Herbert S. Parmet

The memoir of George H.W. Bush, America’s 41st President, is a study in contrasts. One is the constant current of an inner battle within the Republican Party, one that can certainly find reappearing into today’s RNC. Bush, for most of his political career, defined the Republican Party as two groups, into the moderates and the true believers, with each group have little trust in the other. This is all wrapped up in the fascinating story by Parmet. One of the interesting dynamics covered in the book was the friendship of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, despite that both individual’s staff and supporters near complete distrust of each other. The split between the two ideologies made sure that Bush’s group, save Jim Baker, were not involved in much of Reagan’s policy, and that same group was swept out en masse upon Bush’s election to the White House. Some other notable points about the life & career of former President George H. W. Bush. He had a 50% success rate at winning elections, yet rose to the pinnacle job in all of the US. One gripe about the book. The 1992 election is completely skimped on in terms of real content, and its conclusion is essentially the end of the narrative. What is covered is Bush’s general malaise toward the election, and his inability to change the scope of the campaign or react to the obviously more prepared Democratic campaign of Bill Clinton and the know how to put down the on again off again candidacy of Ross Perot.… (mere)