add in a 3rd party candidate - running on fiscal conservatism - and Bill Clinton - one of the most dynamic politicians in our country's history - and it was enough to cost Bush a second term.
Twenty years later I view Bush I very differently than when I was a child. Ironically, that's largely because Bush II drove me as far away from the Republican party as I could get! As I've tried to make sense of what happened to the Republican party, books like this have helped me to bridge my contrasting view points. I'm glad I read it.
My recollections of George H.W. Bush's presidency are hazy since I was only an elementary schooler at the time. I remember watching the Berlin Wall fall and coverage of the Gulf War on CNN. Then there was "read my lips, no new taxes" - but I picture Dana Carvey saying it.
The 1992 election was the first that I paid any attention to. My social studies teacher gave us a state-by-state map to color in with the election results and I was STUNNED that I had to use so much blue. I had only known 2 presidents in my 11-year old life: Ronald Reagan and Bush - and Bush was Reagan's VP. Now there was a new president and he wasn't even a Republican! How was this possible? What went wrong???
This is the question that the author sets out to answer.
The book moves quickly, giving enough background on each issue without dwelling for too long. Emphasis is given on Bush's early congressional terms, rise through the ranks of the Republican Party, ambassadorships and leadership of the CIA. Aside from his time at the CIA - which always make me think of that Simpson's episode - this was mostly new to me.
The author describes Bush I as a "political chameleon". He was not a charismatic force - like Reagan or Bill Clinton - and so he lacked that superpower to get through a difficult situation on personality alone. Instead, Bush stayed close to the Republican party, rather than try to re-define it. I got the sense that his party loyalty and ambitions outweighed whatever convictions he may have had.
This loyalty paid off in spades. In 1980, many lifelong republicans viewed Reagan with apprehension as he represented the emerging conservative wing that were more disciples of Goldwater than traditional republicans. Selecting Bush as running mate unified the party and addressed these concerns - for the time being. I wonder how many at the time could have predicted the full-scale takeover of the republican party by these ultra-conservatives.
The author portrays Bush I's presidency as a largely successful continuation of Reagan's policies - especially in regards to the fall of the USSR and foreign policy. However, the economy proved to be his undoing. Bush never held sway over the ultra-conservatives in the party like Reagan did. So, when he needed their support to help him ride out his tax increase, Gingrich and co. hung him out to dry.
This seems like a grossly simplistic explanation, but once Bush lost the fiscal conservatives the republican party fractured. Add in a 3rd party candidate - running on fiscal conservatism - and Bill Clinton - one of the most dynamic politicians in our country's history - and it was enough to cost Bush a second term.
Twenty years later I view Bush I very differently than when I was a child. Ironically, that's largely because Bush II drove me as far away from the Republican party as I could get! As I've tried to make sense of what happened to the Republican party, books like this have helped me to bridge my contrasting view points. I'm glad I read it.
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