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The American Presidents #41
George H. W. Bush
The judicious statesman who won victories abroad but suffered defeat at home, whose wisdom and demeanor served America well at a critical time.
George Bush was a throwback to a different era. A patrician figure not known for eloquence, Bush dismissed ideology as “the vision thing.” Yet, as Timothy Naftali argues, no one of his generation was better prepared for the challenges facing the United States as the Cold War ended. Bush wisely encouraged the liberalization of the Soviet system and skillfully orchestrated the reunification of Germany. And following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, he united the global community to defeat Saddam Hussein. At home, Bush reasserted fiscal discipline after the excesses of the Reagan years. It was ultimately his political awkwardness that cost Bush a second term. His toughest decisions widened fractures in the Republican Party, and with his party divided, Bush lost his bid for reelection in 1992. In a final irony, the conservatives who scorned him would return to power eight years later, under his son and namesake, with the result that the elder George Bush would see his reputation soar.
George Bush was a throwback to a different era. A patrician figure not known for eloquence, Bush dismissed ideology as “the vision thing.” Yet, as Timothy Naftali argues, no one of his generation was better prepared for the challenges facing the United States as the Cold War ended. Bush wisely encouraged the liberalization of the Soviet system and skillfully orchestrated the reunification of Germany. And following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, he united the global community to defeat Saddam Hussein. At home, Bush reasserted fiscal discipline after the excesses of the Reagan years. It was ultimately his political awkwardness that cost Bush a second term. His toughest decisions widened fractures in the Republican Party, and with his party divided, Bush lost his bid for reelection in 1992. In a final irony, the conservatives who scorned him would return to power eight years later, under his son and namesake, with the result that the elder George Bush would see his reputation soar.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 13, 2003
43 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Naftali
18 books46 followersTimothy Naftali is a Canadian-American historian and director of the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Archives at New York University. From 2007 to 2011 he directed the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. He was appointed when control of the Library was transferred from the Richard Nixon Foundation to the National Archives and Records Administration. His biggest task at the library was to present a more objective and unbiased picture of the Watergate scandal—a task completed in March, 2011, when the Library's new Watergate gallery opened and received extensive news coverage. Naftali left the Nixon Library later that year.
Previously Naftali's area of focus was the history of counterterrorism and the Cold War. Before taking the Nixon Library position, Naftali had been an associate professor at the University of Virginia, where he directed the Miller Center of Public Affairs' Presidential Recordings Program. In the 1990s he taught at the University of Hawaii and Yale. He has written four books, two of them co-authored with Alexander Fursenko on the Cuban Missile Crisis and Nikita Khrushchev.
He served as a consultant to the 9/11 Commission, which commissioned him to write an unclassified history of American counterterrorism policy. This was later expanded into his well-received 2005 book Blind Spot: The Secret History of American Counterterrorism
Previously Naftali's area of focus was the history of counterterrorism and the Cold War. Before taking the Nixon Library position, Naftali had been an associate professor at the University of Virginia, where he directed the Miller Center of Public Affairs' Presidential Recordings Program. In the 1990s he taught at the University of Hawaii and Yale. He has written four books, two of them co-authored with Alexander Fursenko on the Cuban Missile Crisis and Nikita Khrushchev.
He served as a consultant to the 9/11 Commission, which commissioned him to write an unclassified history of American counterterrorism policy. This was later expanded into his well-received 2005 book Blind Spot: The Secret History of American Counterterrorism
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 15, 2018
George H. W. Bush wrote no memoir about his life or presidency. This biography is part of The American Presidents Series. Bush had been Reagan’s Vice President. In modern times very few V. P.’s have been successful in being elected president. Bush inherited a recession, budget deficit, the savings and loan debacle. He had to deal with Noriega and Sadden Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. The author proposed that Bush did an excellent job in dealing with the unraveling of the Soviet Bloc.
The book is well written and researched. Apparently, Bush kept a diary and the author had access to this. The book is concise and easy to read. Naftal packed a lot of information into the biography. This is an excellent book for those wanting a good review of Bush’s presidency. At the end of the Audiobook is an interview with the author.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is just over seven hours. Patrick Frederic does a good job narrating the book. Frederic is a stage and film actor. He also narrates audiobooks.
The book is well written and researched. Apparently, Bush kept a diary and the author had access to this. The book is concise and easy to read. Naftal packed a lot of information into the biography. This is an excellent book for those wanting a good review of Bush’s presidency. At the end of the Audiobook is an interview with the author.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is just over seven hours. Patrick Frederic does a good job narrating the book. Frederic is a stage and film actor. He also narrates audiobooks.
