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The Quiet Man: The Indispensable Presidency of George H.W. Bush
In this major reassessment of George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States, his former Chief of Staff offers a long overdue appreciation of the man and his universally underrated and misunderstood presidency. “I’m a quiet man, but I hear the quiet people others don’t.”—George H. W. Bush In this unique insider account, John H. Sununu pays tribute to his former boss—an intelligent, thoughtful, modest leader—and his overlooked accomplishments. Though George H. W. Bush is remembered for orchestrating one of the largest and most successful military campaigns in history—the Gulf War—Sununu argues that conventional wisdom misses many of Bush’s other great achievements. During his presidency, the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union collapsed. Bush’s calm and capable leadership during this dramatic time helped shape a world in which the United States emerged as the lone superpower. Sununu reminds us that President Bush’s domestic achievements were equally impressive, including strengthening civil rights, enacting environmental protections, and securing passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 1990 agreement which generated budget surpluses and a decade of economic growth. Sununu offers unparalleled insight into this statesman who has been his longtime close friend. He worked with Bush when he was vice president under Ronald Reagan, helped him through a contentious GOP primary season and election in 1988, and as his chief of staff, was an active participant and front-row observer to many of the significant events of Bush’s presidency. Reverential yet scrupulously honest, Sununu reveals policy differences and clashes among the diverse personalities in and out of the White House, giving credit—and candid criticism—where it’s due. The Quiet Man goes behind the scenes of this unsung but highly consequential presidency, and illuminates the man at its center as never before.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 28, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. GHWB should be listed as one of the near great presidents. Incredibly under-rated.
June 13, 2017
I personally found this book to be a great read, mostly because I always found myself to be frustrated how glorified the Reagan and Clinton years are by Republicans and Democrats respectively, but nobody spoke of the H.W. Bush years. Having a personal narrative from his chief of staff, John Sununu, this book gives a lot of character and reflects why H.W. Bush is still the highly respected man he is today in his senior age. Especially as we entered the most tumultuous election in 2016, just a little over a year since I read this book, I have longed for the times when Republicans supported men who wanted to compromise and work harder when the support for legislation and policy was not there from the Democrats.
George H.W. Bush had an approach to continue earning support and always brought people to the table to discuss the issues until a solution was to be agreed upon. It is seen in his role with the Soviets, how he handled the invasion of Kuwait, when he raised taxes against his platform plans to keep the national budget balanced (later to gain surpluses after Clinton), and passing the American Disabilities Act as well as expansions to our Clean Air and Water Acts. He was a man that proudly served our country; and while he didn't get everything exactly right, there was a sense of decorum and persistence to work with others that I admired much more of him than I did of the highly revered Ronald Reagan.
I highly recommend you read this book if you want some insights to his administration and the struggles they faced during their term. I felt like I learned a lot, and it gave me a great spring board to investigate the issues further in my recreational time! :)
George H.W. Bush had an approach to continue earning support and always brought people to the table to discuss the issues until a solution was to be agreed upon. It is seen in his role with the Soviets, how he handled the invasion of Kuwait, when he raised taxes against his platform plans to keep the national budget balanced (later to gain surpluses after Clinton), and passing the American Disabilities Act as well as expansions to our Clean Air and Water Acts. He was a man that proudly served our country; and while he didn't get everything exactly right, there was a sense of decorum and persistence to work with others that I admired much more of him than I did of the highly revered Ronald Reagan.
I highly recommend you read this book if you want some insights to his administration and the struggles they faced during their term. I felt like I learned a lot, and it gave me a great spring board to investigate the issues further in my recreational time! :)
January 22, 2019
I was highly disappointed by this book, I have to admit. I picked it up after the death of HW because I wanted to learn more about his policies, both as president and prior to his presidency. However, Sununu was an extremely biased narrator and, at times, seemed more focused on his influence on the president and the influence he had on the policies of the White House, rather than any truthful insight into the president's thoughts. His rhetoric about the media and the democrats seem like they belong more in today's political climate than in the time of Bush's White House.
