Charles Denyer - Texas Titans: George H.W. Bush and James A. Baker, III: A Friendship Forged in Power

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Copyright 2020 Charles Denyer. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

Publishers Cataloging-In-Publication Data

Names: Denyer, Charles, author. | Cheney, Richard B., writer of supplementary textual content.

Title: Texas titans : George H.W. Bush and James A. Baker, III : a friendship forged in power / Charles Denyer ; foreword by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Description: Austin, Texas : Cambridge Klein Publishers, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: ISBN 9780998764221 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780998764238 (paperback) | ISBN 9780998764245 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Bush, George, 1924-2018--Friends and associates. | Baker, James Addison, 1930---Friends and associates. | Politicians--Texas--Biography. | United States--Politics and government--20th century. | LCGFT: Biographies.

Classification: LCC E882 .D46 2020 (print) | LCC E882 (ebook) | DDC 973.928092--dc23

Unless otherwise noted, all photos have been provided courtesy of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum and Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Book design by Michael Kellner / Edited by Shelley Holloway

Printed in the United States of America

For more information, contact:

Cambridge Klein Publishers, LLC

Austin, Texas 78738

info@cambridgeklein.org

To my daughter Caroline Harper Denyer.

I love you so much, my sweet angel.

Go conquer the world, my little Einstein!

George Herbert Walker Bush and James A. Baker, III embody the very spirit of the meaning of friendship. Both men shared a love for tennis, the sport that brought these two fierce competitors together on the courts of the Houston Country Club. Serves and volleys were just the beginning for Jim Baker and George Bush. Soon, their families became close friends Baker and his boys, and Bush and his growing family.

Jim, admittedly, wasnt very political when his lifelong friendship began with George Bush, but that changed as tragedy struck with the passing of his first wife, Mary Stuart. At Bushs insistence, Jim threw himself into the political arena in 1970 by managing Bushs US Senate race. Bush lost, but what he gained was without question his most valuable political ally for the next quarter century.

Looking back to when I was chief of staff for President Ford, I remember how hard Jim worked to secure the delegates we needed to fend off Ronald Reagan for the Republican nomination in 1976. Jim was our delegate hunter, a demanding job that required around-the-clock attention to get us the votes we needed. Jim delivered for us, and Ford won the nomination. He then helped close the double-digit gap between Ford and Governor Carter to bring us to a statistical dead heat with the Georgia governor on Election Day 1976.

Jim was tenacious, never giving in or giving up on a race that many had written off. Though we had to pack our bags politically speaking with the loss to Carter, it was only a temporary hiatus for Jim, George, and me. I returned to Washington just two years later as Wyomings lone congressman, and Jim signed on to Bushs 1980 presidential campaign, upsetting Reagan in the Iowa caucuses, though eventually losing the nomination. Bush accepted Reagans invitation to join the ticket, and they swept to victory over Jimmy Carter. It was the first of many victories for George Bush as a candidate and Jim Baker as a campaign chairman.

In 1988, following Reagans two terms, Jim ran George Bushs presidential campaign, one of his finest political achievements in my opinion as he helped his good friend win the presidency in a landslide. Jim and I found ourselves working together yet again for another Republican president as I became secretary of Defense, with Jim serving as secretary of State. Little did we know the events that would unfold and the tidal wave of change that would sweep through various regions of the world all as we served President George H.W. Bush during his single term in office.

Those were consequential times that called for unquestioned leadership from our commander in chief, who, in turn, sought advice from Jim and me, as well as Brent Scowcroft and many others to help navigate the ever-changing global geopolitical landscape. Time and again, President Bush showed the world what true leadership was, and with Jim Baker by his side, made some of the most significant decisions of his or any presidency, shaping a post-Cold War world. The president trusted Jims advice immensely on virtually every foreign-policy matter we were confronted with.

But more than just foreign policy, Jim had a great read on all things political, and it was Jim who returned to the White House to help resuscitate Bushs flagging presidential campaign for a hopeful second term. Bush lost a tough re-election race, but make no mistake, Jim gave it his all for his best friend in 1992.

Eight years later, I was honored to be chosen as the vice-presidential running mate for Texas governor George W. Bush on the Republican ticket. I was more than ready to go to work and serve a second President Bush, but before that could happen, we needed Jims help securing the critical twenty-five electoral votes in Florida. Jim signed on immediately, taking complete command and control of the Florida recount, outworking and outmaneuvering Al Gores campaign with a brilliant display of political acumen. Thanks to Jims legendary efforts in Florida, I was sworn in as Americas 46th vice president of the United States on January 20, 2001, ready to serve another president named George Bush. And much like his father, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush was a man of character and integrity. He assured me that I would have a significant voice in his presidency, and for eight years, he was true to his word.

As for George H.W. Bush and James A. Baker, III, these two men stood side by side in countless battles, sharing both their victories and defeats. President Bushs handpicked team for foreign policy, national security, and defense which Jim and I were so proud to be a part of was one of the finest ever. We all worked well together; we understood our roles and responsibilities , never encroaching on each others turf as we worked for one of the greatest presidents to ever serve our nation. Jim calls Bush the greatest single-term president ever, and one of the best of all time. I couldnt agree more. If ever a person was ready for the presidency and the profoundly important responsibilities that come with the office, it was George H.W. Bush.

When I think of George Bush and Jim Baker, words come to mind that reflect traits inextricably shared by both men determination, courage, selflessness, wisdom, optimism and more.