We began 1992 with an important trip to Asia, visiting Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. The main purpose of the trip was trade, and we took with us a large contingent of American businessmen and CEOs. We considered the trip successful and felt a lot of progress had been made on opening up Asian markets to American products.
However, I’m afraid that is not what most people remember about this trip.
January 9th
I’m dictating this on Thursday in the Akasaka Palace [in Tokyo.] Last night, I went to the dinner given by [Prime Minister Kiichi] Miyazawa, and half way through the receiving line, I began to feel very faint and broke out in a big sweat. I knew I was going to throw up. I asked to be excused from the receiving line, and this caused a lot of consternation, so I went into the bathroom, threw up in there, came back, finished the line, and I felt very, very weak.
I should have gone home but I didn’t. I could not eat anything at the dinner—a beautiful dinner, beautiful music—and I couldn’t even carry on a conversation. I remember breaking out into a cold sweat, water just pouring out of me, and then the next thing I knew, literally, I was on the floor. I woke up, and I had this euphoric feeling. It’s hard to describe it, but it was a light, out of body feeling, 100 percent strange. I looked up and there staring at me were the faces of nurses, the doctors, and the Secret Service guys. I realized I was lying flat on the floor, having thrown up all over Miyazawa.
Barbara saved the day by injecting a little humor, and she stayed at the dinner. They brought in an ambulance, and I decided, no, I would walk out. I put my tie back on, rebuttoned my collar and walked out. I didn’t feel all that bad.
The press is dominated by the news of my illness and apparently it was all over the television—my collapsing.
Frankly, we think the visit has been very important, and I think it has gone well. We’ve re-established our position as a Pacific power, talking about security as well as trade. But the carpers and critics are bitching away at home.
[Miyazawa] was so understanding about my humiliating illness. That was the damnedest experience. Not the best for him either. He is a decent man, older man, has a good perspective and knows the importance of the United States to Japan.
[I have great respect for Kiichi, and he and I remain good friends. Since I’ve left office, we have met in both Tokyo and Houston.]
January 11, 1992
Dear Ron [Reagan],
I am writing this to you on my new computer at Camp David.
When I got back from throwing up on our friend P.M. Miyazawa, I found that large, lovely picture of the 5 of us.1 It will go into that beautiful frame that you gave us. Thanks so very much for such a special present.
The trip to Asia, in spite of the carping and whining from the Democrat protectionists, aided and abetted by the Washington Post, was a success. We made progress getting into the glass, computer and, yes, auto markets. Much left to be done but at least we tried and did it without reverting to Protectionism.
Again my sincere thanks for that present.
I hope you are well and enjoying life to the fullest. Warmest Regards,
George
1-12-92
Mr. John P. Ellis2
Harvard University Institute of Politics
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
Dear John,
Just back from barfing on Miyazawa (bad news) to find your good letter of Dec. 26th (good news)
Thanks for the coffee machine. Yes, it will be a key item this summer. The house is well down the comeback trail according to Danny Philbrick.3
. . . I’m convinced the economy will bounce back—if it does, I think we’ll be OK. Clinton, absent Mario [Cuomo], is getting a good ride; but he hasn’t been through the big time meat grinder yet. . . .
Love to all,
GB
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
February 6, 1992
THIS IS AN ALL POINTS BULLETIN FROM THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT: MY DOG “RANGER”
Recently Ranger was put on a weight reduction program. Either that program succeeds or we enter Ranger in the Houston Fat Stock Show as a Prime Hereford.
All offices should take a formal ‘pledge’ that reads as follows:
“WE AGREE NOT TO FEED RANGER. WE WILL NOT GIVE HIM BISCUITS. WE WILL NOT GIVE HIM FOOD OF ANY KIND”
In addition Ranger’s “access” is hereby restricted. He has been told not to wander the corridors without an escort. This applies to the East and West Wings, to the Residence from the 3rd floor to the very, very bottom basement.
Although Ranger will still be permitted to roam at Camp David, the Camp David staff including Marines, Naval Personnel, All Civilians and Kids are specifically instructed to ‘rat’ on anyone seen feeding Ranger.
Ranger has been asked to wear a “Do not feed me” badge in addition to his ID.
I will, of course, report on Ranger’s fight against obesity. Right now he looks like a blimp, a nice friendly appealing blimp, but a blimp.
We need Your Help—All hands, please, help.
We’ve left New Hampshire after an upbeat final day and I’m now back in Washington. So many thoughts go through my head. This will be my last campaign in New Hampshire. I went through the fields of New Hampshire in the summer of ’78, and then of course, ’79, ’80, and ’88, and now this. It’s hard to tell what’s happening.
Right now, some of the polls have us 58 to 30—a couple of them there—but then there is this Bennett poll which has it much, much closer. Buchanan4 is attacking and he’s mean and ugly. The five Democrats continue to attack. My pitch is enough ugliness, enough campaign rhetoric, enough highfalutin plans with no detail to them. I’ve got to govern, and we’ve got our plan before the Congress. . . .
February 25, 1992
(Aboard Air Force One)
(Enroute San Francisco, California)
The Honorable Paul Cellucci
Lieutenant Governor,5 State of Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts 02133
Dear Paul:
As I head west, my mind flashes back to my final campaign in New Hampshire. In ’80, ’88, and ’92 you were right there by my side, and I just wanted you to know that I am very grateful for your steadfast support.
Despite the spin the press put on last Tuesday’s outcome, the win was substantial.6 We are all pleased with Sunday’s great showing in Maine, and I look forward to the upcoming Southern Primaries.
All the best to you, Paul, and my sincere thanks again.
Warmest regards,
George Bush
March 2nd
Monday morning and it’s a very beautiful, crisp and cool day, 45, it will probably get up into the 60’s, and it’s fantastic. It’s almost like Spring has sprung on the 2nd day of March. There is something about the outdoors—and then I would add the grandchildren—that makes all of this ugly period seem less bad. There is a tomorrow and there is something over the horizon. I’m a fighter, I’ll do my best, I’ll keep on slugging. But I have that security of having tucked back—way back inside my mindset—the knowledge great happiness lies out there if indeed the voters just say “no.”
I don’t think they will. I have a quiet confidence that I will win. Some of it is because of the opposition; some of it is because I think things like World Peace and experienced leadership will make a difference; and some of it is because I think the economy is going to turn around. . . .
March 5, 1992
(En route Memphis, Tennessee)
The Honorable Richard M. Nixon
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey 07675
Dear Dick,
I read your paper “How to lose the Cold War.” I certainly agree with the major principle of this paper, namely, that we have an enormous stake with the democratic Russia. . . .
As you know, we are moving on the humanitarian food and medical aid front. Many American technologists are working with the newly energized private sector in Russia. More needs to be done. We are talking with the states of the former Soviet Union on a range of issues.
I am not sure what Russian goods are denied access to our markets. We are working with them on MFN. In my view, it is the EC that must open their markets more.
We are working on the prospects for a stabilization fund—though, we’re talking megabucks here. We are also helping some on debt and perhaps can do more, along with the Europeans. . . .
I will be discussing much of this with Yeltsin when he comes over here. Incidentally, the more I see Yeltsin, the more I agree with your assessment of him. He seems to be bearing up well under an enormous amount of pressure.
I look forward to seeing you at the Library dinner next week.
Warm Regards,
George
March 9, 1992
Mr. Heinz Prechter7
ASC Incorporated
Southgate, Michigan 48195
Dear Heinz:
Thank you for your thoughtful and constructive letter. I appreciate, as always, your commitment to our success as a nation and to helping my Administration provide the necessary leadership.
I particularly like your emphasis on the positive. Our industries are becoming more competitive. The specific instances you mention of plants that have dramatically increased their productivity and of workers who have been successfully retrained illuminate this reality. We need to shine the spotlight on such places.
