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Book Review By Susanna Marlowe
George Herbert Walker Bush by Tom Wicker

This is a biography of George Herbert Walker Bush's career in politics. It began in 1964, when Bush ran for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas. He was defeated. He bounced back in 1966, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Houston. In 1970, he gave up his House seat to run for the Senate once more. He was defeated again. During the 1970's, Bush served in the Nixon and Ford administration's as ambassador to the U.N., chairman of the Republican National Committee, Liasion to China and CIA Director.

In 1980 he ran for president the first time. He lost the nomination toRonald Reagan, who chose him as his running mate. In 1988 he ran for president and defeated Michael Dukakis. During his presidency he fought the First Gulf War. In 1992, he lost to Bill Clinton.

Wicker notes that Bush, throughout his career, was great at making friends. He was known as a nice guy. However, he really liked to win, and that is what made his campaign against Dukakis so negative. It also made him prone to taking political positions just so he would win. His "No new taxes" pledge during the 1988 campaign, and his breaking of the pledge during his first term, is what led to his defeat in 1992.


Plot & Themes
job/profession:
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 2 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Texas
City? Yes
City: - Washington D.C.
Century: - 1980's-Present

Writing Style
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Pictures/Illustrations? - None
How much dialogue in bio? - little dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 51%-75% of book
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