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What Bush Did Right
And I believe two of his least-popular decisions, the surge of troops into Iraq and the massive rescue of our financial system, have paved the way for Barack Obama’s presidency to be far more successful than it otherwise would have been. We claim that we want our political leaders to do what they believe is right, rather than what polls shows is popular—but we don’t always honor that.
I hadn’t been sure what to expect about the flight home to Texas, dubbed Air Force Special Mission 28,000. The plane was the same one that had flown him across the world, but it was no longer called Air Force One because President Bush was no longer the president. I wasn’t sure if it would be somewhat sad, perhaps bittersweet, but as the president said, there was no “bitter” about it. Primarily, it was an affectionate, joyful gathering of people who have been through a great deal together. Many of us had arrived in Washington with the president; some had served the entire eight years, while others, like me, had spent part of the administration with him (in my case, a total of four years, 18 months at the White House, two-and-a-half years at the State Department).
A couple of things struck me during the flight: The friends on board were many of the same ones he and Mrs. Bush had before they entered public life, the same ones who visited his house in Dallas when I first went to work for him.
And second, the vast disconnect between the affection and admiration those who worked most closely for and around him clearly feel, and the negative judgment of the public opinion polls. We watched a video in which both staff members and career employees who worked in the White House expressed their appreciation and admiration. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair summed up my most profound thought: the extraordinary courage it took for the president to support the surge of troops into Iraq in the face of almost universal disapproval, thus transforming a war that was being lost into one that is being won.
It was the privilege of a lifetime to know and serve a president, to see the office and its demands up close—and now, all of us are looking forward to the next chapter. President Bush is an active, energetic man who at age 62 has many years of positive contribution ahead of him. In this new season, he won’t stand in the spotlight—it is President Obama’s turn now. He’ll write a book to share with the American people the factors he considered as he made the decisions he did. He’ll work on building his presidential library, and an accompanying policy institute dedicated to advocating freedom and responsibility. Soon, I expect we’ll be welcoming Afghan women, leaders of emerging democracies, dissidents fighting for freedom, and those who are leading the fight against disease and poverty in the developing world to the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
For now, I suspect those of us who know President Bush best are simply glad to welcome him home to Texas. Inaugurals are a wonderful affirmation of the enduring optimism of our democracy, and I wish President Obama and his team the very best. I know a lot more about Washington and the world than I did eight years ago, but I’m still an idealist at heart. I believe most people who are willing to endure the harsh, often negative spotlight that comes with public service do so for fundamentally the right reasons: to try to make our country a better place. My prayers are with our new president, and my gratitude and respect follow our former one home.
Karen Hughes was counselor to President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2002, and undersecretary of State for public diplomacy and public affairs from 2005-2007. She is now global vice chairman of Burson-Marsteller, a communications/public-relations firm.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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Spasticula
Don't care, Karen! As you didn't care to sway the center or the opposition for your entire rotten Bush admin career. Your blinkered boosterism has had its effect. The country is in ruins. Go find yourself a nice lady friend and settle down.
Spasticula
Comment #2 checked for benign content and approved.
perkins
Like many of the men who left Bush to "spend more time with my family," Karen has always made me wonder what her family ever did to her.
leverage1900
Why do I always hear "He kept us safe"
Have you forgotten that 9/11 was on HIS watch?
What about this unjust war, and not showing the coffins coming home and NOT attending funerals of fallen soldiers?Where is the compassion in this man?
I saw the interviews, and all I heard was: We/I had such a great time, we had greatg partys for our friends, we enjoyed the white house, and last but not least "He doesn't regret anything!" Ever counted the death Mr. Bush?
Did you ever think about the deah Mrs. Hughs?
And 9/11 was GWB and his croonies fault, not matter how you try to rewrite history!
gpmedic
"President Bush is an active, energetic man who at age 62 has many years of positive contribution ahead of him."
If he does contribute positively it will be a first. For eight years in office and the entire US government behind you, his list of positive accomplishments is miniscule. And it must be said every time you mention his administration keeping us safe that it is not true - you were asleep at the wheel before 9/11 and any attack from Al Qaeda is still his fault as he outsourced the job of getting Bin Ladin in Afganistan thus allowing him years to build a sustaining network. By any rational assessment a total failure. It must be hard to have hitched your wagon to such a loser.
philipjames
Just like the boo birds at the inauguration, most dems have no idea... just hate Bush and want us all to love Obama...
narcisstic self importance...
on the other hand....
Unlike Bill and Hillary Clinton, George and Laura Bush will take few treasured mementos with them from their years at the White House.
When the Clintons left the White House in January 2001, the former first couple took with them more than 50 gifts -- including a chandelier, flatware, and paintings -- valued at nearly $200,000.
spinozareader
Bush's problem was that the did everything far too Right.
spinozareader
Bush's entire wretched legacy is that he did everything far too Right.
kosherhamm
He reformed public schools? wow... I don't even know where to begin with that one.
fallsguy
Let the revisionist history begin. Perhaps Karen and Harriet can write the history of the past eight years, of course it will be fiction.
pencilpusher
In all sincerity, I want to thank you and former President Bush for returning to Texas. Please, neither one of you, ever leave the state again. Work on his liberry, work on his drunk, I mean, think tank or whatever else you can find to do. But stay in Texas.
xbainx
Hey good game team. We gave it our all. Sure it could have been better but nobody's perfect!
willisb
Let's see, what did the captain of the Titanic do right? He went down with his ship. But he didn't have as good a flack as W., did he? Or we would have been reading all about his heroism for the past 97 years.
martymart
I find this whole spin on/by a departing president amazing. The paragraph about Bush not being asked questions about O'sama and group during the campaign funny.(May be true.) Clinton left a note specific as to the dangers of both. And what did Bush do? Disbanded the special unit to monitor them. (I'm a Libertarian and didn't and don't like the Clintons, so I'm not protecting them. ) The right seems to be trying to spin a "well he kept us safe AFTER he mess up..." sort of argument. It falls very short since such "safety" seems to be at the expense of personal liberties. The nightmare is over. The founding fathers can rest again.
maxpower1013
"And I believe two of his least popular decisions, the surge of troops into Iraq and the massive rescue of our financial system, have paved the way for Barak Obama's presidency to be far more successful than it otherwise would have been. We claim that we want our political leaders to do what they believe is right, rather than what polls shows is popular-but we don't always honor that."
wow, what a moron. there's so many things wrong with that statement.
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