September 27, 2024
A Centrist President
George H.W. Bush (b. 1924) served a single term as the 41st president from 1989 -- 1993. His son, George W. Bush, served two terms as the 43d president. In his short 2007 biography written as part of the American Presidents series, Timothy Naftali, the director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum and a widely published historian, offers an overview of the elder Bush. References in this review will be to the first President Bush.
It is difficult to gain perspective on a presidency as recent as that of Bush. Naftali does his short history well, making careful, measured judgments and drawing on a good collection of source material, including Bush's diaries. The picture of Bush that emerges is of an individual who had pursued the presidency throughout almost his entire adult life in a not always admirable manner. When he achieved his goal at last, Bush grew in the office. In a restrained, cautious way, Bush played a major role in the end of the Cold War and in the break-up of the Soviet Union. Bush also acted prudently and successfully in the first American war against Iraq and Saddam Hussein following the invasion of Kuwait. He also successfully prosecuted a shorter, less well-remembered war in Panama. In these actions, Bush worked hard for bipartisan consensus and largely succeeded.
Bush's domestic policies were considerably less successful. But, as Naftali shows, the president worked here as well for consensus. Upon assuming office, Bush was faced with the bankruptcy of the nation's savings and loan associations which required and extensive, budget-breaking bailout. Against his political instincts and an unwise campaign pledge, Bush negotiated with the Democratic leadership to work out a successful compromise solution to the budget crisis, in the process antagonizing Congressional members of his own party on the right. With a recession late in his presidency, his lackluster public presence and campaign, and disaffection among his own ranks, Bush became one term president, losing his bid for reelection to Bill Clinton. He left the presidency with some substantial accomplishments.
The presidency appears to have brought out strengths in Bush. He showed courage and patriotism as a pilot in WW II. As Naftali shows, his subsequent public life was frequently marked by ambition and opportunism, as Bush changed his political positions over the years in the service of personal ambition. He ran unsuccessfully for Senate twice, served two terms in Congress, and had various positions of responsibility before becoming Ronald Reagan's Vice President. Besides his use of negative campaigning, including his 1988 presidential campaign against Michael Dukakis, Naftali aptly faults Bush for his less than candid role in the Iran contra scandal of Reagan's second term.
As president, Bush tried hard to put the negatives behind him. Naftali presents him as a prudent, careful leader devoted to the good of the United States rather than to personal ambition. He worked to present a moderate conservatism that a broad part of the American political spectrum would find acceptable. He tried to avoid the extremes of both right and left.
As Naftali shows, Bush made some momentous and good decisions in his presidency particularly in the area of foreign affairs, together with his share of mistakes. Naftali appears to have a high, if careful, regard for his subject. This book is a worthy addition to the American Presidents series and offers much material for reflection and thought on the Bush presidency and on our current political situation.
Robin Friedman
George H.W. Bush (b. 1924) served a single term as the 41st president from 1989 -- 1993. His son, George W. Bush, served two terms as the 43d president. In his short 2007 biography written as part of the American Presidents series, Timothy Naftali, the director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum and a widely published historian, offers an overview of the elder Bush. References in this review will be to the first President Bush.
It is difficult to gain perspective on a presidency as recent as that of Bush. Naftali does his short history well, making careful, measured judgments and drawing on a good collection of source material, including Bush's diaries. The picture of Bush that emerges is of an individual who had pursued the presidency throughout almost his entire adult life in a not always admirable manner. When he achieved his goal at last, Bush grew in the office. In a restrained, cautious way, Bush played a major role in the end of the Cold War and in the break-up of the Soviet Union. Bush also acted prudently and successfully in the first American war against Iraq and Saddam Hussein following the invasion of Kuwait. He also successfully prosecuted a shorter, less well-remembered war in Panama. In these actions, Bush worked hard for bipartisan consensus and largely succeeded.
Bush's domestic policies were considerably less successful. But, as Naftali shows, the president worked here as well for consensus. Upon assuming office, Bush was faced with the bankruptcy of the nation's savings and loan associations which required and extensive, budget-breaking bailout. Against his political instincts and an unwise campaign pledge, Bush negotiated with the Democratic leadership to work out a successful compromise solution to the budget crisis, in the process antagonizing Congressional members of his own party on the right. With a recession late in his presidency, his lackluster public presence and campaign, and disaffection among his own ranks, Bush became one term president, losing his bid for reelection to Bill Clinton. He left the presidency with some substantial accomplishments.
The presidency appears to have brought out strengths in Bush. He showed courage and patriotism as a pilot in WW II. As Naftali shows, his subsequent public life was frequently marked by ambition and opportunism, as Bush changed his political positions over the years in the service of personal ambition. He ran unsuccessfully for Senate twice, served two terms in Congress, and had various positions of responsibility before becoming Ronald Reagan's Vice President. Besides his use of negative campaigning, including his 1988 presidential campaign against Michael Dukakis, Naftali aptly faults Bush for his less than candid role in the Iran contra scandal of Reagan's second term.
