The Man I Knew audiobook cover - The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush's Post-Presidency

The Man I Knew

The Amazing Story of George H. W. Bush's Post-Presidency

Jean Becker

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Biography & MemoirPolitics

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The Man I Knew
Post-Presidency Transition+
Family & Politics+
Global Influence & Closure+
Friendship with Clinton+
Kindness & Service+
Adventures & Humor+
Final Years & Legacy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
What incident on his deathbed perfectly encapsulated George H. W. Bush's selfless nature?
  • A. He asked his chief of staff if she was OK after she coughed.
  • B. He dictated a final letter of support to the sitting president.
  • C. He asked to be left alone so his family wouldn't see him suffer.
  • D. He requested that his medical equipment be donated to a children's hospital.
Question 2 of 10
How did George H. W. Bush initially react to his transition from president to private citizen in 1993?
  • A. He immediately launched a successful corporate consulting firm.
  • B. He felt a profound sense of loss regarding his ability to make important decisions.
  • C. He was relieved to finally escape the relentless pressures of the Oval Office.
  • D. He spent his first year traveling the world giving paid speeches.
Question 3 of 10
Why did George H. W. Bush insist on calling Al Gore the night after the 2000 presidential election was decided?
  • A. To gloat about his son's victory in Florida.
  • B. To offer him a position in George W. Bush's new cabinet.
  • C. To express empathy because he personally knew the pain of losing a presidential election.
  • D. To ask Gore to concede gracefully to avoid further legal battles.
Question 4 of 10
What was the primary purpose of Bush's 2002 trip to the remote Japanese island of Chichijima?
  • A. To negotiate a new trade agreement with the Japanese government.
  • B. To get emotional closure by visiting the site where his plane was shot down during WWII.
  • C. To dedicate a new presidential library branch in the Pacific.
  • D. To meet privately with Emperor Akihito away from the press.
Question 5 of 10
What event initially brought former political rivals George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton together, sparking their close friendship?
  • A. Attending Pope John Paul II's funeral in Rome.
  • B. Co-authoring a book about the American presidency.
  • C. Campaigning together during the 2004 election.
  • D. Teaming up to raise funds for tsunami relief in Asia.
Question 6 of 10
What personal tragedy inspired George and Barbara Bush's lifelong dedication to raising money for cancer research?
  • A. George H. W. Bush's own battle with skin cancer.
  • B. The death of their young daughter, Robin, from leukemia in 1953.
  • C. A Secret Service agent's child losing their hair to chemotherapy.
  • D. Barbara Bush's mother passing away from breast cancer.
Question 7 of 10
Why did George H. W. Bush invite actor George Clooney to help with Hurricane Rita relief efforts in Cameron, Louisiana?
  • A. He mistakenly believed Clooney was still starring as a doctor on the TV show ER.
  • B. Clooney was a prominent political donor to the Bush family campaigns.
  • C. Clooney was a native of Louisiana and had requested to help.
  • D. He knew Clooney had recently founded a disaster relief charity.
Question 8 of 10
Why did Bush specifically ask his staff to track down Arnold Schwarzenegger after news broke of his marital scandal?
  • A. To publicly condemn Schwarzenegger's actions.
  • B. To offer him political advice on how to handle the media.
  • C. To reach out and offer friendship because he knew Schwarzenegger must be feeling down.
  • D. To ask for a donation to the Points of Light foundation.
Question 9 of 10
How did George H. W. Bush choose to celebrate his 90th birthday, despite having Parkinson's disease and limited mobility?
  • A. By throwing out the first pitch at a Houston Astros game.
  • B. By completing a tandem parachute jump in Maine.
  • C. By taking a 33-hour boat ride to Japan.
  • D. By hosting a massive surprise party for Barbara.
Question 10 of 10
Which of the following was one of George H. W. Bush's specific requests for his own funeral?
  • A. A solid gold casket to represent the presidency.
  • B. A complex, multi-day procession through all 50 states.
  • C. A plain brown wood casket and a simple cross headstone.
  • D. That no former political rivals be allowed to attend.

The Man I Knew — Full Chapter Overview

The Man I Knew Summary & Overview

The Man I Knew (2021) is the simultaneously heartwarming, tear-jerking, and surprising story of George H. W. Bush’s life after the White House. Many people are aware of President Bush’s accomplishments as a politician – shepherding the US through the end of the Cold War, successfully navigating the Gulf War, and signing the Americans With Disabilities Act into law, to name but a few. But this isn’t the story of George Bush the politician –⁠ it’s the story of George Bush the husband, friend, and father.

Who Should Listen to The Man I Knew?

  • Fans of the Bush family and other prominent Republicans
  • Democrats who want to get to know someone on the other side of the aisle
  • Memoir-lovers

About the Author: Jean Becker

Jean Becker served as George H. W. Bush’s chief of staff –⁠ and good friend –⁠ from 1994 through to Bush’s death in 2018. Before that, she was a journalist and spent three years as First Lady Barbara Bush’s deputy press secretary. She edited and did research for All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings; Barbara Bush, A Memoir; and Reflections.

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