One bit in particular that stayed with me was the section where Sununu discussed HW's appointments to the Supreme Court, the first being David Souter. He expressed his disappointment in Souter who Sununu felt betrayed his conservative roots and, by extension, the president's policies.
If you want a truthful biography of President George HW Bush, don't bother reading this book.
One bit in particular that stayed with me was the section where Sununu discussed HW's appointments to the Supreme Court, the first being David Souter. He expressed his disappointment in Souter who Sununu felt betrayed his conservative roots and, by extension, the president's policies.
If you want a truthful biography of President George HW Bush, don't bother reading this book.
May 29, 2020
Gov. John Sununu is a partisan, conservative Republican true believer. I am a retired newspaper journalist - the type of which he is so disdainful in this book - and a life-long moderate Democrat. Yes, there is such a thing.
Yet he and I can agree on this.
George H.W. Bush was a kind and decent man and an effective, thoughtful leader who was not afraid to do the right thing, even in the face of criticism from his own party and at his own political peril. In short, while I often disagreed with aspects of his decisions, he was a principled man and leader. He knew how to engage political opposition without rancor or making personal attacks. And that's something we seem to greatly lack these days on both sides of the aisle.
For all those modern "Republicans" who march in lockstep with our current President, perhaps reading Sununu's book would remind them of what old-line Republican leadership looked like. And my Democrat friends could benefit, though Gov. Sununu will infuriate them, because our side, too, could use a reminder of what true leadership looks like.
Yet he and I can agree on this.
George H.W. Bush was a kind and decent man and an effective, thoughtful leader who was not afraid to do the right thing, even in the face of criticism from his own party and at his own political peril. In short, while I often disagreed with aspects of his decisions, he was a principled man and leader. He knew how to engage political opposition without rancor or making personal attacks. And that's something we seem to greatly lack these days on both sides of the aisle.
For all those modern "Republicans" who march in lockstep with our current President, perhaps reading Sununu's book would remind them of what old-line Republican leadership looked like. And my Democrat friends could benefit, though Gov. Sununu will infuriate them, because our side, too, could use a reminder of what true leadership looks like.
April 7, 2019
“The Quiet Man…”, John Sununu’s first ever book, is very well written but it really wasn’t the book that I was expecting nor the book that I was hoping it would be. Had Sununu made a minor change, such as putting himself on the front cover instead of his boss, my expectations might have been a bit different and, therefore, may have enjoyed it a tad better.
This book IS about the 41st president, but I came away feeling like it was too much Sununu and not enough Bush. It’s not that Sununu blabs ad nauseum about himself, his history, and his background, it’s just that I never felt like I was in the same room with George H.W. Bush. I didn’t feel like I ever understood what made 41 tick, and never felt truly like I was inside his head. Instead, I felt like I was being told a story about a casual acquaintance of the author whose main job was not to show us the bad as well as good, but rather paint a hagiography.
Consider the title: It includes the word “Indispensable”. I’m not sure I would use this word to describe the presidency of George H.W. Bush. That’s not meant to badmouth the man in any way. He did some great things, some good things, and some bad things. Sununu tends to elaborate too highly on the good stuff and blame everyone else for the bad stuff. We read about the broken “Read My Lips” promise, and the author really does tell a great first-hand account of how Bush did everything he could to keep his pledge, but it turns out to be too insurmountable of a challenge. So Sununu tends to only mildly slap Bush on the wrist and blame the bulk of the conundrum on the congress. The same thing can be said about Bush’s disastrous reelection campaign of 1992. Sununu blames Bush’s reelection committee for causing his boss to stumble so badly. In retrospect, this sentiment is partially true (Lee Atwater, the genius behind 1988 had succumbed to a brain tumor and lost his life in 1991), yet when one is Commander-in-Chief, one must shoulder the bulk of the blame. Bush himself was o.k. with this, but Sununu tries too hard to be an unflinching apologist.
Still, though Sununu does a great job describing some of the key events. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the collapse of the Cold War and Glasnost, as well as the detailed account of the events leading up to Desert Storm. Other chapters that focus on Panama and the above mentioned 1992 debacle seem as though Sununu cut them too short, and I really wanted more. For all the idol-worship, Sununu does know how to keep the history interesting.