It not only provides genuine encouragement, but it also helps portray a more balanced picture of what is happening in this country. I agree with you that these success stories are all too infrequently reported in the diet of negative stories that fill the press these days.
As you point out, we are going through a period of necessary restructuring. Adjustment is never easy or painless. But we are doing those things that are crucial to competing successfully in a global economy over the long term.
I will make sure that our scheduling people are made aware of your suggestions of places to visit in Michigan. Finally, I take seriously and share your conviction that we need to be proactive rather than reactive. We will do everything we can here and, with the support of friends like you, I am confident we will prevail.
Sincerely,
George Bush
I sent this letter to the entire cabinet:
March 10, 1992
The Honorable James Addison Baker
Secretary of State
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Jim,
It has been a grueling period, and spring is about to spring. Barbara and I would like to offer you and your immediate family 48 hours away from the Washington grind—a couple of days at Camp David. This could be scheduled during the week or on a weekend when we are not there. (Inasmuch as we go there most weekends, I would encourage you to go during the week.)
It is a great place to relax, to think, to write, or just plain be with the kids. To guarantee privacy and maximum R&R, only one family will be scheduled at a time. Should you desire to go up there with another Cabinet member however, that can be arranged.
My assistant, Patty Presock, will handle scheduling and coordinating all arrangements with Camp David. You can reach her at 456-7400.
Barbara and I hope you and your family will have an opportunity to enjoy Camp David sometime before this fall.
Sincerely,
George Bush
I typed up these notes for the speechwriters on a Saturday at Camp David:
March 14, 1992
The Vision Thing
World Leadership to guarantee that our children live in peace, free from the fear of nuclear war in a world where all people know the blessings of democracy and freedom.
Leadership at Home to guarantee a better America. That means strengthening the American Family (family values). It means being the best in Education. It means winning the war on drugs and crime.
It means striving for a society free of bigotry and hate.
To achieve this ‘vision’ we must remain as the active leader of the entire world. We must be sure our word is credible—that means we must not only have the convictions about democracy and freedom, but we must have a strong National Defense posture. Our security comes first but the security of other friends around the world is vital too.
To achieve the domestic ‘vision’ we must fully implement America 2000 in education. That program, with its emphasis on Math and Science etc., will guarantee our leadership in the highly competitive evolving world.
To reassure Americans about their standard of living and their own prosperity we must expand, not shrink, our involvement and leadership in international trade.
We must find every way possible to strengthen the American family. Parental involvement in schools; community action programs that build on our “Points of Light” concept.
To address family concerns on health care we must press for prompt enactment of a new health care plan.
And to guarantee our prosperity we must make a major effort to control the ever spiraling debt of this country.
“Family, Jobs, Peace” can be expanded to :
World Peace and Freedom Abroad led and guaranteed by a strong America. At home, domestic tranquillity where family is strengthened, educational excellence achieved, the threat of drugs and crime eliminated, and the spirit of America is renewed by government being close to the people and by a ‘points of light’ concept enhanced, a concept which appeals to the better nature of man, a concept of neighbor helping neighbor.
It was a sensitive time in our relationship with Israel. They were asking for $10 billion in loan guarantees, mainly to help them with the huge influx of Soviet immigrants. However, their insistence on continuing the settlement of the West Bank—a key issue in peace negotiations with the Arabs—was putting the United States in a difficult position and hindering the peace process. Israel was an old friend and ally, but I made the tough decision to delay the loan guarantees until they agreed to stop building settlements in the disputed territories because the money, either directly or indirectly, would support those settlements. All hell broke out. I wrote this letter to George Klein, a successful New York City real estate man and a Republican activist in the Jewish community:
March 19, 1992
Mr. George Klein
New York, New York 10022
Dear George:
I have now had the chance to read your letter with the care it deserves. I want you to know that I appreciate your sending it to me; one should never assume that Presidents get the benefit of what people are truly thinking. What you have to say pains me, but I thank you for being a true friend and saying it.
I, too, am anguished over the loan guarantee issue. Having helped bring about the massive immigration,8 I would like nothing more than to help see it through, but Israeli settlement activity leaves me little choice. I could not alter long-standing U.S. policy and still be a force for peace. We say that settlements are an obstacle to peace, and they are. I do not exaggerate when I tell you that more than anything else Israel is saying or doing, settlements are undermining those forces in the Arab world that at long last are ready to reach out and live in peace with Israel.
Some people here and in Israel suggest that the loan guarantees are solely humanitarian and that we ought not to make them political. But I would argue that it is the settlements that have made this issue political and that in any event peace is also a humanitarian goal. The new immigrants and indeed all Israelis deserve and need peace—real peace along the lines I described in Madrid—if Israel and its people are to thrive. What makes this all so critical is the fact that we finally have a peace process worthy of the name. Nothing should be allowed to jeopardize its prospects; and let me add that we do now have a peace process that was put together in very large part on Israel’s terms. For over 40 years Israel has wanted to sit in face-to-face negotiations with its Arab neighbors. We have produced just that. The Arabs know full well that we cannot and will not impose our preferences on Israel. Nor will we link aid vital to Israel’s security to policy questions. Our fundamental commitment to Israel is just that—fundamental. Please know this, for it comes from the heart as well as the head.
I hope the guarantee question can still be worked out. I recently proposed a compromise that would enable Israel to receive the full $10 billion. The only part reported in the press was $300 million up front. This proposal was rejected by certain key senators. I still would like this matter resolved. Quite frankly, it will depend upon the priorities of those in Israel’s government. But whatever happens, it is essential that this issue not be allowed to weaken, much less cast doubt upon, the core relationship between the United States and Israel. No one should permit disagreement over this or some other policy to affect the foundation of a relationship that has served both countries well for nearly half a century. I for one will do my part to make sure it does not.
George, it is in all candor that I tell you I write this response to your letter with more than a little frustration. I know there is a tendency to add up all the areas where we and Israel have disagreed over the past three years and assume that it represents a trend and a departure from the past. I do not want to raise up all the disputes from previous decades, although I would point out that the past was not always quite the golden age that some remember it to be. Rather, I would prefer to remind people of what we did on Ethiopian and Soviet Jewry, on repealing Zionism is Racism, on defeating aggression during the Gulf War, on convening Madrid and Moscow and the bilateral and multilateral talks to follow. My guess is that historians will look at today’s controversy and wonder what much of the fuss was about. There have been and are important differences between our two countries, but no less important are the many examples of cooperation. With so much at stake, we cannot afford to lose perspective.
I have come to believe that the measure of a good relationship is not the ability to agree, but rather the ability to disagree on specifics without placing fundamentals at risk. We do this all the time with Britain: we should manage to do it with Israel. Without assigning responsibility or blame, let me simply say that I am certain that we in the Administration can and need to do better at making this relationship succeed. I will do all that I can to see that the current strains do not grow worse but to the contrary are put behind us, so we can begin to restore with Israel the sort of relationship that you and I both seek.
Thank you again for writing. As always, I appreciate your counsel and value our friendship.
Sincerely,
George Bush
[When Yitzhak Rabin became prime minister, we worked out our differences and Israel received the loan.]
March 30, 1992
Dear Trammell,9
In Lord Tennyson’s work that you sent me—excerpted from Ulysses, the bottom line says it all:
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
These are not the easiest of times, but I am more determined than ever to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
We have much to be grateful for in America; and yet all we hear in the news media is gloom, doom, and dreary pessimism. This will change as the economy comes out of the doldrums.
It is a crazy political year. And it is ugly, too; but this will pass when the election is over if not sooner.
I cannot read the opposition, nor do I spend much time trying. I am trying to move Congress to pass my education, crime, tort reform legislation and more; and I will keep on trying.
