The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty

by Peter Schweizer, Rochelle Schweizer

Get the inside story on America’s most powerful political dynasty.


President George W. Bush leads our nation in a time of unprecedented peril. But how well do we really know him or his remarkable family, whose history often mirrors the history of America? Now, in the first full-scale biography of the Bushes, Peter and Rochelle Schweizer trace the extraordinary trajectory of their rise to power.

Through a series of exclusive, surprisingly candid interviews with members of the family and close friends, the inner workings of this very private family are their marriages and friendships; the intense sibling rivalry between George W. and Jeb Bush; divisions between father and son over the Iraq war; even Jeb Bush’s plans to run for president in 2008. Never-before-seen private photos add even greater detail and depth to this fascinating family portrait.

And above all, we see George W. Bush the way his family does, as an intensely driven person who has a much more complex relationship with his father than has often been portrayed in the media. Family members talk about how he deals with the stresses of the war on terrorism, why he sees it as a “religious war,” and how his personal faith influences what he says and does.

The Schweizers also delve into the Bushes’ sensitive and secret business dealings, including their long history of involvement in the oil business. Their shrewd alliances with other American dynasties—including the Kennedys, Rockefellers, and Tafts—have all helped to quietly consolidate their power within the Republican Party.
Indeed, what makes the Bushes so successful is that they function less like the great political families before them and more like a high-tech free-flowing, pragmatic, and opportunistic. It is this distinction that assures them an enduring presence on the nation’s political stage, making The Bushes essential reading for anyone who cares about America’s future.

Genres: Politics, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Presidents, American History, Audiobook

574 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2004

About the author

Peter Schweizer is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. From 2008-'09 he served as a consultant to the White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting and he is a former consultant to NBC News. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, National Review, Foreign Affairs, and elsewhere. His books include The Bushes, Reagan's War, and Do as I Say, Not as I Do.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author described the Bush family as the "the most successful political dynasty in American history."I read this book because of the word "dynasty." The Philippines used to be a colony of the United States so even our constitution was based on the U.S. Constitution. Hence, now and then, we have been seeing our own political dynasties. We still do not have a dynasty as big as that of the Bush's: two presidents (father & son) with one of them also served as vice president, two governors, two U.S. senators, one Supreme Court Justice. Here in the Philippines, we so far have: the Macapagals two presidents (father & daughter), two vice presidents, two senators, three congressmen; the Aquinos two presidents (mother & son), one congressman; the Marcoses one president, two senators, 2 congressmen, three governors; the Estradas one president, two senators; the Cayetanos: two senators; the Binays one vice president, two mayors; and Lapids the one senator, two governors.

Just like the story of the Bush family, our political dynasties were mostly formed because the ones in the family who got elected first did well in their elected posts. Those who are against political dynasty say that the practice denies the chance for others to serve. However, people do not normally want to take the chance of electing somebody with unproven track record especially at these times of uncertainties. So, the system perpetuates the never-ending successions of some families as if they are God-given covenant with God to stay in power forever.

Prior to reading this book, I have a sketchy knowledge of the Bush family. After reading, I felt like I am now the authority at least from a non-American point of view. Outside looking in kind of thing. This book of Scheweizer seems like a legit or authorized biography but it presented both good and bad sides of the family's history. For example, touchy issues like the public's perception of W's fondness to drink, volatile temper and below average intelligence are mentioned but Schweizer neither ridiculed him nor defended him. One thing struck me was this: how could he have an below average IQ if he is a Harvard graduate? None of my business though. It just crossed my mind.

Recommended to anyone who enjoys reading American history books. After all, nobody can deny that the Bush family is now an integral part not only the American history but the world's as well.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty much everyone is aware that George H. W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush, were both former Presidents of the United States. This book goes into detail about their time in office, as well as how they got to be political powerhouses in the Republican Party. It discusses other members of the family as well, including their wives and ancestors. It really goes into detail about the shady doings in the oil industry as well as the wars in the Middle East.

I liked that this book included personal interviews with various members of the family. It is always interesting to see how people respond to questions or situations. I also liked that it included pictures. One of my favorite things about history books are that they generally include pictures. I like putting faces or properties with what I am learning about. I am really about over anything that talks about politics, because it is such a horrible time currently for that, but I am trying to get all of these things on my shelf read. I learned many things about this family that I did not know, and it was a valuable book in that sense. If you are interested in Presidents or family dynasties, this may be a selection for you to look into.

[Todd Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The family is treated with white gloves by the authors as there is very little negative about the family. However, the book does give the reader a well written history of the families ties to American politics and their relationships within the family and political powerhouses, like the Reagans.

If you are looking for an easy read in the evening give this book a read. If you are looking for detailed history of the Bushes both their contributions and mistakes then I would skip this book.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to this as a book on tape. Gives real insight into the whole "dynasty" idea. I hadn't, but probably should have, realized how very entwined so many of our US political players are.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting read on the Bush family, however very much a history handled with kid gloves. Every Bush man is supremely upstanding. Every Bush woman is beautiful and unique. The authors just barely glaze over the Jennifer Fitzgerald affair and verbatim suggest the American people made the wrong decision in 1993. And the obsession with calling the Bush Dynasty the "UnKennedys" carries through the nearly 500 pages. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, and this was written during W's second term, but the authors are so in love with the Bush family that the final chapter predicts Jeb will be the candidate to beat in 2008. They could have never foreseen the force that was Obama or that Trump would upend politics.

That said - they're an incredibly interesting family and this book goes back several generations. The book set an educational foundation and sparked my interest. I look forward to reading a less biased book without the flowery language.

[Marisela · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great book (CD). It showed me some insights about the Bush family that I didn't know about. For instance, I didn't know they were part of Haliburton. I always thought that was only Dick Cheney's involvement only. Well no wonder the crooked contracts...

Otherwise, the book was a good read and I enjoyed it very much.

[Jung Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Prez was a C student and a party animal in college.

[Jeremiah Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book Peter and Rochelle Schweizer, through a series of exclusive, candid interviews with family members, provide a full-scale biography of the Bushes. The book explores the very private family including their marriages and friendships, bonds and rivalries, business dealings, and intense drive to serve their family, communities, and nation.

I did not start this book with an intention of either bolstering my view of a political family I support nor with a desire to find reasons to detest a political family I disagree with. Rather, I picked up this book simply to learn more about a family whose power and prestige is combined with a sense of not wanting to be in the spotlight. As a result, I was completely fascinated by certain aspects of the family and of course bothered by some of their power influenced business dealings.

What impressed me most coming out of reading this book is the way, at least seemingly, each member of the family was allowed to chart their own path while having the support of the larger network of family. It would be ignorant to ignore the very real influence the families wealth and prestige had on each person's success, and yet that influence did not cause them to all follow in each other's footsteps.

Overall, the book is very well written and easy to follow. It is a lengthy read but does not feel lengthy in the way it moves forward and does not bog down in the details of the events. I am glad I finally picked it up.

[Daniel Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive, if somewhat plodding, summary of the personality-driven political careers of the Bushes. The authors do a good job of having interviews direct the flow of the intertwining stories, but there is a lot of business dealings and name droppings that personally did not interest me. I got glimpses of the character and personal feelings of the Bush men as they ascended to power, but these were bogged down by the aforementioned superfluities. It was definitely a solid intro to the basic structure of their lives.

Since it was written in 2004, the book is perhaps overly careful in depicting the Bushes in a generally positive, forgiving light to boost George W.’s 2004 election chances. I look forward to reading more detailed, modern perspectives on the political impact this family has had on the United States. This was a fun intro, but ultimately less substantive than its hefty 545 page length promises.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely informative, as I knew nothing at all about S.P. Bush (George H.W. Bush's grandfather) and almost nothing about Senator Prescott Bush (George H.W. Bush's father). The book was instructive, and at times it was less than complimentary. But it was never outright critical, so I was a little disappointed, because I thought the book could have been more balanced. However, all of the information contributed by the Bush family would likely not have been available, if the book had been more unbiased.

[Kevin McElaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent take on a solid,unpretentious American dynasty. A clear picture of the pride and pain of a
Connecticut Yankee who is a decent kind man and his family and his anchor “ The Silver Fox”
The authors are generous in sharing the inside,at times,ruthless game of politics.
I hadn’t come across George H.W.’s close
relationship with President Nixon but it does make sense Nixon knew and worked with George’s father.Good quick read.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bush family has always fascinated me. Barbara was special, then George W. and Laura. Having read this< I know what makes them special. The family is based on principles of friendship, family, loyalty and wanting to serve. Other characteristics that were emphasized were honesty and humility. If they got too full of themselves, Barbara said they had the la-de-dahs and to get over themselves. They were expected to be responsible and to take care of themselves and their faith was important

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty, written by Peter and Rochelle Schweizer, is not so much about the Bush presidents as it is about the remarkable family that spawned them. Starting at the turn of the century with the stories of Samuel P. Bush and George Herbert Walker, the authors chronicle the rise of the Bush family that almost mirrors the American story of the 20th Century. The patriarchs of the Bush and Walker families worked very hard to make their fortunes, but in very different ways. SP Bush was a cautious investor, rarely taking risks, and slowly built up his vast fortune. Herb Walker was a gambler. He would make and lose vast amounts of money over the course of the year, but would always wind up ahead. Following the stories of the Bush and Walker clans, you can see how they have influenced both Bush presidents. George H.W. Bush was a sober, responsible man: like the generations of Bushes before him. George W. Bush is more like a Walker: brash, headstrong, and adventurous.

Apart from the fascinating story of the Bush/Walker rise, the book is sprinkled with a lot of interesting historical tidbits. One of the amazing characteristics of the Bush family is the ability to make and keep close friends. When George H.W. was running his oil company in Texas, he took W. on a couple business trips with him. During one of these trips, George and W spent time at the home of Jimmy Gammell, a Scottish investor with a major stake in Bush’s Zapata oil company. While his father spent time going over finances and discussing their contract with Kuwait Shell Petroleum Development Company, W became friends with Gammell’s son, Bill. Several years later, Bill Gammell went off to boarding school and became good friends with future Prime Minister Tony Blair. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Gammell would solidify his relationship with W by convincing Blair that Bush was someone to take seriously.

The Bush family can count 17 Presidents among their members (3 in direct blood line, 14 through marriage). They are George Washington, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, James Garfield, Grover Cleveland, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and both Bush presidents.

The Schweizers did a good job of balancing the book. It is not dry and academic, but reads almost like a novel. They don't take a pro- or anti-Bush stance, but let the narrative speak for itself. There are some parts, to be sure, where they gloss over some of the negative details of the Bush family history. If you are a Bush basher, you will probably not enjoy this book. If you are a supporter or open-minded person, there is a lot to be gained from reading this account of one of America's most influential families.

[Keenan]

This dealt with allot of Bushes, Pres, George H., George W., Jeb, Neil, their wives, and so on. Although it was very informative of their family lives, it didn't speak much of their presidencies or other offices. It also had language which if it wasn't historical I would of stopped reading it. But it did talk allot of general things about the bushes. So if your looking for a book about the family of the bushes this is the right book. If your looking for a book about their politics, I would look else where.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me forever to read, partially because of it's length, and partially because it's not something I wanted to just sit down and read straight through. I needed breaks from it. It was however, a really fascinating look at the Bush family in American life, business, and politics--going all the way back to 1880. WOW! It was a frank look, without much political bias--very biographically straight-forward.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debbie and I listened to this 12 CD edition. Once started it was hard to stop listening to the book until we were done. It was very informative and shed light on President George Bush's character and actions that are not so objectively shed to the public through the media sources.

[Daniel Meltzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently George and Laura met at a BBQ. Also, they had fake palm trees at the apartment complex where GWB lived as a young bachelor. All kinds of interesting facts!

[Plsullivan023 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly done reading portrait. Good coverage, shows warts but isn't raw. I wonder if brutal info missing in exchange for first-person interviews.

[Chris Mcmanaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good high level survey of all the events in the Bush family history and how they would like to be portrayed in history.

[Brian Niskala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, give you a great back ground on how the Bushes came to power in America. Lots of behind the scenes stuff that would surprise you.

[Toesnorth's mom]

interesting

[Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Goodread, 5 out of 5 stars.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more of a personal portrait of this remarkable family and not on politics. They have such a good family where they all love and support each other.