As president, Bush tried hard to put the negatives behind him. Naftali presents him as a prudent, careful leader devoted to the good of the United States rather than to personal ambition. He worked to present a moderate conservatism that a broad part of the American political spectrum would find acceptable. He tried to avoid the extremes of both right and left.
As Naftali shows, Bush made some momentous and good decisions in his presidency particularly in the area of foreign affairs, together with his share of mistakes. Naftali appears to have a high, if careful, regard for his subject. This book is a worthy addition to the American Presidents series and offers much material for reflection and thought on the Bush presidency and on our current political situation.
Robin Friedman
May 20, 2021
If AP US History has taught me anything as a parent, it’s to judge a president by his presidency not by the man. After reading this book, in my opinion, HW Bush was a better man than President. He is credited with cleaning up after Reagan, which seems to be normal procedure with change and for his stance on foreign affairs. He’s also the guy who had to compete against the smooth and masterful politician , Bill clinton. It was somewhat mind blowing to think another Bush would take over after a pretty successful 8 years from Clinton. This series of books are well written, to the point and quite interesting. And for readers who can’t commit to a 1000+ page presidential biography, this series is short and not time consuming but still presents the facts.
January 30, 2015
Book Thirty-Two of my Presidential Challenge.
I've always kind of felt bad for George H.W. Bush. He's to the Presidency what Timothy Dalton is to James Bond: Nobody's favorite. (Although I LOVE Timothy Dalton, but I'll save that for my review of "Dalton: The Bad-Ass Bond" which I plan on writing someday.)
I find that H.W. suffered from many of the same major problem that Martin Van Buren had...he was just too darn adaptable. H.W. clearly focused so much of his life on blending in, making peace, etc. with whoever he needed to that it was never clear exactly what he stood for. This is a strength in that it's hard for your enemies to pin you down. However, when these same enemies attack you, without identifiable convictions, your allies can't defend you either.
Few Presidents have gone from such high highs to such low lows as H.W. did. As a Nebraska boy who grew up near the Platte River, I like the author's explanation for this: "Bush's popularity was wide, but shallow."
It is the ultimate irony that in hindsight, people realized that H.W. was the superior Bush but that's like being the tallest Leprechaun, good for him but, you know, who cares?
Ultimately, H.W. learned two lessons too late that all modern Presidents learn: 1. Stay out of protracted wars in the Middle East. 2. It's the economy stupid.
In fairness to H.W., no one could have done any better thanks to the cocaine-fueled hangover Reagan left the country in. In the late 80's/early 90's, America was just starting to realize that there is more to diplomacy that telling people to tear down walls and waiving an American flag. Most President's reap the bad karma from all the horrible stuff they did in their first term. Sadly, because nothing could ever stick to Grandpa Reagan, H.W. ended up being the sad sack left standing when the music stopped on that particular game of political musical chairs.
The book itself was informative and short. I definitely wouldn't want to read any more about this guy though.
I've always kind of felt bad for George H.W. Bush. He's to the Presidency what Timothy Dalton is to James Bond: Nobody's favorite. (Although I LOVE Timothy Dalton, but I'll save that for my review of "Dalton: The Bad-Ass Bond" which I plan on writing someday.)
I find that H.W. suffered from many of the same major problem that Martin Van Buren had...he was just too darn adaptable. H.W. clearly focused so much of his life on blending in, making peace, etc. with whoever he needed to that it was never clear exactly what he stood for. This is a strength in that it's hard for your enemies to pin you down. However, when these same enemies attack you, without identifiable convictions, your allies can't defend you either.
Few Presidents have gone from such high highs to such low lows as H.W. did. As a Nebraska boy who grew up near the Platte River, I like the author's explanation for this: "Bush's popularity was wide, but shallow."
It is the ultimate irony that in hindsight, people realized that H.W. was the superior Bush but that's like being the tallest Leprechaun, good for him but, you know, who cares?
Ultimately, H.W. learned two lessons too late that all modern Presidents learn: 1. Stay out of protracted wars in the Middle East. 2. It's the economy stupid.
In fairness to H.W., no one could have done any better thanks to the cocaine-fueled hangover Reagan left the country in. In the late 80's/early 90's, America was just starting to realize that there is more to diplomacy that telling people to tear down walls and waiving an American flag. Most President's reap the bad karma from all the horrible stuff they did in their first term. Sadly, because nothing could ever stick to Grandpa Reagan, H.W. ended up being the sad sack left standing when the music stopped on that particular game of political musical chairs.
The book itself was informative and short. I definitely wouldn't want to read any more about this guy though.