One thing, Trammell, that remains very, very clear in my mind is that I am fortunate to have a great strong family and many friends—what a difference that makes.
Love to Margaret.
Most Sincerely,
George
I had an interesting lunch with Howard Baker and McClure.10 They are both very concerned about Ross Perot,11 but I told them that in three months, he will not be a worry anymore. Perot will be defined, seen as a weirdo, and we shouldn’t be concerned with him. They both said, “Well, we hope you’re right but we don’t agree with you.” My view is that when he begins to get defined, either by his opponents or by the press, people are going to see him as strange. Yes, they want change, but they don’t want to turn the country over to an eccentric billionaire. Their view is that the move for change is so much outside, that outsiders are in and insiders are out; and that Perot can take his money and parlay himself into victory or into a serious threat. We need to be very wary of this, but time will tell.
April 1st
The economic news for the first time seems universally upbeat. The confidence reports come out and they show major increases in confidence, which is something we’ve been waiting for a long, long time. I think it’s a little early to say our woes are over—way too early—but this turn in the economy, plus a decision on the Democratic side,12 makes me feel that we might be seeing a real light at the end of this tunnel. . . .
April 8th
It’s a good day. Fed drops the [interest] rates one quarter, and Noriega goes to prison for 120 years. . . . It’s big, big news and sends a strong message to indicted drug dealers.
Panama is doing much better. They are growing at 9%; Democracy is there; American lives were protected; and one of the results was that this drug warlord was brought to trial and is going to pay a price. . . .
The Honorable Bill Goodling
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Bill,
Thanks for your letter. It is not my intention to recklessly “bash” the Congress. . . . I hope you agree that real reform is needed—not “perk” reform but real reform. Harry Truman did a pretty good job of running against the entrenched leadership in Congress when things were far less fundamentally fouled up.
I think just one two-year period of Republican control would shake up the ingrained bureaucracy and effect real change.
Thanks, my friend, for checking in.
Sincerely,
George Bush
We were in the middle of trying to decide whether I should attend the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June. Even though we knew the agenda would be liberal, I felt I should go and eventually did. I received a taped message, “Go to Brazil,” from Olivia Newton-John and a group of other Hollywood celebrities.
April 16, 1992
Ms. Olivia Newton-John
Malibu, California 90265
Dear Olivia,
That tape was super. The voices compelling, the message clear.
A final decision will be made very soon. This is a very rough and ugly year as I am sure you know. I hope you will look over the attached pamphlet. I hope it conveys to you my fundamental and total commitment to sound environmental policy.
I think everyone understands that there is a lot of economic hurt in our country today. People without jobs are hurting and those with jobs often wonder if they will have those jobs tomorrow. We must consider not only the critical environmental needs, but also the economic needs of so many American families. I am confident that both needs can be met—they must be met.
Thanks for that tape, made obviously with caring and love.
Now—will you please thank John Forsythe, Jane Seymour and Dennis Weaver, Cher, the Ekharts, those little kids—Tracy, Katlin, Chloe and the rest, my admired friends Joel Grey and Tony Danza, John Ritter, Rita Coolidge, all the rest and of course your sister Rona, whom I so enjoyed meeting.
We will have that personal meeting—soon I hope. In the meantime, your Taped Message made an impact—honest!
Most Sincerely
George Bush
April 23, 1992
Sam [Skinner]:13
Given the latest Devroyism14 please ask that our fundraising techniques be reviewed. This article read like ‘influence peddling’ and I am disturbed by that. I hope the campaign is not going the hard ball route and are not resorting to gimmicks that cheapen the Presidency.
GB
PS Her story related to NRCC15 but let’s check anyway
April 26, 1992
Sunday (The 26th day of a nice month but in an ugly year)
Dear Peggy [Noonan],
I agree on Clinton he’s got more facts—he’s better at facts-figures than I am. I’m better at life. He’s a nice guy; and I’ve always gotten along fine with him.
Glad you’re coming here.
We need you—
Con Afecto (that’s Spanish),
GB
I wrote this note to my good friend Dick Jackman, who for years worked for Sun Oil in Philadelphia. He’s a great public speaker, especially well known for his humor.
April 27, 92
Dear Dick,
. . . The last 5-6 months have been trying and downright ugly. The press have been awful and the campaigns have all gone after me with a vengeance. That’s the bad news.
The good news is the economy is turning around and that will help a lot. I will continue to focus on doing my job. I will stay out of the junk-yard dog attack business.
After the process is further along I will have to take on Clinton and who knows, even Ross Perot. I’ve known Ross a long time—a kind of take-my-marbles-and-go home kind of guy if it doesn’t go his way.
Thanks, Dick for that wonderful letter of friendship & support
Your friend,
George Bush
May 11, 1992
Mr. John F. Welch, Jr., Chairman & CEO
General Electric Company
Fairfield, Connecticut
Dear Jack,
Bob Mosbacher told me that you had agreed to help with the coalition of business people—great!! So many thanks. These are weird and ugly political times; but I do have the feeling the heretofore sluggish economy is beginning to stir. That will help. I will concentrate on this job, then be ready to fight the political wars. It’s no fun, but having you at my side makes it one hell of a lot better.
Warm Regards,
George
May 17th
It’s Sunday, and I’m flying back from South Bend, Indiana to Washington. The weekends are wiped out and I get tired. In Houston I got to run on Friday, Saturday and this morning at 6:30 a.m., running a little over two miles each time on the outdoor track at the Houstonian. That really helps. Running in that hot weather loosens up the old joints and I feel pretty good. . . .
We had a lovely dinner at the Kerrs. It was really fun with the Liedtkes, Brucie Ashman, Daphne Murray, Bessie Liedtke and the Nebletts right in our old neighborhood. It seemed so quiet, so normal and so nice. The kids and their kids, and their neighborhood kids with their little kids were out to greet us. The Vanderhofs even came over, which was nice. My mind went back to the wonderful games that we had in the area and the time that Jeb hit a home run through the Vanderhof girls’ window. Barbara was furious and I was thrilled because it was a second story window. It was a powerful, towering hit by our little left-hander, so it was nostalgic. We talked about the old days. Nobody got too far into the problems we face in Washington these days. . . .
In my speech at Notre Dame today, I talked about family values. I followed the Valedictorian, who was a rather skinny and plain girl who made a pitch for more understanding about gays and lesbians. She got booed a little and, frankly, she talked longer than I did. She is a 4.0 student but one of those people that felt since the President is present, here’s a chance to give him a little lecture. She got some cheering from the crowd. I thought she went on too darn long and should have resisted getting her own social agenda out there, like “Stop bragging about victory in the Cold War,” she says. If Jerry Brown fails, they ought to get this girl right into the act—or maybe she can help out Patricia Ireland.16 It was sad and predictable. Some of it you can explain by youthful zealousness, but she came on awfully strong and awfully long—too bad.
Anyway, nobody seemed to give a damn, and I got a very warm reception from the students when I walked in, which made me feel good . . .
May 18th
I can hardly believe the television coverage on Notre Dame. Barbara asked me if I was badly received—she having watched CNN last night. I said, no, everybody thought I was well received. Then I watched the morning news and the networks all picked up on it. . . . The skinny valedictorian got all the coverage on the television and it barely touched on what I had to say . . . No mention of the standing ovation and the general warmth of the crowd. Now I’m wondering what we are up against. . . .
George Bell, who was from Philadelphia, was one of my oldest friends given that our parents were good friends. He was dying of cancer.
May 18, 1992
Dear George,
Ever since I talked to Bertie and then you last week my thoughts have strayed from our nation’s business. I’ll be working on some problem, and suddenly my mind will shift; and I’ll find myself wondering if you’re hurting, how all the tests are going, who’s there with you, and on it goes.
