It’s more important than ever that we remember who he was, so that we can be inspired by his example.
—Dan Quayle
Jean Becker, President Bush’s longtime and loyal assistant, has done an excellent job assembling thoughts, from those who knew him best, on the character of America’s forty-first President. What you’ve just read is a remarkable testament to a man we all loved and respected for the grace and honor with which he served America.
Throughout history, societies have revered those leaders who demonstrate a strong sense of character. In today’s world, where instability and dysfunction seem everywhere the norm, it is even more crucial that we recognize and appreciate the principled virtues of George H. W. Bush.
President Bush—always putting the needs of the country before his own—embodied the values of integrity, loyalty, and selflessness. I remember our discussion, back in 1990, about the politics involved in his agreeing to the tax increase Democrats were demanding before they would pass a budget. He said to me in the Oval Office: Dan, I have to put politics aside and do what’s in the best interest of the country.
Love of country always came first. He was a man who believed in the power of service, whether as a young pilot during World War II or as the head of a giant global alliance thwarting tyranny in the Persian Gulf. In the White House he fostered an environment of trust, respect, and humility, which not only inspired those around him but also paved the way toward a more cooperative political landscape at home and an extraordinary degree of unity across much of the globe.
In stark contrast, today’s political world is rife with self-interest and disregard for the common good. The discord and chaos that we see today stem from a deficiency of character in our leaders, an erosion of the values that once held our democracy together. Duty, Honor, Country—words boldly displayed at the Bush Library in College Station, Texas—were the words George H. W. Bush lived by. How many of our current politicians can say they live by them too?
To reflect on the life and legacy of President Bush is to remember that true leadership is rooted in character, in the strength of one’s convictions, and in the courage to make difficult decisions for the betterment of all. I hope this book will serve as a reminder that character does indeed matter, and that it will inspire future generations of leaders to practice the kind of moral fortitude that President Bush exemplified.
He was a buoyant, optimistic man, but much tougher than his charming, casual manner made him appear. He was an excellent listener, and during meetings with foreign leaders he tended to say less than they did. Those sitting across the table from him may have thought they were in charge of the discussion, but George Bush knew what his objectives were and never let himself be pushed beyond where he wanted to go. When traveling abroad as his vice president, I came to appreciate the reputation he had built over many years. Heads of government, even if they didn’t know the President personally, knew they were dealing with a serious man with serious purposes. A man they could trust. That is certainly missing in our political culture, both domestic and international, today.
If you have a chance to visit the White House and you get to see President Bush’s portrait, you’ll notice that he’s standing near a large globe, the kind one finds in an old-fashioned gentleman’s library. There’s no doubt that the artist wanted to convey the enormous global changes—the explosion of freedom—that took place during President Bush’s administration, and also to symbolize the extent to which George H. W. Bush was quietly responsible for so many of them. Every modern president is called the “Leader of the Free World,” but for most of them it’s a courtesy title. One can make a good argument that “41” was the last American President who actually performed that role, day after day and year after year. However low-key his manner may have been, he led.
It was my privilege to work in close partnership with George H. W. Bush between 1989 and 1993. In my memoir of that time, Standing Firm, I wrote of him: “He went into and out of the office as absolutely the same man, and I think that says it all about the solidity of his character. He knew who he was. He didn’t need power to tell him that.”
It’s more important than ever that we remember who he was, so that we can be inspired by his example.
Dan Quayle
Vice President of the United States
1989–1993