July 26, 2009
This book, authored by Timothy Naftali, ends with the following comment (Page 176): "George W. Bush's controversial presidency led to a positive reassessment of his father's time in the White House. . . .[M:]any missed the elder Bush's realism, his diplomacy, his political modesty, and, yes, even his prudence."
George H. W. Bush was a one term president who presided over the end of the Cold War. This slender biography, another entry in The American Presidents series, provides a useful biography of the 41st president of the United States. The book begins with his childhood and youth, culminating in his estimable service in the Navy's air wing, including being shot down in the Pacific. Upon his return to the United States, Bush entered Yale and, upon graduation, became a businessman who did well, after moving from New England to Texas.
In Texas, Bush became interested in politics, and public service consumed him until the end of his presidency. He was ambitious from the start of his career. He had successes (election to the House of Representatives) and failures (defeat in a Senate race). He became a person respected by his Republican Party leaders, and served in a number of important roles, from Director of the CIA, Ambassador to the U. N., Chair of the Republican National Committee, and head of the U. S. diplomatic post in the People's Republic of China.
After his China tour, he began thinking about the presidency. It didn't work out in 1980 (Ronald Reagan simply did a better job as candidate); however, he got quite a consolation prize--Vice President. Then, the tale of his campaign to become President in 1988.
Once elected, he displayed prudence. He ran into trouble when he backed off his "Read my lips; no new taxes" promise from the 1988 campaign. Many Republicans were angered. His presidency did feature both domestic successes and foreign policy successes (end of the Cold War and the stunning cobbling together of a coalition to boot Iraq out of Kuwait--and his refusal to advance on Baghdad). There were also problems, such as seeming sometimes to be out of touch. Then , his dismaying defeat by Bill Clinton in 1992.
All in all, a good depiction of the man and his presidency. Another worthy addition to the series.
George H. W. Bush was a one term president who presided over the end of the Cold War. This slender biography, another entry in The American Presidents series, provides a useful biography of the 41st president of the United States. The book begins with his childhood and youth, culminating in his estimable service in the Navy's air wing, including being shot down in the Pacific. Upon his return to the United States, Bush entered Yale and, upon graduation, became a businessman who did well, after moving from New England to Texas.
In Texas, Bush became interested in politics, and public service consumed him until the end of his presidency. He was ambitious from the start of his career. He had successes (election to the House of Representatives) and failures (defeat in a Senate race). He became a person respected by his Republican Party leaders, and served in a number of important roles, from Director of the CIA, Ambassador to the U. N., Chair of the Republican National Committee, and head of the U. S. diplomatic post in the People's Republic of China.
After his China tour, he began thinking about the presidency. It didn't work out in 1980 (Ronald Reagan simply did a better job as candidate); however, he got quite a consolation prize--Vice President. Then, the tale of his campaign to become President in 1988.
Once elected, he displayed prudence. He ran into trouble when he backed off his "Read my lips; no new taxes" promise from the 1988 campaign. Many Republicans were angered. His presidency did feature both domestic successes and foreign policy successes (end of the Cold War and the stunning cobbling together of a coalition to boot Iraq out of Kuwait--and his refusal to advance on Baghdad). There were also problems, such as seeming sometimes to be out of touch. Then , his dismaying defeat by Bill Clinton in 1992.
All in all, a good depiction of the man and his presidency. Another worthy addition to the series.
August 12, 2013
This biography of the first President Bush is necessarily concise as are all biographies in the "American President's Series" but this biography showed original insight that you don't always find. The author, Timothy Nafitali, is generally sympathetic to President Bush, especially his thesis that Reagan left many "messes" for Bush to clean up and had to pay the political price for making tough decisions forced on him by Reagan failing to make the tough decisions. The deficit was the prime example of this as well as the Middle East situation. On the other hand, the author is up front with Bush avoiding leadership in the Iran Contragate scandal(Nafiati argues that if Bush had joined with George Schultz and Caspar Weinberger, Iran Contragate would have been avoided) and later was disingenous in discussing his role prior to his election
There is focus on Bush's character and while the author notes the lapses(especially one congressional campaign where Bush abandoned principle and did not stand for government efforts to end segregation) for the great majority of his life, Bush stood for honor and principle. Bush's political shortcomings resulted from his inability to connect and understand the average American(something his predecessor and successor, Reagan and Clinton were masters at) which at least partially led to his defeat in 1992. Nafiatali also argues the irony that history is now kinder to the first President Bush due to failed policies of his son
Interesting read
There is focus on Bush's character and while the author notes the lapses(especially one congressional campaign where Bush abandoned principle and did not stand for government efforts to end segregation) for the great majority of his life, Bush stood for honor and principle. Bush's political shortcomings resulted from his inability to connect and understand the average American(something his predecessor and successor, Reagan and Clinton were masters at) which at least partially led to his defeat in 1992. Nafiatali also argues the irony that history is now kinder to the first President Bush due to failed policies of his son