Another minor gripe I have is that Bush’s presidency is not detailed sequentially in this book, yet the chapters are laid out by ‘topic’. I recently encountered this in a similar retrospective – Stuart Eizenstat’s book on Jimmy Carter – and came away the exact same feeling. It’s my opinion that books that detail an administration are best told in the order they happened, since the events overlap with each other, and we’re allowed a better picture of the overall perceptions by all in and out of the administration.
Still, for a freshman effort, I would recommend this book as it does give an insider’s view of the administration. It’s quite tilted in its subject matter’s favor, but Sununu was a very loyal soldier and served his term in office quite well.
If you really are looking for a much more detailed and balanced portrait of George H.W. Bush – before and during his presidency – I would recommend Jon Meachum’s excellent biography “Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush”.
This book IS about the 41st president, but I came away feeling like it was too much Sununu and not enough Bush. It’s not that Sununu blabs ad nauseum about himself, his history, and his background, it’s just that I never felt like I was in the same room with George H.W. Bush. I didn’t feel like I ever understood what made 41 tick, and never felt truly like I was inside his head. Instead, I felt like I was being told a story about a casual acquaintance of the author whose main job was not to show us the bad as well as good, but rather paint a hagiography.
Consider the title: It includes the word “Indispensable”. I’m not sure I would use this word to describe the presidency of George H.W. Bush. That’s not meant to badmouth the man in any way. He did some great things, some good things, and some bad things. Sununu tends to elaborate too highly on the good stuff and blame everyone else for the bad stuff. We read about the broken “Read My Lips” promise, and the author really does tell a great first-hand account of how Bush did everything he could to keep his pledge, but it turns out to be too insurmountable of a challenge. So Sununu tends to only mildly slap Bush on the wrist and blame the bulk of the conundrum on the congress. The same thing can be said about Bush’s disastrous reelection campaign of 1992. Sununu blames Bush’s reelection committee for causing his boss to stumble so badly. In retrospect, this sentiment is partially true (Lee Atwater, the genius behind 1988 had succumbed to a brain tumor and lost his life in 1991), yet when one is Commander-in-Chief, one must shoulder the bulk of the blame. Bush himself was o.k. with this, but Sununu tries too hard to be an unflinching apologist.
Still, though Sununu does a great job describing some of the key events. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the collapse of the Cold War and Glasnost, as well as the detailed account of the events leading up to Desert Storm. Other chapters that focus on Panama and the above mentioned 1992 debacle seem as though Sununu cut them too short, and I really wanted more. For all the idol-worship, Sununu does know how to keep the history interesting.
Another minor gripe I have is that Bush’s presidency is not detailed sequentially in this book, yet the chapters are laid out by ‘topic’. I recently encountered this in a similar retrospective – Stuart Eizenstat’s book on Jimmy Carter – and came away the exact same feeling. It’s my opinion that books that detail an administration are best told in the order they happened, since the events overlap with each other, and we’re allowed a better picture of the overall perceptions by all in and out of the administration.
Still, for a freshman effort, I would recommend this book as it does give an insider’s view of the administration. It’s quite tilted in its subject matter’s favor, but Sununu was a very loyal soldier and served his term in office quite well.
If you really are looking for a much more detailed and balanced portrait of George H.W. Bush – before and during his presidency – I would recommend Jon Meachum’s excellent biography “Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush”.
September 27, 2019
When studying historical figures or eras I like to draw from a variety of sources, autobiographies, collaborators and researchers. John Sununu provides a Chief of Staff’s view of his boss, George H.W. Bush. Sununu worked with Bush through his campaign, the transition and through most of his term. As he says, “No one spends more time with the president than his chief of staff.” Deploring that Bush’s accomplishments were underappreciated and, in many cases, unknown, Sununu determined to set the record straight.
The author begins with a brief biography that transitions into the campaign for the nomination and the general election against Michael Dukakis. This section includes recruiting the team, framing the mission and carrying it out. Victory achieved, they then moved into assembling an administration.
