Looking back at his presidency (1989-1993), he’s especially proud of:
1. ‘The Gulf War was very significant, vey important, b ut in terms of history, the coming down of the wall and the reunification of German was bigger.’
2. ‘My claw mitt. I’m a left-hander….glove I used to take the Yale team all the way to the first College World Series final and the second.’
3. Clarence Thomas’ appointment to the Supreme Court, ‘of which I’m very, very proud.’
4. His exit from the presidency: ‘My view…you’re fortunate to be elected president, and when you’re finished you ought to go—get out….And that’s what I’ve done—leave…it to somebody else….I’ve had my chance. Did my best. Came home.’
Presidential historian Rober Dalleksays, ‘Historians, I believe, will say he made a wise judgment on what could be expected if we went into Iraq. By contrast, [the younger Bush] has found his presidency ruined, one might say, by this Iraq War’.
But I remember when people said George Bush senior had stopped too soon and that George Bush junior had to finish his father’s unfinished business. At that time, senior’s judgment looked wrong and junior’s judgment looked good. The passage of time has changed opinions. The further passage of time might change them again—we haven’t seen the end of this Iraq story.