Interesting read
February 13, 2023
A very well written biography about George hw bush. HW was the second son born into a very wealthy family whose father had countless business and political contacts. All HW and his older brother had to do was ask their dad to exert his influence and they would be set. They both chose not to and both went to military boarding school. HW joined the navy at age 18, was luckily shot down over the water and he was rescued by his navy seamen. Year later he married Barbara and was the 4th generation Bush to go to Yale. Upon graduating he returned to Texas and began a very successful oil company. Later went into politics. As he got more involved in politics many important people at the time johnson, Kissinger, Nixon, ford, etc did not support him politically and he was passed over a number of times and took some lesser roles. Reagan eventually chose him as vp. Reaganomics was the new way of thinking and has success goes things we’re looking good. Then political events took place that led to the Iran contra affair. Bush started to tell the public he didn’t know a lot that was going on, which may or may not be true, but he was determined to become president. His 4 years is viewed as a mixed bag. A ton of international stuff going on. Noreiga, Soviet Union, Germany, iraq- with saddam Hussein. It was a delicate balance of trying to gain peace and democracy and to not appear weak, which people ultimately felt he was. Promised no new or raised taxes but his last year started a recession and he was forced to back track on his tax ideas. Had one of the largest declines in presidential ratings in history with his last year. Some felt he lacked focus in our well being and economy. George w would become president and an unexpected result people would compare his results and how he handled things with how George w handled things as George w had a number of questionable ways he handled things. And at times he did not respond quick enough or aggressive which in a way was similar to how his dad responded. HW would jump out an airplane, do some campaigning for 2 of his sons, occasionally speak out regard to political events and enjoyed watching his son become president. The bush family would be cemented as one of the most successful political families in US history.
July 15, 2019
Not one of my favorite presidents but it was a good book and I would recommend it.
February 3, 2020
George H. W. Bush is the fortieth book in The American Presidents series – a biographical series chronicling the Presidents of the United States. Timothy Naftali wrote this particular installment and edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. and Sean Wilentz.
George Herbert Walker Bush was an American politician and businessman who served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989–1993. A member of the Republican Party, Bush also served in the U.S. House of Representatives, as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as Director of Central Intelligence, and as the forty-third Vice President of the United States.
Naftali credits Bush less with principles than with tendencies toward flexibility, realism and a moderate Republican version of decency. In his foreign policy, these qualities helped him nudge communism toward a soft collapse and build an international alliance to eject Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. Domestically, they led him to a budget compromise with Democrats, in which he acquiesced to unpopular tax hikes for the good of the nation.
Bush's flexibility had a dark side that came out in his repeated tactical embrace of racial politics, from his opposition to civil rights legislation during his 1964 Senate run to the 1988 Willie Horton ads, and in his public support for Reaganomics despite deep private misgivings.
George H. W. Bush is written rather well. Naftali forthrightly dissects Bush's misdeeds, especially his role in the Iran-Contra scandal, but he's less skeptical about the substance of Bush's policies. Naftali credits Bush's wars in Panama and Kuwait with helping America overcome the burden of Vietnam.
All in all, George H. W. Bush is a good, albeit concise biography of the forty-first President and it is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series of presidential biographies, which I plan to read in the very near future.
George Herbert Walker Bush was an American politician and businessman who served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989–1993. A member of the Republican Party, Bush also served in the U.S. House of Representatives, as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as Director of Central Intelligence, and as the forty-third Vice President of the United States.
Naftali credits Bush less with principles than with tendencies toward flexibility, realism and a moderate Republican version of decency. In his foreign policy, these qualities helped him nudge communism toward a soft collapse and build an international alliance to eject Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. Domestically, they led him to a budget compromise with Democrats, in which he acquiesced to unpopular tax hikes for the good of the nation.
Bush's flexibility had a dark side that came out in his repeated tactical embrace of racial politics, from his opposition to civil rights legislation during his 1964 Senate run to the 1988 Willie Horton ads, and in his public support for Reaganomics despite deep private misgivings.
George H. W. Bush is written rather well. Naftali forthrightly dissects Bush's misdeeds, especially his role in the Iran-Contra scandal, but he's less skeptical about the substance of Bush's policies. Naftali credits Bush's wars in Panama and Kuwait with helping America overcome the burden of Vietnam.
All in all, George H. W. Bush is a good, albeit concise biography of the forty-first President and it is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series of presidential biographies, which I plan to read in the very near future.