I wish I could be there—better still I wish I could help. I wish I knew just exactly what to do to make you feel better.
I know you are very sick; and I also know you are a tough courageous guy. If there’s a way to whip it, you’ll find that way.
I am President of the United States and at 67 (oops almost 68) I’ve seen a lot, experienced a lot; but one thing is very very clear to me—Friendships really count. They really matter. I treasure ours. I always have, I always will. It’s not just that you were a good sport when we did in you and Shepley for $100 way back then on the Prout’s17 tennis court. Nor is it that we go so far back that I can clearly remember your Dad and mine teasing and kidding each other when we were little kids. No it’s just plain—we’re friends; and when all is said and done that is very important to me. And there’s one other thing. I want you to know it.
I love you very much—my friend
George Bush
May 19th
The lawn looks greener than ever. The tragedy is that my three little ducklings were killed by the crows. On the first day, they got one of them; and then yesterday, the mother and the father flew away to get food and when they came back, the ducklings had been killed by the crows. I now see the male Mallard down there on the pond. It’s funny how one can’t get a little incident like this out of one’s mind. But it’s nature. The crows are mean. They start yelling at the dogs all the time and my feeling is to blast them, but I guess we can’t do that. The dogs love bouncing through the ivy—that’s where the dead birds fall. They come out dragging dead birds—horrible looking carcasses—but they love to hunt in there. They even go to the bathroom right in the middle of the ivy—no problem.
I keep thinking of George Bell, my dear friend who is dying of liver and pancreatic cancer, and it’s just too much. It makes you very fatalistic.
There is a crow sitting on top of a lonely pine—a small pine right out on the knoll leading down to the road, leading down to the pond. The crow is sitting all alone up there—an easy shot . . .
Mr. Earle M. Craig, Jr.
Midland, Texas 79702-1351
Dear Earle:
I received your fax, written from the heart.
These are very difficult days. Ross Perot is on a rocket, saying nothing, criticizing me and tapping into the anti-incumbent, anti-Washington theme.
I do not share your view about the campaign; though I do think we have to tighten up the coordination between the staff here and the campaign. Steps have already been taken to do that.18
The Economy is recovering and eventually that will help a lot.
A statistic—the economy grew at 2.4 percent in the first quarter and, yet, according to polls, 70 percent of the people still think it is getting worse. There is a lag that will be corrected and the correction will help us.
Keep the suggestions coming, old friend. Love to you and Dottie.
Sincerely
George
June 6, 1992
To: Bob Teeter/ Sam Skinner
A reminder:
We must figure out how to get out in front of the DEBATE question. The debate commission is moving. The nets are moving. Every goo-goo group is moving; and I just want to be sure I’m not put in a losing position. I am not sure what we should be doing.
Maybe we should say. “Yes, I’ll debate Clinton once on domestic and once on Foreign” and we’ll [deal] with Perot after he becomes a candidate.
Maybe we should say “If Clinton and Perot decide to do a lot of debates, fine let ‘em go forward without me.”
There are many other formulations.
All Yours!
George
A big debate in the campaign is, how many television shows to do. I want to respect the office of the President, keep its dignity; but the networks are blocking out our television press conference. We may have no other choice but to do the new fad, which is the call-in shows or the network morning news. On Larry King—I told Larry I’d like to do his show, but we’ve got to do it all with a certain sense of dignity, a certain sense of propriety. I don’t want to get caught up, obviously, with Phil Donahue and these sensationalistic, left-handed Mary’s-lost-her-cousin kind of shows. . . .19
June 10th
Our new ducks are here and we put a cage in the pond to keep the crows from attacking them. They are doing very well today. The mother had the ducks over by the swimming pool and they walked down, leading a little procession all the way down to the pond. Then they jumped in. I went down and looked at them in the morning and then asked the groundskeeper to do something to make sure the crows don’t get them. They are very special. . . .
I read a wonderful column in the Times of London where the writer said America is still the country where everyone else wants to live. “From recent headlines one would imagine a country teetering towards the apocalypse,” he wrote in bewilderment.
June 11, 1992
Mr. Charles Bremner
c/o Times of London
ENGLAND
Dear Charles,
As I fly to Rio [de Janeiro] in controversy, I am going through a huge stack of papers. Now, this minute, I’ve stopped; because in that stack was your column about the USA.
I commend you for putting our great country into proper perspective.
I hope that soon the nonsense—writers, the political pundits, and, yes, the candidates will understand that you have the right feel for the USA—“not sinking backwards” “forging ahead” “taking the good with the bad”.
Obviously, after your time here, you understand us. I hope your life over there is full of new challenges and happiness, too.
Sincerely,
George Bush
Doro and Bobby Koch were married at our little chapel at Camp David on June 27. It was a happy family celebration.
June 28th
I pick Doro up in a golf cart with flowers on it and it looked real cute. She looked beautiful. She stopped, as we walked into the church, and cried and turned around and said, “I’ll be all right.” And then she got up to the altar and Ellie was on her left and Bobby was on her right—and then Sam. The kids got a little reckless, but it was a wonderful service. Sam and Ellie turned and whispered, “Mother is crying”—but it all worked out well, and they went off. Bobby called in thoughtfully from the hotel at Dulles just to be sure we had their place and their schedule.20 . . .
July 8th
We’re heading for Finland.21 It’s 9:30 and bright daylight. There are tons of lakes, and we’re about to land. We’ve got some transportation: the phones work; everything is on time; helicopters; great big 747’s; beautiful room in front; I’m President of the United States and am treated with great deference.
And yet, I have this marvelous feeling that no matter what lies over the horizon, it will be good. I think I’ll win—I’m convinced I’ll win. But this little creeping thought comes to mind—if I don’t win, I’ll be a very happy guy. I’ll be opening the beans and the franks—the beans and the brown bread Sunday nights. I’ll be washing the dishes with Bar. I’ll be going to bed early every once in awhile; do something to help someone else; hold my grandchildren in my arms; look for the shellfish; take them fishing. If I make any money, I might say to Noelle, “Let’s fly to Helsinki. Let me show you what it’s like half way around the world.”
I’ll watch Ellie grow up. I’ll hold Pierce and Lauren and Ashley. I’ll make it up to Neil. I’ll spend time up at Texas A&M22 teaching, maybe; but just blending in; growing old with grace and kindness; and truly count my blessings. And then every once in awhile, some big shot will come in—some officeholder, some King, some Prince, some Prime Minister, and some President, and they’ll say, “I’d like to see old George Bush.”
I’ll invite them to our little house and we’ll have no press corps, no following, no frantic statements, and we’ll look back together and say these were interesting times. And then at night, I’ll say that I did my very best, tried my hardest, kept it honest; and put something back into the system.
July 21, 1992
The Honorable Hugh Gregg
Nashua, New Hampshire 03062
Dear Hugh,
No, no your ‘impertinence’ is not boundless, you’re checking in is helpful—a reality check, if you will.
I don’t agree on all points. We must make the American people understand why the good proposals I have made have not been passed. Read [David] McCullough’s new book on Truman, and read how Harry put it in perspective.
Since your memo was written, Clinton-Gore23 have gone into orbit. They have been hyper critical of me. I have been relatively silent. This has got to change. I recognize the danger of the “Blame Syndrome”, however.
Hugh, I’m rushing off to yet another event, but I have digested your letter and, believe me, it did not offend.
Love to all Greggs,
George
My friend Bill Clark, former head of the NSC and deputy secretary of state in the Reagan administration, wrote a note saying he did not think we were doing enough to solve the growing ethnic violence in the Balkans. As a result, he said he could no longer support me.
