The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Rochelle Schweizer (Author) "FOR AN AMBITIOUS AND INDUSTRIOUS YOUNG MAN JUST BEFORE THE turn of the twentieth century, there were few better places to be than Columbus, Ohio..." (more)
Key Phrases: George Bush, White House, Pres Bush (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like Kevin Phillips in his bestselling American Dynasty, the Schweizers trace the history of the Bush family back to progenitors George Herbert Walker and Samuel P. Bush. It's easy to spot both continuity and change in four generations of prominent Bushes. Of Prescott Bush's career in business, we're told, "Consensus and camaraderie forged behind closed doors suited him perfectly," a description that fits his grandson's style in the White House. And many of the family's connections span decades: Back in 1928, a firm headed by Prescott Bush purchased Dresser Industriesâ€"which today is a subsidiary of Halliburton. However, the family's politics have shifted rightward like those of their party: Prescott Bush lost his first election after being "smeared" as an advocate of birth control, and later he became one of the first senators to denounce Joseph McCarthyâ€"a bold gesture of moderation. Unlike Phillips, the Schweizers try hard to put a positive spin on the family saga. They insist that George H.W. Bush disliked negative campaigning, without mentioning the infamous Willie Horton ad that helped him win the 1988 election. When recounting the Florida election crisis of 2000, they find it "troublesome" that Carol Roberts, who oversaw the Palm Beach recount, was a Gore supporter, but fail to note that election supervisor Katherine Harris helped run Bush's Florida campaign. Thus, while this group portrait usefully gathers much family lore in a single, accessible source, the unbiased, authoritative story of the dynasty remains to be written.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Using the extraordinary access that allowed them to interview Bush relatives, intimates, and even members of the core family (including Jeb Bush), the Schweizers have put together an exhaustive yet highly readable biography of the Bush dynasty that offers real insight into its origins and inner workings. The book mostly lets the events speak for themselves; what comes across repeatedly is that, going back to President Bush's great-grandfather, the way the family kept getting ahead was to "forge relationships to succeed." In fact, for all its detail on the Bush family, this volume is really a chronicle of how the old-boy network works in this country. As such, it spells out in no uncertain terms the advantage that those on the inside have when it comes to making money and raising money for business ventures and political campaigns. Further, following the Bush family tree offers a perfect illustration of the way old-boy connections are passed on to family members, often through associations like Yale's Skull-and-Bones Club, which has benefited several generations of Bushes. Although hardly dishy, the book offers some startling information about George W., in particular, the rivalry between him and his brother Jeb; the evolution of the president's evangelical faith; and his complicated relationship with his father. Read this in tandem with Kevin Phillips' American Dynasty [BKL N 1 03], which views much of the same information from a far less benign point of view. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385498632
• ISBN-13: 978-0385498630
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #985,828 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You can tell this book got a "nod" from the Bushes, but, August 5, 2004

By	L. Proctor (Lisle, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

it is still a worthwhile read. You get some great background info on the Bushes. Love them or hate them, their successes didn't happen in a vaccum. They thoroughly understand that their achievments depend on two things; networking and making enough money to be comfortable while pursuing their political goals. It also demonstrates that while Bush Sr was not a great president he is undervalued as a statesman. Few people walked into the White House with as much experience as George Herbert Walker Bush.

That said I think this book is an especially good read for people trying to understand why Bush Sr's presidency has a different flavor than that of his son Dubya. And for people who aren't familiar with the saga, they will learn that the family pinned their political hopes on Jeb and were astonished when Dubya became Gov of Tex then President.

Even though this book does favor the Bushes there are some things that even they can't paint a pretty picture of. Such as Prescott Srs involvement in Yales Skull and Bones Society's plundering of Geronimos bones and his fumble when he jokingly told his mother during WWI that he won 3 medals of honor from three countries. His mother unwittingly shared that with the press only to have to shamefacedly retract it later.