July 22, 2022
The Canadian American Historian Timothy Naftali published his political biography of George H.W. Bush in 2007 during his son's presidency, George W. Bush. It is worth noting that George H. W. Bush died on November 30, 2018, at the age of 94. Naftali’s book has an Introduction, that introduces themes and the focus of Naftali’s biography. This book includes a Timeline. Similar to the other books in The American Presidents series, Naftali’s biography of George H.W. Bush is short, compelling, and well-researched. Naftali was the Director of the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum at the time Naftali wrote this biography of George H.W. Bush, so Naftali spent some time on the complex but fascinating relationship between George H.W. Bush and Nixon (20-29, 42, 63, 82, 99, 145, 203). I feel like a more recent presidential biography of George H. W. Bush would have written about the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991 differently than Naftali did in the early 21st Century (Remnick 2022). Naftali believes that if George H.W. Bush had not sought a second presidential term in 1992, he would have been remembered as a successful one-term president who “managed the Cold War to a soft landing while setting the new rules for pretty tyrants like Saddam Hussein” (Naftali 139). During the presidency of George H.W. Bush, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights of 1991 (133). On a side note, Steve of the blog, My Journey through the Best Presidential Biographies has excellent reviews of several of The American Presidents series biographies.
Worked Cited:
Horsley, Scott, Rosenbaum, Marcus, & Kesbesh, Dina. 2018. “Former President George H.W. Bush Dies At 94,” National Radio Program, November 30, Retrieved: July, 2022. (George H.W. Bush Dies: Former U.S. President Was 94 : NPR).
Remnick, David. “Anita Hill Saw History Repeat Itself at Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Hearings.” New Yorker. April 8, 2022. Anita Hill Saw History Repeat Itself at Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Hearings | The New Yorker
Worked Cited:
Horsley, Scott, Rosenbaum, Marcus, & Kesbesh, Dina. 2018. “Former President George H.W. Bush Dies At 94,” National Radio Program, November 30, Retrieved: July, 2022. (George H.W. Bush Dies: Former U.S. President Was 94 : NPR).
Remnick, David. “Anita Hill Saw History Repeat Itself at Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Hearings.” New Yorker. April 8, 2022. Anita Hill Saw History Repeat Itself at Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Hearings | The New Yorker
May 23, 2023
I'm starting to understand what makes old men grumpy (aside from constipation). Mr. Naftali blitzkriegs through the global events of my early adulthood with a speed that makes Operation Desert Storm look like a quagmire. Crises like Hurricane Andrew, which I barely remember, get the same bum's rush as incidents like the Clarence Thomas hearings, which I thought heralded the collapse of George HW Bush's presidency (not knowing at the time that it also heralded the collapse of American democracy). It's disorienting and more than a little scary when a historian undermines your memories and distorts your sense of reality. Maybe that explains why modern culture warriors are trying to censor English and History Class reading lists instead of biology class curricula - it's a way of screaming "DON'T TELL ME I'M WRONG!!!"
But I've met enough historians to know that while there's universal agreement on facts, there's violent disagreement on significance. And if I don't appreciate Mr. Naftali's pace, I do appreciate his sympathy for his subject, it made me almost like the guy. (Bush, not Naftali, who I'm sure is an okay person, too.)
But I've met enough historians to know that while there's universal agreement on facts, there's violent disagreement on significance. And if I don't appreciate Mr. Naftali's pace, I do appreciate his sympathy for his subject, it made me almost like the guy. (Bush, not Naftali, who I'm sure is an okay person, too.)
Read
July 27, 2024Naftali's brief biography nails the core persona of Bush Sr. as an unsophisticated governmental genius, an aristocratic bureaucrat. What he lacked in cultural literacy, in style, in appreciation for the arts and sciences, law and medicine, he made up in a keen ability to organize, manage, and decide when decisions were necessary. Bush gravitated towards foreign policy because, in the Cold War, the anti-Communist consensus valued smart, quick learning strategists over ideologues. Indeed, ideology was alien to Bush: he employed it to win and usually acted upon a non-threatening centrism whenever he could. Function over faction. Yet, Bush's unthinking attitude cost him frequently. In 1992, Bush's inability to acknowledge, or even know, that he was ignorant of America's domestic problems (and the changing political realities that made domestic politics triumph over foreign affairs in a post-cold war world) led to the worst defeat of an incumbent president since Hoover.
January 7, 2017
Naftali doesn't pull any punches. His account is a good balance to Meacham's "Destiny and Power" which is a little too adulatory. However, Naftali seems to have a bias against both Reagan and W. He covers all the relevant issues and does so succinctly. A good addition to the APS and a good introduction to GHWB as a person and politician. Can't beat it for a 176 page intro to '41'. His account of Bush's ditching the Avenger after his run at ChiChi Jima is at odds with the account in Bradley's "Fly Boys" which says Bush made them bail before he ditched and that they were captured, tortured and gruesomely executed.