Sununu examines Bush’s challenges and accomplishments, including the obvious, Desert Storm, but also the deft management of the disintegration of Communism in Europe, the unification of Germany and the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Chief of Staff relates the surging tides of Gorbachev and hard liners in Moscow, Helmut Kohl pushing for unification against the resistance of Margaret Thatcher and Francois Mitterrand that Bush guided into a New World Order in which America’s role remained central. He also emphasizes domestic programs that opened doors for Americans with disabilities, cleaned the air, resolved the Savings & Loan crisis, addressed problems with education, crime and immigration and stabilized the budget process through compromise with a heavily Democratic congress. The two Supreme Court nominations, David Souter and Clarence Thomas, are critiqued. Ultimately the political price of statesmanship and a disorganized re-election campaign deprived the President of a second term.
Sununu offers Bush as a victim of the Churchill Effect in which voters turn against successful war leaders. I was surprised at the way that Bush entered the White House determined to continue the conservative agenda, but with changes in policy and execution from Reagan Administration.
Readers are treated to anecdotes that they will find humorous or will trigger a memory. I found the tale of Lee Atwater watching, not the wrestlers in the ring, but the swing voters in the audience to be insightful and a bit funny. The great broccoli uproar and Barbara’s gift of replica of the Make Way For Ducklings statues in Boston’s Public Gardens to satisfy Raisa Gorbachev’s fascination with them are tales we should remember.
The text flows easily and holds the reader’s attention. It encourages us to take a new look at the Bush era, its tests, triumphs and failures. By the end my appreciation of George H. W. Bush was more solidly grounded than when I started. This is a great read for anyone seeking to understand Bush 41 and his times.
The author begins with a brief biography that transitions into the campaign for the nomination and the general election against Michael Dukakis. This section includes recruiting the team, framing the mission and carrying it out. Victory achieved, they then moved into assembling an administration.
Sununu examines Bush’s challenges and accomplishments, including the obvious, Desert Storm, but also the deft management of the disintegration of Communism in Europe, the unification of Germany and the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Chief of Staff relates the surging tides of Gorbachev and hard liners in Moscow, Helmut Kohl pushing for unification against the resistance of Margaret Thatcher and Francois Mitterrand that Bush guided into a New World Order in which America’s role remained central. He also emphasizes domestic programs that opened doors for Americans with disabilities, cleaned the air, resolved the Savings & Loan crisis, addressed problems with education, crime and immigration and stabilized the budget process through compromise with a heavily Democratic congress. The two Supreme Court nominations, David Souter and Clarence Thomas, are critiqued. Ultimately the political price of statesmanship and a disorganized re-election campaign deprived the President of a second term.
Sununu offers Bush as a victim of the Churchill Effect in which voters turn against successful war leaders. I was surprised at the way that Bush entered the White House determined to continue the conservative agenda, but with changes in policy and execution from Reagan Administration.
Readers are treated to anecdotes that they will find humorous or will trigger a memory. I found the tale of Lee Atwater watching, not the wrestlers in the ring, but the swing voters in the audience to be insightful and a bit funny. The great broccoli uproar and Barbara’s gift of replica of the Make Way For Ducklings statues in Boston’s Public Gardens to satisfy Raisa Gorbachev’s fascination with them are tales we should remember.
The text flows easily and holds the reader’s attention. It encourages us to take a new look at the Bush era, its tests, triumphs and failures. By the end my appreciation of George H. W. Bush was more solidly grounded than when I started. This is a great read for anyone seeking to understand Bush 41 and his times.
