Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H. W. Bush

by Jean Becker

Overview

Former Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush and New York Times bestselling author of The Man I Knew, Jean Becker shares touching and pivotal life lessons from a leader that left a mark on people's hearts and souls.  

As America heads into what promises to be a tumultuous 2024 presidential election year, Character Matters will be a good reminder of the importance of character when defining true leadership. Colleagues, friends, and family will share their often very personal stories of what they learned from watching and listening to President Bush, including former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Secretary of State James A. Baker; stand-up comedian Dana Carvey; "Queen of Country" star Reba McEntire; American columnist for The New York Times Maureen Dowd; American novelist Brad Meltzer; presidential biographer Jon Meacham; former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom John Major; former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney; Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; the Oak Ridge Boys and best-selling author Christopher Buckley; and of course his grandchildren. Character Matters will illustrate how George Bush never stopped showing us the way to lead by example. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538758571
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	28,971
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Jean Becker was President George H.W. Bush's chief of staff for nearly twenty-five years. She’s the editor of Pearls of Wisdom by Barbara Bush and the New York Times bestselling author of The Man I Knew.

Editorial Reviews

A collection of lessons from a widely admired politician… A timely portrait of dedication.”—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2023-11-17
A collection of lessons from a widely admired politician.

Becker, former chief of staff to George H.W. Bush and author of the memoir The Man I Knew, again pays homage by bringing together a wide range of sources to expound on Bush’s “leadership skills and style, about his big heart, his humility, his courage, his character.” In his introduction, former secretary of state James A. Baker calls Bush a “wise and honorable gentleman,” an assessment that is echoed throughout, not least in Dan Quayle’s epilogue. Bush, he writes, “always putting the needs of the country before his own—embodied the values of integrity, loyalty, and selflessness.” To former British prime minister John Major, Bush “could be shy; diffident; was a good listener; and spoke only when he had views worth sharing. He was also decent, wise, incorruptible, and had a gift for seeing the best—or, at least, finding some good—even in the worst of people.” Bill Clinton, who defeated Bush for the presidency, cited Bush’s commitment to families and children. “In countless moments small and large, fleeting and historic,” Clinton recalled, “there was an essential part of George’s character that embraced our common humanity.” Nancy Pelosi, who shared “a beautiful friendship” with Bush and his wife, Barbara, remembered their love and devotion to one another; and despite most Republicans’ disdain for San Francisco, Bush offered unwavering support after a devastating earthquake in 1989. Even New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, whose work sometimes irritated Bush, attested that “he never lost sight of the fact that humanity was more important than ideology.” Becker hopes that his example will shine at a time of political divisiveness and vulgar rhetoric. Bush, she writes, taught her “how to lead with integrity; how to give back; how to make a difference,” and most of all, “How to be a better person.”

A timely portrait of dedication.

Kirkus Reviews