December 20, 2018
The American Presidents series is a great set of survey biographies of our presidents. Some are better than others, but I am beginning to feel that the surveys are just to darned short for a really good interpretation of any president's life. The author makes a point in the book about Bush's political support (and indeed a fair assessment in my opinion): his support was as shallow as it was broad. Unfortunately, this offering in TAP series is also pretty shallow. If you want a peek at GHW Bush without very much depth or meat-on-the-bone, this is the one.
July 9, 2025
President, George HW Bush, like Jimmy Carter, was one of our presidents who received a lot of criticism and not much praise. However, both in the long run served our country well at critical times. This account is no endorsement of the elder Bush, but I think a mostly fair rendition of his presidency. He certainly handled the end of the Cold War and boosting of Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia’s leader, in an astute way. In retrospect, it was a masterful handling of the Russia leader during a difficult time for him and Russia.
December 2, 2017
The book struck me as a fair evaluation of President Bush. On the negative side, Naftali describes Bush as an ambitious political chameleon who was willing to change his views and shed his moral convictions when it was expedient. On the positive side he presents Bush as a president who was able to rise above his ambition to govern wisely.
January 13, 2019
A nice, short biography about Bush 41. Honest about his successes and shortcomings.
I do wish that there was more about him in his post-presidency, but overall a good read about a good man.
I do wish that there was more about him in his post-presidency, but overall a good read about a good man.
April 28, 2024
Informational, balanced, and concise.
June 30, 2017
This is a decent biography, and will provide a quick summary to those who want to learn about Bush 41's presidency. I also recommend PBS's American Experience documentary. Bush emerges as an interesting character with both a core decency, and a willingness to betray those values for political expediency. I also had forgotten that he started out as somewhat more skeptical of Gorbachev than Reagan, and that there was considerable internal dissent in the administration over what to do when Saddam invaded Kuwait. While this account was interesting, there were sections (especially the section about the first Gulf War) which were a bit dull. This shouldn't happen in such a short account.
February 25, 2017
One of the key aspects that every book in this series should contain (but sadly do not) is much material dealing with the President's personality and how that personality led him to make the decisions he did. Unfortunately, this effort from Timothy Naftali doesn't get into that kind of stuff until the final 20 pages or so.
Up until that point, this book is very, very dry and focuses almost exclusively on policy and back-door dealings. I realize that this kind of material is important when looking at the Bush Administration at a whole, it makes for a really dry read in a series for amateur historians.
Also, it is fairly obvious while reading that Naftali doesn't care all that much for the Bush presidency. He isn't glaringly obvious about it like some authors in this series have been, but there is much more material criticizing his faults than there is praising his successes. Then, rather sickeningly, he includes a few pages on the George W. Bush presidency, where his true colors show as he rips into the junior Bush in a very inappropriate forum.
Overall, a very disappointing entry into this series. Too much dry procedural stuff and not enough about the personality of Papa Bush. I'd look elsewhere for a bio of this President.
Up until that point, this book is very, very dry and focuses almost exclusively on policy and back-door dealings. I realize that this kind of material is important when looking at the Bush Administration at a whole, it makes for a really dry read in a series for amateur historians.
Also, it is fairly obvious while reading that Naftali doesn't care all that much for the Bush presidency. He isn't glaringly obvious about it like some authors in this series have been, but there is much more material criticizing his faults than there is praising his successes. Then, rather sickeningly, he includes a few pages on the George W. Bush presidency, where his true colors show as he rips into the junior Bush in a very inappropriate forum.
Overall, a very disappointing entry into this series. Too much dry procedural stuff and not enough about the personality of Papa Bush. I'd look elsewhere for a bio of this President.
December 5, 2015
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.
Read
February 18, 2016Excellent quick read for the most relevant aspects of George H.W. Bush's rise to and challenges in the White House. Before reading, I had only a stereotypical image of HW as the moderate president; a somewhat under appreciated man for achievements like the Gulf War and tying up of the Cold War but also with faults like breaking his key campaign tax promise.
This book revealed nuances including these key takeaways:
-HW did not have a purely moderate ideology; since the beginning of his political career he changed his views to fit his target audience. Politicians today flipflop like crazy and they did it back then too. I admire HW for apologizing for flopping so drastically on civil rights during his Senate campaign.
-Political connections go a long way; HW's family had important political friends that definitely helped HW get political jobs and could be called political nepotism. But when George Jr. and Jeb started running for office, it's not only the connections for fundraising that helped, but having mom and dad to do heavy campaigning. Of course parents will support their kids and I'm sure growing up around politics helped teach the Bush kids the ropes but still, this means the most talented people in America are generally not those leading it.
- The Gulf War was not so tidy; the decision to go in was not quick or obvious and ultimately was made by Bush. Generally I've been taught that America's nifty stealth technology went in and saved the day. It was effective but the Iraqi army was also so hollow that it was a near massacre. Also *SPOILER* (if one can have a historic spoiler) Saddam subsequently tried to kill HW--1st foreign assassination attempt of a POTUS!
