Presidency of George Bush (American Presidency (Univ of Kansas Hardcover))

From Publishers Weekly Cazenovia College historian Greene's verdict on George Bush's presidency will surprise no one: Bush triumphed in foreign policy, but stumbled fatally in domestic affairs. Greene traces what he perceives as Bush's failures on the home front, starting with Ronald Reagan's troubled legacy, which included the budget deficit, the savings and loan crisis and the failure of tax cuts to trickle down. (Some of these were, ironically, the exact problems Bush anticipated during his campaign against Reagan in 1980, when he labeled the policies of his future boss "voodoo economics.") Due partly to a hostile and overwhelmingly Democratic Congress, according to Greene, Bush was unable to solve these troubles, a failure eagerly pounced upon in 1992 by Bill Clinton. Greene argues that Bush did better in foreign affairs, where he was able to capitalize on the considerable experience he had gained as ambassador to China, CIA director and vice-president. The Gulf War is described as the outstanding achievement of Bush's presidency, a smashing victory that reversed an illegal invasion, accelerated the Mideast peace process and crystallized post-Cold War international relations. Greene only briefly considers whether Bush should have taken the next step and ousted Saddam Hussein. In the end, it was Bush's misfortune to be sandwiched between two equally great communicators, the smiling Teflon movie star and the good old boy who feels everyone's pain. Bush could live up to neither the memory of one nor the promise of the other. Diminished though his legacy may be, Bush, Greene points out, "brought no discredit to the office" and produced "a nation more stable than he had inherited". A fine contribution to presidential biography, this should become the essential introduction to Bush's abbreviated, but still consequential, tenure in office. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Highly respected presidential historian Greene has written what may well be the finest single volume account of the presidency of George Bush so far. Balanced, fair, and thorough, the book begins by explaining the difficult set of problems Bush inherited from Ronald Reagan--especially economic troubles. Reagan's problems, he argues, came home to roost in the Bush years. Greene argues that Bush attempted to govern with limited opportunities, that he pursued a limited agenda in large part because of them. Was Bush overcautious (as many critics contend), or, Greene asks, did he make the most out of difficult circumstances? Bush, he concludes, "made few mistakes" and left "a more than adequate legacy." And although he is sympathetic to the former president, he does not pass softly over his faults--and he admits he wouldn't call Bush a "great" president. An excellent work of contemporary history, this book is highly readable. It merits the attention of all serious students of the American presidency.