October 3, 2021
This a fascinating inside view of the Presidency of George H.W. Bush from his former Chief of Staff and a tribute from Mr. Sununu of the President he served and clearly cared deeply for. As someone who approached this book already holding the late President Bush in high regard for how his administration handled major foreign policy matters from building and leading the coalition in the Gulf War to managing the end of the Cold War as the Soviet Union collapsed. It was interesting to hear an inside account, albeit one from an interested party, on the 1990 budget negotiations and the political wrangling in which he ultimately accepted he would have to go against his remark during the 1988 campaign of "no new taxes" in order to get a budget agreement. With Democrats in control of both the House and the Senate, getting a multi-year budget approved in order to address growing deficits was essential and with Democrats that meant agreeing to tax increases. Mr. Sununu is sharp in his criticism, similar to those of Budget Director Richard Darman that Gingrich gave no serious notice that he would pursue such opposition to the agreement that would fuel his subsequent rise to power. One of the most interesting vignettes was of Mr. Sununu walking to the Republican National Committee Office one evening after President Bush had taken up his and his surprise to see the Chairman, Lee Atwater watching the World Wrestling Federation. In response to Mr. Sununu's question of why he was watching this bizarre performance of men in tights, he said "I'm watching them" pointing to the wrestling fans in the stands, showing his clear understanding of the Republican base.
March 7, 2025
This was a tour de force in retelling the many ways in which the 41st president of the United States was an under appreciated leader in his day.
He inherited an Eastern Europe unraveling from almost a century of communist domination, but his masterful personal diplomatic style combined with his strong believe in American leadership and the principles of democracy made that the transition quite smooth and relatively lacking in violence. That alone deserves a Nobel peace prize.
The swift and united international coalition he built to repel Saddam Hussein from Kuwait was another masterpiece of American leadership under Bush sr.
Bush’s domestic accomplishments are almost even more remarkable given the Democratic Congress he had to maneuver but he manage to pass civil rights legislation, disability protections, and set the stage for Clinton’s conservative education reforms. Also Bush’s adept handling of the Savings and Loan crisis set the country up for the prosperous decade the 90’s turned out to be.
Bush was in many ways the last truly morally decent and competent president in this country.
He inherited an Eastern Europe unraveling from almost a century of communist domination, but his masterful personal diplomatic style combined with his strong believe in American leadership and the principles of democracy made that the transition quite smooth and relatively lacking in violence. That alone deserves a Nobel peace prize.
The swift and united international coalition he built to repel Saddam Hussein from Kuwait was another masterpiece of American leadership under Bush sr.
Bush’s domestic accomplishments are almost even more remarkable given the Democratic Congress he had to maneuver but he manage to pass civil rights legislation, disability protections, and set the stage for Clinton’s conservative education reforms. Also Bush’s adept handling of the Savings and Loan crisis set the country up for the prosperous decade the 90’s turned out to be.
Bush was in many ways the last truly morally decent and competent president in this country.
June 6, 2024
Eyewitness account of 4 years in the office of George HW Bush by his Chief of Staff John Sununu.
Bush never acted impulsively. He worked with the other major world leaders and frequently called them on the phone rather than communicating through stuffy protocols.
We have all the same conundrums for our presidents these days. Israel vs Palestine, Eastern Europe volatility, complex situations in Latin America, China . . . .
He was fortunate there was Gorbachev. The Cold War was just about finished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sample: "Gingrich was a glib and emotional congressman from Georgia. He was extremely volatile and often seemed as if he was more concerned about his own agenda than dealing with the problems facing the White House, Congress, and the nation as a whole."
Reading level: Challenging. It gets complicated and heavy in the areas of balancing the budget, solving the Savings and Loan crisis, or bill compromising.
Bush never acted impulsively. He worked with the other major world leaders and frequently called them on the phone rather than communicating through stuffy protocols.
We have all the same conundrums for our presidents these days. Israel vs Palestine, Eastern Europe volatility, complex situations in Latin America, China . . . .
He was fortunate there was Gorbachev. The Cold War was just about finished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sample: "Gingrich was a glib and emotional congressman from Georgia. He was extremely volatile and often seemed as if he was more concerned about his own agenda than dealing with the problems facing the White House, Congress, and the nation as a whole."
Reading level: Challenging. It gets complicated and heavy in the areas of balancing the budget, solving the Savings and Loan crisis, or bill compromising.