-Presidents' pick of advisors is important but ultimately a good leader is needed ; HW's advisors often clashed with each other and HW had to make final decisions.
This book revealed nuances including these key takeaways:
-HW did not have a purely moderate ideology; since the beginning of his political career he changed his views to fit his target audience. Politicians today flipflop like crazy and they did it back then too. I admire HW for apologizing for flopping so drastically on civil rights during his Senate campaign.
-Political connections go a long way; HW's family had important political friends that definitely helped HW get political jobs and could be called political nepotism. But when George Jr. and Jeb started running for office, it's not only the connections for fundraising that helped, but having mom and dad to do heavy campaigning. Of course parents will support their kids and I'm sure growing up around politics helped teach the Bush kids the ropes but still, this means the most talented people in America are generally not those leading it.
- The Gulf War was not so tidy; the decision to go in was not quick or obvious and ultimately was made by Bush. Generally I've been taught that America's nifty stealth technology went in and saved the day. It was effective but the Iraqi army was also so hollow that it was a near massacre. Also *SPOILER* (if one can have a historic spoiler) Saddam subsequently tried to kill HW--1st foreign assassination attempt of a POTUS!
-Presidents' pick of advisors is important but ultimately a good leader is needed ; HW's advisors often clashed with each other and HW had to make final decisions.
January 16, 2024
Initially I read this book about 10+ years ago and had a different conclusion where I was more liking the book and less critical of Bush. On re-reading it, I came to a much different opinion.
I am not sure if it is because of the author's bias that influenced me or the fact that I always known that wealthy people see the country in a much different light. For example, I once worked for a wealthy man that had very cut and dried ideas about the rest of us. He (and many of his friends) seemed to think that their job is fix our problems because we aren't educated nor experienced enough with the larger picture to understand how to solve real problems.
The book basically hits on that idea when making a comment about how Bush tended to be cocky about his chances of being selected for vice-president (three different times), being elected president then being re-elected because he felt he was always the man for the job. He seemed to have little faith in the rest of us.
I am not sure if it is because of the author's bias that influenced me or the fact that I always known that wealthy people see the country in a much different light. For example, I once worked for a wealthy man that had very cut and dried ideas about the rest of us. He (and many of his friends) seemed to think that their job is fix our problems because we aren't educated nor experienced enough with the larger picture to understand how to solve real problems.
The book basically hits on that idea when making a comment about how Bush tended to be cocky about his chances of being selected for vice-president (three different times), being elected president then being re-elected because he felt he was always the man for the job. He seemed to have little faith in the rest of us.
February 2, 2016
His heart was in the right place and did an excellent job on foreign policy from the breakup of the soviet union to the first gulf war. Domestically, he inherited the failed economic policies of Reagan (which the republicans still can't accept decades later). However, personally, he was a politician who easily compromised his personal beliefs for political gain (e.g., changing his fiscal and pro-choice positions to garner support from the radical right in the republican party, to his loyal support of Reagan in the Iran-Contra affair). His A in foreign affairs offsets his D in domestic affairs, and he deserves a passing grade as president.
July 18, 2016
Certainly one of the best in this series I have read so far. I deducted one star for only one reason: the book seemed unbalanced in that unlike other books in this series it dedicated 26 pages to the subject's life after his presidency. This also had the effect of making this the longest book in this series I have read thus far. Of course, 176 pages of text certainly doesn't constitute a glut of material on a U.S. president, but for someone like me who is reading through the whole series, it did make this book stand out as anomalous in a bad way.
May 30, 2015
I did not once think of the style of this book, and in my opinion that means this was an excellently written book. I could have done leas with all the information about his son's presidency. Also, he did not sound very unbiased when talking about Reagan's presidency. I also dislike that they discussed Kuwait without discussing the consequences in term of the Middle Eastern people's opinion about the success of Operation Desert Storm. Very well written though.
July 12, 2011
A good book about our 41st president. Naftali does a good job of providing an overview of Bush's life and his presidency. As with the other titles in the Time Books' American Presidents Series, it doesn't go much in depth, but if you're looking for a quick biography hitting all the main events, then this is a good one to read.
January 9, 2013
This is a decent enough book. It is from the American President series, and these are basic bios. Like others in the series, there is no rythum to these works, they move along and with no warning, suddenly end. (Like that).
January 2, 2016
I just finished this short biography of George H.W. Bush. It was a decent introduction to the 41st president, but it barely touched on his early years, and moved very fast through his political life. I'm looking forward to reading something a little more detailed and enlightening in the future.
October 8, 2008
It was an ok read. I thought the author was objective about Pres. Bush's presidency. I wish they would have had more about his personal life, before and after being president.
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