The Honorable William P. Clark
Paso Robles, California 93446
Dear Bill,
I received your personal letter of July 15 and needless to say I’m terribly disappointed. We’re trying very hard to have a constructive policy in that troubled area of the world. Neither the Serbs nor the Croatians are without blame when it comes to the killing. Although clearly we put the major share of the blame on Milosevic.24
When I was abroad I had a brief meeting with Tudjman25 and a meeting with the Bosnian President. We’re terribly troubled by all of this and without throwing a lot of American troops into the fray, we’re trying to bring about peace in the area. It is not easy and I would welcome your suggestions as to how the policy should be changed.
I do understand the depth of your feeling and Bill, you’ve got to know that I respect not only your frankness but the warm, personal words.26 I am engaged in a very tough battle for re-election. At this moment, we are way behind in the polls, but I have a quiet confidence that I will win. Obviously, I regret your decision and some day I hope you will be back at my side in the political wars.
My warmest best wishes to Joan. You have indeed been my friend and I hope that that will continue.
Most sincerely,
George
As we headed toward the fall campaign, I became concerned that we needed to shore up the White House staff for the tough battle ahead. I turned to an old friend. Jim Baker took a leave of absence as secretary of state and became White House chief of staff and senior counselor to the President.
8-13-92
Jim—
As I listened to that thunderous applause at State just now,27 I realized just how much you are giving up to come here. I am so very grateful.
Get some rest. I’m glad we will be side by side in the battle ahead—
Your Friend,
George
The Convention has come and gone. It’s been the darndest rollercoaster ride I’ve ever seen, but we apparently got a good bounce out of the Convention. I checked the morning paper and it says we’re 2 points back which is statistically an even race. I don’t believe it at all, but everyone thinks things have turned. . . .
The Gulfport, Mississippi, rally was magnificently upbeat. People were waiting for two to three hours in the hot, hot sun and it was entirely different, and a more upbeat spirit then before the Convention. They all talked about it, and the signs reflected it. . . .
There was a tremendous rally in Branson, Missouri: Mo Bandy and Loretta Lynn and others. There were literally 15,000 people out there and I would have said even more. There were signs as far as you could see. The chant that is catching on is: “Clean the House.”28 The crowd has been doing it—not me. . . .
September 3rd
Tonight Bar came home. She had been down in Florida and she had been campaigning with Gerald McRaney, Major Dad of television fame. She said he was absolutely fantastic. He stepped right in and defended me and doing this out of his own kindness and his own belief. She said he was wonderful.
I went for a run on the White House grounds, analyzing the Teeter poll results which were most discouraging, and then called Bar up and she came down and we walked around the front grounds. Our ducks were all gone, so we came up, sat on the porch, and had a nice drink before dinner, hoping the ducks would come back in. But nothing happened other than a little softball action across the fence towards the monument. It’s peaceful, quiet, and the weather was perfect . . .
I found my mind drifting off—what happens if we should not make it? . . . I guess I’d have to say that I would have failed. Then I said to myself, it’s not going to happen. I’m a better person, better qualified, and better character to be President, despite some shortcomings that I may have and there are plenty of them . . .
Everything is ugly and everything is nasty. But we are a family, and I have a certain inner quiet peace, which I’m not sure I’ve ever had in a situation like this. . . .
September 12, 1992
To: JAB III
I note that we are to do some ‘filming’ at Camp David.
I have been very careful about using Camp David in any way for publicity. I have done a broadcast from up here. If, indeed, we need to do some family shooting here we must be sure that we don’t shoot in any way to call attention to Camp David itself.
Also please see that no one comes up here unless absolutely essential to the project. It is our oasis and I really want to keep it that way.
Thanks
GB
September 13th
I feel much more of a frustration. I guess I’m a little tired, but I’m also frustrated by the press treatment about the distortion of who I am. The record is one thing, but when they distort your character and try to make you ugly—that’s a little too much. But you can’t feel sorry, you just have to take the message out, keep plugging away, keep working, working hard, and that’s what I’m doing and that’s what I’ll continue to do. Sunday the 13th—52 more days? I can make it; I can out hustle Clinton; out work him; out jog him; out think him; out campaign him; and we’ll win. But it’s an ugly spot in the road right now. . . .
Sept 16. 1992
Rep. Solarz29
Dear Steve—
I’ve lost a couple of elections in the past and it hurts. I know that. I just want you to know that I will never forget and always be grateful for your leadership on Desert Storm.
Perhaps, as the voters went to the polls up there, they’ve forgotten your courage on all that. I never will.
Good luck in what I’m sure will be a bright & challenging future.
Most sincerely,
George Bush
9-18-92
Sen. Robert Byrd
Dear Robert,
These are ugly, confrontational times; but I’m darned if I’m going to let them ruin relationships. I want to thank you for sitting down so constructively with Dick Darman. I look forward to post-election days when we can all really try to cooperate and get things done.
These ugly times have not diminished my respect for you nor Barbara’s and my friendship for you and Erma.
Sincerely,
George
October 12th
The day after the first debate. The bottom line is that after the debate our team, I think, genuinely felt we had won or certainly had not lost, and that Perot would emerge as the big winner with his homilies and that Clinton had lost.
And then I pick up the papers in the morning and they say that I had come in third. . . .
The only joy is that if we should lose, there’s great happiness over the horizon, but it will be a very painful process—not for losing but letting people down and being vilified for three more months. The big thing is to conduct myself with decency and with honor. So now we go back to the drawing board dictating this at 5:45 a.m. in St. Louis. I start off now to Pennsylvania and then to Michigan and the hill out there is steep to climb. You’ve got to keep the spirits up for the people around us, got to keep working extra hard, and damn sure can’t let this news get everyone down. But what was joy last night is now a somber assessment this morning. . . .
This is all extraordinarily tough on Barbara. She is still wildly popular and gets a wonderful response, but I can tell she is hurting for me. She refuses to watch the television; refuses to read the papers; and she tells me to turn it off when I turn it on because it is always hammering away at me.
The White House staff are wonderful, so sympathetic, so encouraging, so smiling, and so are the boys on Air Force One. I think they really ache for us during this difficult period. I still have this sense of confidence that we’re going to win, but I must say it has been bruised and jarred. . . .
October 16th
Colin Powell calls. I mentioned him last night as a possible candidate for President of the United States when they asked me about black leaders, and I saluted him. So he called and thanked me for that and said his relatives were calling from all over. . . .
He said he knew it was the ugliest period for us and didn’t know how we could get through it, etc.; but I said, “Well, let’s have a drink afterward.”
October 20th
Musings from the train: the beauty of this part of South Carolina as we go into North Carolina is something to behold. The leaves are muted with tans and yellows but still plenty of greens. There are no bright reds like up in New England but there are copper tones, muted soft beautiful tones.
We stopped at the Waffle House this morning, symbolic perhaps, and sit next to two guys one of whom is working hard—a tree pruner, a bearded fellow—and he asks me about health care. He’s got a 2 year old that has cystic fibrosis and he said, “I’m going to vote for you because I like your faith in God.” He said I noticed that you called on God at the end of your speech last night. I thanked him for that. The guy on my left was kind of a small slight looking fellow who works the night shift at Piggly Wiggly, and his girlfriend, Vickie, works the night shift at the Waffle House. His dad has cirrhosis and they help him out as best they can. He’s working hard and feels that life is not particularly fair; but he could not have been more pleasant. I loved his grassroots homilies, and after we were about to leave, some little girl came up with a bunch of funny jokes. Her mother was a waitress at the Waffle House, a tired looking aging blonde waitress—very nice—and she says, “What’s your name? I said, “George Bush,” and she says, “Spell it.” So I said “B-U-S-H,” and she says, “no, no it’s wrong. . . . I told you to spell it I-T.”
She had about six other knee slappers like that and it was a relaxed fun few minutes.
