-President George W. Bush has written a new book entitled, 41: A Portrait of my Father. This book isn't about himself or his presidency, but about his beloved father.
-I loved his first book, Decision Points, even more than I thought I would. So, I'm looking forward to reading this new book.
-On CBS Sunday Morning, Bob Schieffer interviewed Bush, below are the opening comments to the first part of the interview:
In all our history, we've had just two sets of father-and-son
Presidents . . . John and John Quincy Adams; and George H. W. and George
W. Bush. The younger George Bush (President # 43) has quite a bit to
say about his father (#41), and in an interview at his Presidential
Library in Texas, George W. Bush has much to tell our chief Washington
correspondent Bob Schieffer.
--It is called 41 on 41, because there are 41 storytellers that talk about the life of the 41st president, George H.W. Bush.
The 41 Storytellers:
1) Brent Scowcroft--former National Security Advisor for Bush 2) George W. Bush--43rd President of the U.S. 3) Jeb Bush--former Governor of Florida 4) Jeb Bush Jr.--grandson 5) Pierce Bush--grandson 6) Marvin Bush--son 7) Neil Bush--son 8) Roger Ailes--former campaign advisor to Bush 9) James A. Baker III--former Secretary of State for Bush 10) Susan Baker--wife of James Baker and longtime family friend 11) Jean Becker--post-presidential chief of staff for Bush 12) Tom Brokaw--news anchor for NBC 13) Billy Busch--fishing companion 14) Doro Bush Koch--daughter 15) Andrew Card--former White House Deputy chief of Staff for Bush 16) Buddy Carter--White House butler 17) Dana Carvey--comedian 18) Bill Clinton--42nd President of the U.S. 19) Barack Obama--44th President of the U.S. 20) Michael Dannenhauer--former personal aide to Bush 21) David McCullough--historian and author (my personal favorite) 22) David Demarest--former W.H. communications director for Bush 23) Mike Elliott--U.S. Army Golden Knight 24) Marlin Fitzwater--former W.H. press secretary for Bush 25) Dr. Robert Gates--former director of the CIA under Bush 26) Bruce Gelb--classmate of Bush's at Phillips Andover Academy 27) Boyden Gray--former W.H. legal counsel for Bush 28) Brit Hume--former W.H. correspondent for ABC news 29) Sarah Jackson--alumna of Bush School of Government and Public Service 30) John Magaw--former director of U.S. secret service 31) Mike Krzyzewski--Duke University men's basketball coach 32) John Major--former Prime Minister of the U.K. 33) Chip Miller--former commander of the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush 34) Jim Nantz--sports commentator 35) Arnold Palmer--Hall of Fame golfer 36) Colin Powell--former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Bush 37) Gabe Pressman--WNBC-TV correspondent 38) Dan Quayle--44th Vice President of the U.S. 39) Alan Simpson--former U.S. senator of Wyoming 40) Dr. Condoleezza Rice--former special assistant to Bush for national security 41) John Sununu--former W.H. chief of staff for Bush
--I have to say that I've never been overly impressed with Bush Sr. I have always thought that his son was a much better president. But I have to say that after watching this special, I do have a lot more respect for him as a man.
Things that impressed me: --How he treated all people. He knew all of the W.H. staff's names and their loved ones names. He showed a genuine interest in their lives. He often wrote handwritten notes to people from all walks of life. His grandson told of going through a tough time and when he went to his bedroom, there was a handwritten note from his grandfather encouraging him.
--Bruce Gelb, a classmate of Bush's at Phillips Andover Academy, tells a story about he was being bullied and Bush stood up for him. Gelb said that Bush became a hero for him from that day forth.
--George W. talked about how he constantly tested the unconditional part of his father's love, and yet, it never wavered.
--David McCullough shared a story about admiring a signed photograph of Bush with Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams in the Rose Garden, when he had visited the Presidential Library and Museum. After McCullough's visit, Bush mailed him the photograph. McCullough was in awe of the president's generosity and he said the photograph is one of his family's treasures.
--Barbara Bush looks at her husband with such admiration. She talks about how he is the greatest man and you can tell she means it. She is a strong woman who loves her husband. They have now been married longer than any other presidential couple.
