by Jean Becker
First published 2025
Jean Becker served as Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush and wrote the bestseller THE MAN I KNEW. Now she gathers intimate memories from those who knew Bush best. Political figures like Condoleezza Rice, James Baker, and Robert Gates share their experiences alongside entertainers Dana Carvey and Reba McEntire, columnist Maureen Dowd, and novelist Brad Meltzer. International leaders John Major and Brian Mulroney contribute their perspectives, as do presidential biographer Jon Meacham, the Oak Ridge Boys, author Christopher Buckley, and Bush's own grandchildren. These personal accounts reveal how Bush demonstrated leadership through his actions rather than his words. Becker argues that genuine character remains the foundation of effective leadership. The book arrives as America faces another challenging election cycle, offering lessons from a president who consistently led by example.
Genres: history, politics, leadership, biography-memoir
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-accounts
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
368 pages · Paperback · Grand Central Publishing