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George HW Bush didn't believe in permanent enemies: Ed Rogers
Ed Rogers, former deputy assistant to President George H.W. Bush, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to share his memories of the late president.
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About Ed Rogers
Ed Rogers, a former deputy assistant to President George H.W. Bush, appeared on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on December 5, 2018, to share memories of the late president. Rogers stated that Bush "didn't overly celebrate the demise of the Soviet Union" and was "very sensitive that we don't want to humiliate anybody here when they're going through their most stressful time." He added that Bush "had no permanent enemies" and "didn't believe in it." Rogers also discussed Bush's approach to politics, saying that Bush "came into the president's seat just at the dawn of what we now called the permanent campaign" but believed that "campaign politics was a seasonal sport" and that after an election, "you govern and good government is the best politics." Rogers characterized Bush as a "gentleman" who "didn't really particularly care for" the "modern nastiness" of presidential campaigns.
Transcript (12 segments)
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Ed Rogers0:00
George Bush was president during a critical pivot point in American history—maybe more than one: the breakup of the Soviet Union, Iraq's attempt to eliminate Kuwait, and the modern emergence of China. All of his experience and credentials came together to be put to good use at those critical moments. Unfortunately, so much of the success of the Bush presidency was all the bad things that didn't happen when they could have. The stakes were high, and the books have been written about everything that could have happened. But the measured, sure-footed, and confident Bush saw us through those critical times, and I think history will serve him well as a result.
He didn't overly celebrate the demise of the Soviet Union, and he was okay with the reunification of Germany, which at the time there was a lot of concern about. With George Bush, there was no spiking the ball; he was very sensitive that we don't want to humiliate anybody when they're going through their most stressful time. That was true in nation states, and it was also true in his personal life. He always believed, like in politics, you always leave a man a way out and keep the hand of friendship extended. Bush had no permanent enemies; he didn't believe in it. He had competitors and people who disagreed with him, but if you didn't reach out to him, he would always reach out to you.
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Moderator1:37
Lots been said this week about his era of civility in politics. His son Jeb Bush and James Baker wrote this week that that era is not necessarily gone. What do you think?
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Ed Rogers1:47
I think it's a timeless quality, and a lot of would-be politicians could learn a lot from his example. For one thing, Bush didn't have a traditional political base—he had never been elected statewide. His base came from the accumulation of one-on-one personal interactions where people were convinced of the merits of his character. When it came time for him to run, he had thousands of committed believers, not because of a traditional political career, but because they'd been exposed to him as such a decent human being. That was his base.
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Moderator2:30
You also highlighted that the campaigns were often nasty, which was a struggle for a gentleman of such grace who still had to get involved with some of what we now consider the modern nastiness of presidential campaigns.
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Ed Rogers2:49
That's something we can all learn from. This is an excellent time to pause and reflect. Bush came into the presidency just at the dawn of the 'permanent campaign,' where everybody's campaigning all the time. Bush thought campaign politics was a seasonal sport: a few months before the election, you campaign, and after that, you govern. He believed good government is the best politics. He thought campaign politics could be dirty, and he wasn't particularly great at it or fond of it.
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Moderator3:52
You worked for Lee Atwater at times. Did the president ever, post-presidency, express regret for the hardball tactics it takes to win and be in a position to later govern?
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Ed Rogers4:01
Well, not regret. He knew some of it was ugly and not particularly tasteful, and I think he anguished about it. He probably tried to block the worst aspects of his campaign from his memory. He didn't want to relive them or write about them, but when the fights were over, they were over.
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Moderator4:27
Some have said this week that he never really wrote a proper memoir. Does that speak to his humility?
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Ed Rogers4:35
It does. He had a bias against boastfulness and a reticence to take the spotlight. I think he would have thought it presumptuous to write a flattering book about himself. He and Barbara apparently said they wanted to leave the judgment to history. It takes great confidence and discipline to have that attitude, especially now when many political leaders think it's standard operating procedure to be boastful and craft their legacy in the most flattering way possible.
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Moderator5:25
Watching the arrivals at the National Cathedral, how long-lasting is the message of his life and character? What is the half-life of this reflection we're having about the character traits we find desirable?
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Ed Rogers5:42
Probably not very long, but I think it will linger. It may linger in some younger politicians and teach some older ones that acting in a civil way can get them the applause they seek. I read somewhere that it was well-said that even President Trump was being abnormally normal throughout these proceedings.