Betty Liedtke died. It’s now Thursday and I’m in yet another hotel—this one next to the Meadowlands—finishing three rallies today in New Jersey and waiting for a “Ask George Bush” session. And I called Hugh and he sounded composed and said the service is on Saturday. There goes another close friend—one that we love very, very much. I’d love to go to the service, drop everything and do it, but it’s pretty hard to do. Barbara may go. My mind goes back to the wonderful times we had—her fantastic humor, her teasing us . . .
There was the time I got mad at Christmas time and broke one of the children’s toys—one of the things you blow, the roller goes out like the birthday blower thing—anyway, I got mad at George and told him to stop doing it—no, it was one of those flutes that you pull the handle in and out and it makes a lot of noise. So I broke his flute and then for about three days at the office I’d pick up the telephone and there would be that flute sound and I’d hang up and it would be Betty Liedtke. She had a wonderful sense of humor. She was a great and loving mother, a true and loyal friend, and Hugh is going to be desperately lonely. And here I am caught up in this race and I just hope I can be there at this funeral . . .
October 23rd
We’re still trying to work it out to go to Betty Liedtke’s funeral. Jim Baker was saying, “Well, can’t Barbara do it?” And I’m saying, “No, this is our friend and it matters and it counts,” so we’re moving the whole schedule around. . . .
[I attended the funeral.]
October 29th
It’s now Thursday morning and we’re in Detroit, I think. Yesterday was an exciting day. We got the report that two polls had closed—CNN and I believe an ABC poll—to 2 points. People were running back and forth on the plane. The rallies had a new zip and life to them. Bruce Willis was with us and he is amazed at the progress. He’s very popular—a little earring in his left ear—an attractive guy that called me out of the clear blue sky and wants to help and here he is.
This is the last day of campaigning in my entire life—the last full day of campaigning for myself for my entire life—and I think back to the days in East Texas with 2 or 3 people in the crowd and Bar and I pressed on across that enormous state back in 1964 with the polls showing us decimated and sure enough we were wiped out. . . .
I gave the same stump speech. My voice beginning to show signs of strain at the end. We have 4 or 5 more rallies to go. It’s a joy having George with us—feisty fighter and campaigner if there ever was one—and he and Jim Baker sit up with me in my office on Air Force One and we talk about the pollsters and we talk about baseball commissioner, and how the job has changed, and we talk about the last hurrah, the last campaign forever. We told jokes: “Scrub it with a stiff brush and keep it clean.” We even talked about who should be Chief of Staff in the White house after Jim Baker finishes his job, a job that I think will take 120 days.
. . . Marlin is fantastic and so is Brent. Brent is getting a little militant, thinking I ought to attack the press more. He knows this Iran stuff is an outrage, after all, he was on the Tower Commission [that investigated Iran-Contra] and he knows we’re getting screwed on Iran-Contra. He knows the truth and the facts and he sees it as just an outrageous political ploy driven by the press.30 . . .
The Oak Ridge Boys came into my little office on the plane and sang some gospel songs and just a handful of us were there. I sat on the chair opposite my desk and Mary Matalin31 sat on the window sill and the Oaks were on the couch. Almost all of us had tears in our eyes when they sang “Amazing Grace”—so moving, so close, so warm, so strong—and I thought of Dad and I told George, “Boy, would my father ever have loved to have been here hearing these guys sing.”
. . . I’ve given it my best shot, I’ve run the extra course, and George and Jeb say, “Dad, you’ve run a great campaign—there’s nothing more you can do.” And I’m grateful to them. They are the ones who have done so much work, taken so much flak on behalf of their father. They are the ones, all of them, who have lifted me and given me strength.
Barbara, of course, is slamming away out on the trail right now—I’m sure the hero of the hour wherever she goes—magnificent. . . .
November 4th
It’s 12:15 in the morning, November 4th. The election is over—it’s come and gone. It’s hard to describe the emotions of something like this.
. . . But it’s hurt, hurt, hurt and I guess it’s the pride, too. . . . On a competitive basis, I don’t like to see the pollsters right at the end; I don’t like to see the pundits right; I don’t like to see all of those who have written me off right. I was absolutely convinced we would prove them wrong but I was wrong and they were right and that hurts a lot.
I think of our country and the people who are hurting and there is so much we didn’t do. There are so many places we tried, and yes, we made progress. But no, the job is not finished and that kills me. . . .
Now into bed, prepared to face tomorrow: Be strong, be kind, be generous of spirit, be understanding and let people know how grateful you are. Don’t get even. Comfort the ones I’ve hurt and let down. Say your prayers and ask for God’s understanding and strength. Finish with a smile and some gusto, and do what’s right and finish strong.
Of course it is impossible not to wonder why. Part of that was answered by an unusual letter from Nestle Frobish, who said my comment “Being called dishonest by Bill Clinton is like being called ugly by a frog” was my undoing.
Nov. 4, 1992
Mr. Nestle J. Frobish
Worldwide Fairplay for Frogs Committee
Lyndonville, Vermont 05851
Dear Chairman Frobish,
You were right. It was the frog lover vote that did me in.
I’m the kind of guy who admits his mistakes. I apologize to all members of the Worldwide Fairplay for Frogs Committee. From now on as a private citizen I will croak out this message “Frogs are beautiful”! Keep on hopping—
George Bush
Dear Dick [Nixon],
The dust has begun to settle. It hurts still, but we Bushes will do fine.
I just want to thank you for the Tom Dewey letter and, of course, for your kind words.
I want to finish the course with no rancor, not blaming of others. Then Barbara and I will go back to Houston. We will try to be helpful and constructive citizens in our great community there.
As I contemplate private life the way in which one Richard Nixon has conducted himself in his post President private life will serve as a fine example of how to do it.
My respects always to you and Pat.
Most Sincerely,
George
November 10, 1992
Ms. Anne Fisher Williams
Thomasville, North Carolina 27360
Dear Ms. Williams:
Thank you for your letter and the news article that you enclosed, which just reached my desk. I was saddened to learn of your loss and extend my sincere condolences to you and your family.
I regret that our train trip last month interrupted your father’s funeral procession. However, I was heartened to read that the incident helped to ease somewhat the tension of that solemn occasion. You’re right; the Lord does work in mysterious ways. I know that He will keep you and your family strong in the days and weeks ahead.
Barbara joins me in sending warm wishes to you and yours. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
George Bush
11-10-92
Dear Deke32—
I loved your letter.
Don’t worry about me; for you see I learned a lot about life’s ups and downs from you—years ago!
I hate not to finish the job; but we’ve done some good things.
Thanks for giving a damn about this old friend of yours who will always be grateful to you—
George
November 10th
Bob Dole had called and asked me to come to a Senate Dinner. It’s an annual event and the President goes with all the Republican Senators. . . .
I dreaded going but then Bob made it fantastic. He choked up, he showed a warm side that many didn’t feel he ever had. He was so generous in his comments and so thoughtful, and I thought to myself, “Here we are, a guy who I fought bitterly with in the New Hampshire primary, and now I salute him as a true leader, a wonderful leader, a guy who bent over backwards to do what the President wanted.” I tried to say that in my remarks. They were unscripted, from the heart and I’m not sure they came through.
. . . I want to go to the Vietnam Memorial and read some names, but it would appear as show business, it would be seen as sticking it in Clinton’s ear.33 But maybe we can do it. Maybe I can get the agents up, go read a handful of names to participate, tell who’s ever doing it on the around-the-clock basis that we don’t want to be show business but we wanted to participate, do it without the media.
I’m thinking of it as I’m walking past the fountain. Maybe I should wake up Barbara and we should do it. There’s not much time left to say what is in my heart but one thing I care about is Vietnam.