Another example of where this book paints a less than flattering picture of the Bushes is that it also shows a mean spirited side to Bush Sr in some of his remarks to Barbara about her weight and her cooking. And even Barbara isn't spared. While she is generally portrayed in a positive light you can't help but see that Barbara on occassion employed some "Nancy Reagan-like" tactics when she thought someone wasn't being loyal to the Bush family. And, in immersing herself in the Bush identity she became disengaged from her own family.

In summary this book is a good foundation to understanding the Bushes but you may want to do some "cross reading" from other sources to get a more complete picture of this interesting family.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heartfelt and Honest Family Portrait of USA's First Family, May 5, 2004

By	K. Wiles "fdr-fan" (NJ) - See all my reviews

You might actually wonder why it took so long for a family portrait of the Bushes to be published. I certainly have; certainly no comtemporary family has had such a prolonged and strong impact on our country.
The Schweizers do a fine job balancing the many faces of this engaging family. Starting with SP Bush (W's Great, great grandfather), to Senator Prescott Bush, to George HW Bush (known to the family as 41) on through to George W. and Jeb, their account is fluid, easy to read, factual and balanced. While they are clearly admirers of the family, they are also honest. Foibles are as equally displayed as the fortes-- but all are shown in a even-handed and objective manner. Despite others reviews, the authors do not seem to have an agenda-- they simply paint a portrait.
The result? A lengthy biography that reads like a novel. To anyone who is interested in American history, this account of the Bush family is a must read. If you are a Bush basher, no, you will not enjoy this book. If you are a fair-minded person going in, however, there is a lot to be gained from reading this throrough account of one of the most influential families of our time.

29 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Objective History of the Bush Family, April 6, 2004

By	Thomas Zampino "Thomas Zampino" (New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This well-written and meticulously researched book explores several generations of the Bush and Walker families, starting with President George W. Bush's great-grandfather, S.P. Bush. I was as impressed by the authors' detailed and intimate portraits of the Bush family members as I was by their overall balanced portrayals. Although clearly written by admirers of the Bush family - among whom I count myself - this is a no-holds-barred history and nothing of importance is left out. From the family's sometimes problematic foreign business relationships before and during World War II, to the complex and competitive relationships between President Bush, his brother, Governor Jeb Bush, and their father President George H.W. Bush, it is all explored here in great, yet always readable, detail.

The Bush and Walker family business contacts (and admirers) have been incredibly extensive over the generations and have included, among others, the Kennedys, the Harriman's, Eisenhower, Nixon and of course Reagan, as well as an impressive list of world and business leaders from China, the Middle East, Europe and South America. The Bushes have established perhaps the largest network of supporters and financial contributors of any family in American history - rivaling or surpassing anything ever established by either political party itself.

Most fascinating is the authors' exploration of the Walker side of the family. While the Bushes refuse to emphasize the individual over the family, the Walkers are presented as sometimes larger than life, brimming with self-confidence, charisma and the ability - and perhaps the need - to take great, yet calculated, risks. It is easy to see that President George Walker Bush gets more than just his middle name from this side of the family (although, as the authors point out, he also gets more than a little dose of that from his mother Barbara as well).

Also interesting is the fact that numerous male Bush family members (Prescott, George H.W., and George W., among others) have turned not to their fathers but to their uncles and other male relatives for guidance at the beginning of their business and political careers. And, as each succeeding generation has drifted further away from the "elite Eastern establishment," the Bushes have become both more conservative and more open about their deeply held religious beliefs. Each has also married strong woman (Dorothy, Barbara and now Laura) who have melded seamlessly into the Bush family, but who have asserted powerful stabilizing influences over their husbands and children.

Overall, this is a fascinating account of the Bush family. Those looking for a better understanding of what motivates the current President and his family, and how the family got to where it is today, will be richly rewarded. On the other hand, those looking to the Bush family history as a means to bash or criticize this President had best look elsewhere. You'll come away from this book with a deep respect for this highly competitive yet public-minded family.