Today has been designated as a day of national mourning and prayer in memory of the death of our nation's 41st president, George H.W. Bush, who passed away at the age of 94. Bush's presidency is often lost as it was sandwiched between that of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. President Bush completed the process of the tearing down of the Iron Curtain that President Reagan had initiated. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1991, President Bush quickly assembled a coalition and countered that invasion. The only blemish in that war, which was won in a matter of days, was that he did not order the coalition forces to sweep on into Baghdad and overthrow the Saddam regime. If he had, perhaps 9-11 might not have happened.
Perhaps George H.W. Bush was the most qualified man to have sat in the Oval Office since the time of George Washington. His resume of political service was a long and distinguished one. Yet, he will be most remembered for those infamous words uttered during his presidential campaign, "Read my lips: No new taxes." Yet, he could not honor that pledge and that was his undoing when he attempted to run for a second term. There are some things the American people are quick to forget - immorality in the White House during the days of Bill Clinton; but there are some things people never seem to forget, especially when it comes to taxes.
It was right for President Trump to declare today a day of national mourning. It is right for our nation to honor a man who served us well. The historians can now tell the story of Bush #41. It will be a story worth reading, I am sure.
Speaking of stories to read. I want to highly recommend the newest book from the pen of Doris Kearns Goodwin. It is titled, "Leadership." Ms. Goodwin is a gifted writer of history. She researches her subjects well and she carefully documents her stories. This book is the study of four American presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson. Now, friends, you cannot get more diverse than these four. Ms. Goodwin shares the remarkable story of how each of these men grew up and how each grew in his abilities to lead. Then she identifies one crisis in each one's administration that tested that leadership ability. For Lincoln, her focus was upon the Emancipation Proclamation; for Theodore Roosevelt, it was the coal strike; for Franklin Roosevelt, it was the great depression; and for Lyndon Johnson, it was the civil rights act of 1964. These crises certainly tested the resolve of each man. At times they walked the pathway alone, yet, all the while, continually teaching their cabinets and other officials of the necessity of following that vision. Ms. Goodwin closes her book with a study of how the death of each man impacted those that followed. This is not a difficult book to read. Ms. Goodwin has a way of drawing you into the story. I found myself getting involved in the tensions created within each president. This book would make for an excellent Christmas gift to that person who enjoys American history and to that person who is seeking to cultivate his or her leadership skills.
A second book that I would recommend is the newest book by Bill O'Reilly and titled, "Killing the SS." This is the latest book in his "Killing" series. Like most of his other books, this one reads so easily. Again it is well footnoted. The thesis for this book is the intense hunt that took place following World War II for those Nazi leaders who had orchestrated the "Final Solution" which came to be known as the Holocaust. The center piece of that focus was Adolph Eichmann. Others included Joseph Mengele, the doctor who performed medical experiments upon victims at Auschwitz, and Klaus Barbie, also known as the "Butcher of Lyon." One of the facts that surprised me as I read was the number of former SS officers who, following the War, were hired by our CIA to spy on the Russians. Some were never held accountable for the atrocities committed by the SS during the War. I found myself getting caught up in the intrigue of the search for Eichmann, of his kidnapping from his hiding place in Argentina, his trial and execution in Israel. This book would make a great Christmas gift to those readers on your list.
Let me close with two additional titles that were meaningful to me this past year. The first is titled, "The True Jesus" and was written by David Limbaugh. This book is a follow-up to a previous book titled, "The Emmaus Code." In that book, Mr. Limbaugh shares the portraits of Christ found in the Old Testament. He sort of envisions Jesus' conversation with the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus that first resurrection morning, thus the title. "The True Jesus" is a look at the portrait of Christ found within the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Mr. Limbaugh attempts to follow the life of Jesus in a chronological sequence, and he does it very well. Either of these books could be used as a small group resource. I am anxious to read his latest book in this series, "Jesus Is Risen" which is the portrait of Christ discovered within the writings of the Apostle Paul and the Early Church writers. I have this on my shelf as a must for 2019.
The final book I would recommend is titled, "Grant" and was written by Ron Chernow; the same author who gave us the biography of Alexander Hamilton upon which the Broadway musical success "Hamilton" is based. This book will probably be the definitive study of the life of the man who led the Union to victory in the Civil War. Having only studied about Grant's war years, it was fascinating to me to read of those tumultuous years he served as President. Historians have been quick to cast the title of "inept or corrupt" upon the Grant Administration, but Mr. Chernow helped me to see that Grant was too accepting of people - he took them at face value. This was often the cause for people misusing that trust to accomplish their purposes rather than those of the President. This is a huge book - don't let its volume of pages deter you from a powerful read. After the reading I believe you will be convinced that Ulysses S Grant was one of the most dynamic leaders our nation has produced.
Friends, that is my annual list of books I recommend for those readers on your list. With the winter months upon us, how refreshing it is to sit by the fireside with a steaming cup of hot tea or hot chocolate, and grab a book that will encourage and challenge us.
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