The fountain is beautiful and the light on the middle spout makes it stand out in a spectacular way. The other eight little fountains supplement the beauty of the middle one and I think of our ducks. I look out across at the Jefferson, at its stoic beauty. There is the tennis court where we’ve had so much fun, so many challenges, so many dog-eat-dog matches, and around the corner is the obscured horseshoe pit. The joy I’ve gotten from seeing the groundskeepers and the ushers and the electricians battling in the tournaments knows no bounds.
I walk around the [circle drive] and I decide to go to the Vietnam Memorial. I don’t want any press but the Secret Service sends a guy over and there are about 20 or 30 people there. It’s the 10th Anniversary [of the wall] and tomorrow’s Veteran’s Day and I want to read some names. It’s going to be emotional, I think. Barbara has indicated that she wants to go so I wake her up although she was sound asleep. It’s now 11:35 and the agents call and say, “There are only a handful of people there,” so off we go.
November 18, 1992
Dear Trammell [Crow],
Now, for sure, I feel welcome back to the world. It was your wonderful letter that did the trick.
Thank you so very much for your most generous offer.34 It is something that Barbara and I would very much like to do at some time. It is a little early to pin down details, though. The main thing is that your offer has been a wonderful tonic. Just thinking about what you have suggested does the job.
Yesterday we decided to build a small town house on our little lot in Houston. We plan to spend 50% of our time there and 50% in Maine. I haven’t even begun to sort out what I will do, but the future looks exciting. The disappointment about not finishing the job here is beginning to subside.
I certainly will not be actively involved in any more politics; but one thing is for sure—I will always be grateful to you and yours who have been at my side for so long.
My Love to Margaret and, again, my profound thanks to you.
George
November 18th
It’s now the evening of the 18th and my visit with Clinton has come and gone.
It went well. He’s very friendly, very respectful and asked my advice on certain things. . . .
We talked about Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia, etc., and the difficulties he might anticipate there. I told him that I thought that was most likely to be the prime trouble spot. . . .
He was grateful and I took him to see the White House second and third floors, and Barbara coming out with her hair almost in curlers, to say hi. His reaction to the White House was “wow” . . . Gary Walters35 was there and went on the tour with us. I introduced him to some of the people that were there in the house, some of the maids, etc. . . .
I told him walking out, “Bill, I want to tell you something. When I leave here, you’re going to have no trouble from me. The campaign is over, it was tough and I’m out of here. I will do nothing to complicate your work and I just want you to know that.” And he was quite appreciative and I’ve got to try to do just that.36
Nov. 19, 1992
The Right Honorable John Major, M.P.
Prime Minister
London
Dear John,
I saw your kind comments made at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet on Nov. 16th.
You are a loyal friend—a true and generous friend—
Yesterday Bill Clinton told me of his talk with you on the phone. He said, “You know I already have great respect for John Major, for in our phone conversation he told me up front of his wonderful personal relationship with you—I respect that”.
Nice words by our new President. Now many thanks again from our old President.
Love to Norma.
George
November 19th
I go up to see Mother this morning, Doro and I. There is no way to really describe the emotions I felt. Her breathing was difficult. She lay on a pillow, tiny, fighting hard for every breath . . . Doro and I sat next to her bed sobbing. Her little frayed Bible, her old one was there, and I looked in it and there were some notes that I had written her from Andover . . .
The memories of her teaching me about life, memories of her sweetness and her leading by example, the strength of her faith, her great capacity for love and kindness . . .
I feel drained even now hours later . . . I’m so glad I didn’t take Marvin—he wanted to go but couldn’t—because the bawl patrol37 would have consisted of three and then we might not have been able to recover. . . .
Mother died tonight at 5:05. . . .
“Mum, I hope you know how much we all love you and care.” Tonight she is at rest in God’s loving arms and with Dad.
Sig Rogich, who had worked with me in the White House as special assistant to the President for public events and initiatives before I named him ambassador to Iceland, had a reputation around the White House for being a natty dresser.
November 22, 1992
Dear Sig,
I am sitting up here at Camp David looking to the future and counting my many blessings.
I am dressed in fall colors. I have on a brown sweater, a subtly checked shirting of muted greens and rusty reds and amber, too.
Bar said when I left Aspen Cottage just now “You look like Sig dressed you”. Then I thought, he did. But not just in amber and mauve. He dressed me by making me a better person—not just looking into the lens and not just making me a touch more real to others, but by watching and learning as he unfailingly supported me, by showing how humor can help in tough times—and by being just plain caring and being kind.
So, Sig, this is a thank you for all you’ve done for me; and it is a hope that our paths will cross in less troubled times away from the lens, surrounded only by love.
Many thanks, Sig. I’ll never forget.
George Bush
November 25th
I called Dana Carvey of Saturday Night Live38 a couple of nights ago and asked him to come to the White House for a farewell—he couldn’t believe it. He told me I’ve tried not to cross the line of fairness. I told him I didn’t think he had crossed the line although our boys are saying the guy is all out for Clinton and they asked, “Why are you thinking of doing this?” Anyway, I think it’ll be fun to get him to come to a meeting and say the President will be there and then have Dana Carvey walk in. It’s the kind of thing I like to do and I think everybody will get a kick out of it. . . .
Nov. 30, 1992
Dear John [Bush],
I have read and re-read your letter to me.
Since that letter came in, Mum left us. It’s kind of like our compass is spinning a little. Even when she was tired and failing she was our guide. I walked by the Bungalow39 a lot this long Thanksgiving weekend. I found myself choking up. Then I found myself smiling. The agents probably said to each other “The old guy’s finally lost it”. But I couldn’t help think of the happy things and the sad things, but always at the center was Mum, stable, loving, kind, generous, thinking of the other guy, interested, unfailingly kind, always kind. What an example she set for us all. What you wrote about her for her service was very special, and in a sense, said it all. Now we’ll spread out. We’ll go our ways more, but we should not fly apart like a centrifuge. I don’t think we will.
You and Jody did a lot of the loving care side of things for Mum. You were unfailing in seeing her, in calling her, in loving her. We never failed in that last category; but now I think I was pretty selfish in the “seeing” and even in the calling department. Bottom line—you both were terrific.
. . . I will always be grateful for your loyal advocacy. I am adjusting to the realities. We are building a little house. We are planning for the future. I am beginning to see the bright side of things. I will always regret not finishing the course. I recall the Kenyan runner in the Olympics who limped across the finish line 45 minutes behind the leaders. He was hurting bad. “My country didn’t send me all this way to start the race. They sent me here to finish it”. I didn’t finish the course, and I will always regret that.
Today, though, I was having lunch with Speaker Foley, a decent man, and with my pal Sonny Montgomery and a couple of other Congressmen. In walks Tip O’Neill, a respected friend—a guy I really like. After saying “You ran a lousy campaign” (for which I thanked him) he said, “Don’t worry, you’ll leave this place with a lot of people loving you. You’re a good man. You’ve been a good President”. I’m used to political BS after all these years, but Tip meant it and that gave me some better perspective. I don’t know how history will treat us. Your letter carried a very generous assessment of that; but I do know I tried my hardest (Mum, are you listening). I also know I had more loyal support than anyone could ever dream about—and John you’re up there at the top of the list on that category. I also know the press were more hateful than I can ever recall in modern political times. I have to get over my “hating”. I also know it’s been worth the effort. We’ve done some things that will last and that are good for our great Country. I am rambling here, but I am, as I write, still trying to sort things out. I guess what I hate the most is the charge by the liberals in the media that I never stood for anything, that I didn’t care about people, that I was out of touch. I stood for a lot of things on issues (education, home ownership, points of light, less regulation, less taxes etc.—you generously cited many such things), but what I want to have people know I stood for were “Duty, Honor, Country” and yes, as Dad taught us, “service”. That’s not all bad.
Thanks my brother for lifting the spirits of this bowed but not beaten brother-president. I will always, ever more, be grateful for your loyalty and love.
Devotedly,
George
Although to some extent we had switched to a lower gear, the job of being President never stops. On December 4, I announced to the nation that the United States would lead a coalition to relieve starvation in war-torn Somalia. We sent in American troops, this time on a mission of peace and hope.
December 4, 1992
His Excellency Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Secretary General of the United Nations
New York
Dear Mr. Secretary General:
I want you to know how immensely pleased I am at the news of the passage of the UN resolution on Somalia. I also want to thank you for your tremendous hard work to achieve this unprecedented outcome. A dramatic step has been taken to address the appalling suffering of the Somali people. I want to assure you that the U.S. in accordance with the resolution will discharge the responsibilities which fall to it in a full and comprehensive manner. We will build a coalition and work closely with you under UN auspices.
As the United States prepares to deploy its own forces to Somalia to carry out yesterday’s UNSC resolution, I want to emphasize that the mission of the coalition is limited and specific: to create security conditions which will permit the feeding of the starving Somali people and allow the transfer of this security function to the UN peacekeeping force. The military objectives to accomplish this mission derive from the immediate obstacles to the relief effort: the need to secure ports, airports, and delivery routes, and to protect storage and distribution of humanitarian supplies and relief workers. I believe these objectives can, and should, be met in the near term. As soon as they are, the coalition force will depart from Somalia, transferring its security function to your UN peacekeeping force.
I want to conclude by expressing my continuing admiration for your leadership in this crisis and reiterating the U.S. commitment to working closely with the UN to build a secure and stable world.
Sincerely,
George Bush
December 7th
Dana Carvey is here and the young guy wonders why he is here. He and his wife are very nice and I told him I think it’s fun to poke fun at yourself, to accept that kind of good natured criticism with good humor, and besides that, our people will like it. I’ve arranged a little get together for a bunch of them this morning. We’re billing it as “the President wants to say a few words as the Christmas season begins.” But it’s really going to be Dana . . .40
December 8th
8:55 p.m. Our troops were suppose to land at 8:30 and sure enough there is a lot of television coverage in Somalia as they are landing. We’ll come in fine, we’ll do our job and we’ll leave. . . .
I told Bar at dinner tonight, “We’ve got to see these kids, we’ve got to go over there,” and I think I will.
[We did help end starvation in Somalia, but regrettably, after I left office, the mission changed into trying to bring the Somalian warlords to justice. It was classic mission creep. Several Army Rangers were killed and we saw two helicopter pilots dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. When the starvation was ended, we should have brought our troops home and let the U.N. peacekeeping force take over.]
Clinton has an economic summit, 300 some people in a big auditorium and they do a call-in show. . . . They are confused because the economy seems to be recovering pretty well. Clinton insists on calling it a recession or quote, “coming out of a recession.” . . .41
December 29th
We get a deal with Yeltsin on START II . . . I call Bill Clinton today to tell him we’ve got a deal and he’s very nice about it. He seems very pleased and also seemed pleased that I’m going to Somalia. I told him I might take some shots at the end of the Presidency for doing this, and he said, no, I think you’re doing the right thing. He couldn’t have been more accommodating. . . .
There was the inevitable finger-pointing when the campaign was over about “Whose fault was it?”—Ross Perot? The media? The campaign? I will always feel it was mine because I was unable to communicate to the American people that the economy was improving. My good and loyal friend Nick Brady felt many people were pointing the finger at him. I wrote him this note after receiving a letter from him:
12-30-92
The Honorable Nicholas F. Brady
Secretary of the Treasury
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20220
Dear Nick,
Your letter of Dec. 22 is with me here. I’ve read it carefully.
I agree that Treasury had a key role in some very worthwhile initiatives and in some rock solid accomplishments.
I am sure that you agree when I say we never got any credit in the media for any of the good things. . . . All good news was pooh-poohed and written down—bad economic news dominated the TV networks. It was the most vicious reporting I’ve ever seen.
I think we failed on some important things. You mention our fine financial reform proposals—for the most part (DOA) Dead on arrival—killed by a partisan congress.
Our Japan trip was productive but “throwing up” was the whole story.
The Budget compromise—that now infamous agreement would have been digested if the economy had vigorously recovered. It didn’t and I was the “Read my lips” liar—over & over & over again. I heard it—it killed us.
These are just a few observations stimulated by that good letter of yours—But Nick, we must not let friendship get tied up with Fed Funds Rates, credit crunches, Greenspan, Budget Deals, winners, losers, White House Vs Treasury—All of that is transient—all of it, as far as you & I go, is history.
Friendships don’t depend on policy agreement or disagreement. Good strong friendships, like ours, don’t depend on those things.
You were my friend before you got here—you still are. Everyone knows that. I sure do.
You have served with great distinction.
The economy was slow and lousy. I got the blame, so did you; but our friendship can’t whither because of that—
There’s too much life ahead, too much to do and to enjoy free from the pressures of the ugly press and the conniving politicians.
Let’s go!!
I am your friend—
George
I took one last trip abroad, to visit the troops in Somalia, and to sign the START II treaty in Moscow.
January 3rd
The Russian visit goes well. . . . The centerpiece of the visit was, of course, the signing of the START II Agreement. I think one of the crowning achievements of my Presidency will be the elimination of all these SS18 missiles42—getting rid of them entirely. I had long frank talks with Yeltsin at dinner and then riding out to the airport. He vows to stay with us on Bosnia. I told him I recognize there were so many big differences there, but I think it’s most important that America and Russia not drift apart on this. . . .43
Big Al [Simpson],
. . . We’re getting there. The damned special prosecutor went ballistic after I did the right thing on Cap,44 but other than that cloud it looks like we can get out of town in about 13 days with flags flying, heads high and over the horizon, a pretty nice looking future. No head table, no fundraisers, no press conferences, lots of grand kids and lots of fishing— not a bad formula, not bad at all.
But I’ll not forget my friends. That’s where you and Ann come in.
George
January 20th
My last walk around the grounds. It’s clear, blue, crisp, cold, and I think of the many walks I’ve had around here and what a joy it’s been. Ranger is in an unusually frisky mood. He’s off by the Oval Office when I come out with Millie from the diplomatic entrance, and he sprints. He starts barking at Millie and jumping like he does—He’s barking “let’s go.” He finally calms down and we walk around the whole circle, memories flooding back in. . . .
The worst will be saying good-bye to the staff today, but if I lose it, too bad, they’ve been a part of our lives and they know we care. . . .
And so time goes on and I’m sitting here now alone, the desk is clear and the pictures are gone. I leave a note on the desk for Bill Clinton. It looks a little lonely sitting there. I don’t want it to be overly dramatic, but I did want him to know that I would be rooting for him.
I think of the happiness we’ve had here. Somebody points out, “Well, the polls look good today—you’re leaving with people liking you.” And I’m saying, “Well that’s nice, that’s very nice, but I didn’t finish the job.” They may be pleasant in that way, but I don’t think they know my heartbeat . . .
As I told Bill Clinton, I feel the same sense of wonder and majesty about this office today as I did when I first walked in here. I’ve tried to serve here with no taint or dishonor; no conflict of interest; nothing to sully this beautiful place and this job I’ve been privileged to hold. . . .
Barbara is wonderful. She’s strong and what a First Lady she’s been—popular and wonderful. And suddenly she is eclipsed by the new wave, the lawyer, the wife with an office in the White House; but time will tell and history will show that she was beloved because she was real and she cared and she gave of herself. She has been fantastic in every way, and my, how the people around here love her, and my, how that staff rejoices in the fact that she came their way.
But we’ll make it in Houston—I know we will. We kid about her cooking. We kid about no staff, no valets, no shined shoes and no pressed suits. We did that before and we can do it again. It’s my last day as President of the United States of America.