April 29, 2025
The years of Bush sr in the White House are described. His chief of staff Sununu as writer is not objective at all. He is extremely positive and clearly has no distance to his topic. This is understandable since he also explains his own role during that time. The nice part of the book is the insight in how it works during a presidency and how the forces are at work. What strikes me about Bush is the determination to fulfill his calling as president and the work he put into it. The emphasis on good personal relations is also remarkable certainly with the current president Trump in mind. Further also good to learn that Bush was a real conservative who had problems with the leftish media already at the time and who also advocated strongly against the Roe vs Wade abortion issue. The problems we see today surely are already at hand decades in US politics.
March 30, 2020
“The Quiet Man” fills in the questions about the first Bush presidency.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the chaos of the times and the quiet and thoughtful guidance of George Bush and his amazing team. I must admit that I didn’t realize just what was really going on at the time we were living through it. It reminds me that I need to be careful of where I get my news.
I mainly remember the senior Bush from his retirement days. He was always kind and positive about everything. He was a part of his community and a graceful participant in many events. This book reminds me of how fortunate we are to have Americans like George Bush who are willing to serve our country.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the chaos of the times and the quiet and thoughtful guidance of George Bush and his amazing team. I must admit that I didn’t realize just what was really going on at the time we were living through it. It reminds me that I need to be careful of where I get my news.
I mainly remember the senior Bush from his retirement days. He was always kind and positive about everything. He was a part of his community and a graceful participant in many events. This book reminds me of how fortunate we are to have Americans like George Bush who are willing to serve our country.
December 7, 2018
"They flew to Camp David together on Marine 1, the presidential helicopter. Even in the noisy helicopter the conversation was comfortable and friendly. Bush later wrote about the flight, "Ironically we were accompanied by military aids carrying the nuclear codes that allowed each of us to destroy the others country but we were sitting there talking about peace." ~ former George HW Bush White House Chief of Staff John Sununu
May 24, 2018
The title really says it all. President Bush's foreign policy and the changes across the world that came at the time of his presidency and the domestic challenges facing him are covered in this book. I was frankly disgusted with the bi-partisanship that existed then and continues to this day. But I tried to focus on the good that was accomplished instead.
January 4, 2019
With the recent death of Bush 41. I wanted to revisit his presidency. I found this book in the Library. The good part is that it provides a behind the scenes view of many of the critical decisions of his presidency. This is provided by the author, Chief if Staff John Sunnunu. However, the downside is that the information is clearly biased.
February 14, 2021
#2021 - 06. Hard cover. A very interesting, and thorough account of George H W Bush’s time in office and significant accomplishments on the global stage. Clearly he did not receive the acknowledgements that he deserved For his accomplishments and the masterful way he achieved them, a rarity with what we experience with our politicians today
March 7, 2025
Interesting, factual, and awfully dry.
I was expecting more insider stuff about Bush 41’s administration, but there wasn’t much of this. I felt Sununu believed he’d gotten a raw deal from those competing for their places in the Bush campaign. If Perot had not run, would Bush have won?
I was expecting more insider stuff about Bush 41’s administration, but there wasn’t much of this. I felt Sununu believed he’d gotten a raw deal from those competing for their places in the Bush campaign. If Perot had not run, would Bush have won?
September 20, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ This book is a great overview of the H W Bush Presidency and is probably the best book out there to highlight his achievements as president. Of course it’s a little biased and partisan but that is what you would expect from a chief of staff of a president. Well written and enjoyable to read.
September 7, 2024
High three stars. Ultimately it's a political biography book, so most of the approaches in the book (positive towards one side, negative towards the other) are expected. Didn't necessarily make them more interesting, though. Still an okay book.
July 3, 2017
Pure partisan trash
October 24, 2019
The Quiet Man gives you an insight of George H. W. Bush’s presidency you may not have known. Definitely worth the read.
March 9, 2020
Good subject matter, bad author and book. I should have probably gone with the President's book instead.
November 22, 2022
A very unique, honest, convincing and forceful perspective into the Bush 41 presidency.
June 20, 2015
Churchill factor, no bragging bend knees, sincere friendships, Sandinistas voted out and congress support, Brady plan to relieve refinance debt bonds, 130b SL Aug89 assets back to private sector govt paid back by those who caused, personal with foreign leaders, how to guide country to economic and political transition via self determination and support Germany Poland Russia east Europe break bread get to know each other as people, ask other opinions first with Mitterrand, Russian diamonds, Noonan no new taxes, 87 budget law required sequester, Greenspan resistant to lower interest rates without budget cuts throttled economy, Crow and epa chief for Clinton, Newt self interests, nego gas tax only for budget cuts Newt flipped then renego more taxes and cuts for country and Greenspan propelled growth, clean air and water in 90 updated 77 law, soviet diamonds, 5k points of light fdn, 7b funds Iraq war other countries, dems wanted to compromise with tyrant and go slow, cuba yemen china abstained, sen Mitchell against, gore wanted prime time, 100plus congress dems 5plus sen, day after begin Israel scuds, ended 100 hours after invasion 7 months earlier, Yalta failure appeased tyrants, Souter deceived Biden high tech lynching of Thomas, local control education rewards accountability family, signed start with Russians, ed achievements, congress killed final year legislation, Washington—doing right thing that can be portrayed wrong, 92 year of strong economic growth yet media portrayal with Buchanan nipping and Perot distraction and Walsh rebirth of contra concerns, remarkable success on world stage overwhelmed home successes as Babe the pitcher and other leaders, confirmed by Gorbachev Thatcher Mitterrand.
June 11, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book about a man I greatly admire. I think the author does a good job sharing from his perspective, and has painted an accurate picture of President George H. W. Bush that few have seen, although it was there if one cares to look. I am dismayed and angered as political hacks from both parties are revealed to be so self-serving. Obviously the day of the selfish politician has come and there are few if any statesmen left. I all of their political maneuvering, I did not see one instance of concern for their constituents, and it is the same today. The author is not afraid to name names and assign blame to those who opposed President Bush as he strove to do what was best for the country. And, of course, the liberal, hate-mongering, mainstream American press is seen in all of its partisan worst. I don't know which is a lower profession, a politician or a reporter. I have absolutely no respect for either one, and this book only strengthens my ire. Overall, this was a good read and I recommend it to all who seek to know the real George Herbert Walker Bush.
July 27, 2015
Fascinating insiders account. Don't look for a lot of honest criticism here, this is clearly a homage to the boss. But don't overlook Bush's accomplishments, either. He faced some of the greatest challenges of the 20th century, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Soviet Union, a lagging economy and a looming deficit. It gets three stars because I would have liked some more critical analysis, and little less hero worship.
November 3, 2022
Godawful. Like so many biographies written by members of the administration, the book is hagiographic to the point of sycophancy. And it's a shame, too, because it sullies Bush's actual accomplishments by trying to white wash his failures. Not to mention the fact that Sununu goes out of his way to try to settle scores and improve his own historical reputation, badly damaged after he was asked to resign. Skip this one.
August 3, 2015
Gov. Sununu's first book about President G.W. H Bush. No real surprises except that Sununu exposes Newt Gingrich's personal agenda in the early 90's and his feeling that Justice Souter was a traitor to the conservative cause during his time at SCOTUS. Interesting details on the process that it took to get the major bills passed during the Bush administration.
April 10, 2016
Sununu treats Bush here in a favorable light throughout - one is hardly surprised. This telling will, I think, be treated as a fair treatment of a good president. There is very little to argue over, and Sununu has done us all a favor by going inside the workings of the White House and revealing this story for all to see. But it will not have knocked your socks off.
July 11, 2015
I only know sununu from two things: his abuse of government travel, and his stamp collection. I went straight to the section where he brings up his government travel abuse, and he sounded like a kid in high school using every excuse on why he was tardy or passed that note in class.
December 26, 2015
Sununu is a whiny bitch. He has excuses for everything. I still like Bush for what he did right, I still disagree with him for some of his compromises. I was pleasently surprised by some of the things todays media attribute to Clinton which really belong to Mr. Bush and vice versa.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews