Texas Titans: George H.W. Bush and James A. Baker, III: A Friendship Forged in Power

by Charles Denyer, Vice President Dick Cheney (Foreword)

George H.W. Bush and James A. Baker, A Personal and Political Friendship for the Ages The friendship between George H.W. Bush and James A. Baker, III began over fifty years ago on the tennis courts of the Houston Country Club when they found themselves paired as a doubles team, winning back-to-back championships in 1966 and 1967. While both men were admittedly weak servers, Bush was the net-and-volley guy, with Baker holding down the baseline with his groundstroke skills. That same approach of complementary skill sets and teamwork spilled over into their political careers for decades to come. Both men's résumés were legendary. Bush served as a United States congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, chair of the Republican National Committee, US liaison to China, director of Central Intelligence, 43rd vice president, and 41st president of the United States. Baker served as undersecretary of commerce, secretary of the treasury, secretary of state, and White House chief of staff — twice, while also chairing or playing a lead role in five successive presidential elections for three different candidates from 1976 to 1992. Texas Titans is a story of George Herbert Walker Bush and James Addison Baker, III, two of America's most consequential statesmen of the past fifty years. Two men from opposite areas of the country who found friendship on the tennis courts at the Houston Country Club. Two men who helped transform a world during an era of immense challenges and change. Two men who became — and still are — Texas titans. Excerpts from Texas Titans : On Bush's Consequential A sea of change engulfed the world during Bush's single term as president, testing his resolve like never before as a series of cascading events unfolded. The Berlin Wall — a symbol of human oppression — was torn down after thirty years. Saddam Hussein invaded tiny neighboring Kuwait, throwing the Middle East into turmoil and panic. Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union, was placed under house arrest in an attempted coup. And the Soviet Union ceased to exist on December 26, 1991. Events no historian or political operative could have accurately predicted, nevertheless, moments in history that placed George Herbert Walker Bush and James Addison Baker, III front and center on the world stage. On the 1992 Presidential Election Baker admits that the loss "was devastating. He [George H.W. Bush] was devastated by that loss." Baker is also quick to point out that "I read a lot . . . comments, pundits and so forth saying, he lost because he broke his no-new-taxes pledge. That's not why he lost. . . . Everybody ought to get that straight. I ran that campaign, and I saw it every day in the polling. He lost because of a little guy from Dallas, Texas, called Ross Perot, who took nineteen percent of the vote. And we knew from our polling he [Perot] was taking two out of every three votes from us. We got 38, Clinton got 43. You add two-thirds of 19 to 38, and we get 51." On "I have always been proud that George Bush used to describe our relationship as one of big brother and little brother. He used to say that one of the things he liked best about me was that I would always tell him what I thought, even when I knew he didn't want to hear it. Then we would have a spirited discussion about that issue." "But he had a very effective way of letting me know when the discussion was over," he continued. "He would look at me and say, 'Baker, if you're so smart, why am I president and you're not?'"

Genres: Biography, Politics

380 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2020

Reviews

[Eden Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Texas Titans is a book that lets us see people in politics as humans with character and value. I really enjoyed reading about Bush's life. I had no idea how compassionate and humble he was. The passage that really hit me was when he talked about his days during war. He was not the type to boast and act like he was a hero. He was very humble. He said "I was sick to my stomach . . . scared. If somebody didn’t pick me up, I would have been captured and killed... Nothing heroic about getting shot down. And I wondered, why was I spared when two friends in the plane with me were killed.” He dealt with a lot in those days from war to the loss of a child and yet he still pushed on with life, staying strong within himself, for his family and friends, and still valuing the American people. Even as a Republican he thought the party should be open to everyone. I appreciate that as a minority female, because there's not a lot people who show support when minorities side with Republicans. 

His friendship with Baker was very admirable. They came from different backgrounds and yet had a deep friendship not only in private life but also within their work life for decades. To be able to trust someone so much in all components of your life is something we all want in a friendship. My favorite quote was when Baker described his last moment with Bush. “That last day was really a very, very gentle and peaceful passing for him...he opened both eyes, he looked at me, he said, ‘Hey, Bake, where are we going today?’ And I said, ‘Well, Jefe,’ I said, ‘We’re going to heaven.’ He said, ‘Good, that’s where I want to go.’ Little did I know, or did he know, of course, that by ten o’clock that night, he’d be in heaven". I think we need to have more books that showcase authentic and strong friendships between men. 5 out of 5.

[Brandon Westlake · Rating 3 out of 5]

I consider myself to be a great fan of George H.W. Bush- I think his humility, fair-mindedness, and grace are qualities that leaders today could use a good dose of. Reading much about Bush, I have encountered James Baker, but really did not have much background on him. This book is a great introduction to both men, showing how they rose from their beginnings outside politics to have a large role in the shape of the nation.

This is an easy and accessible read if one is looking for insights into President Bush's history. However, it strongly echoes many of the recent biographies, including the one written by his son. Those who read that book really will not uncover anything new in Denyer's book. But for a place to begin with Baker, who is slowly starting to get more academic attention, this is a great introduction. The book's introduction makes the case that they should be looked at as a force that is greater than the sum of its parts, but the book doesn't follow. In some instance there is overlapping and a synthesis of these two men's lives, but as a whole, Denyer switches back and forth between focusing on Bush and then on Baker. To be clear, this isn't a book on their relationship. It is certainly written about in some areas, but I don't think it comes across as a melding of the two men. There are far more instances of sections and chapters separated out by each man's history. This makes it easy for the beginning reader to build and see each man's importance in his own respect.

My only major criticism is Denyer's chapter on the 2000 election. In casting Baker as loyal and politically saavy, he discusses his role in helping secure Bush's victory. This argument works if politics is viewed as shrewd and Machiavellian, but does not help Baker's image to push it as a noble win. I think great biographies are very clear when someone acts in a morally questionable way. Denyer, it seems, feels the need to write about Baker's involvement in 2000 from a positive standpoint because Baker not doing so would not align with the person he has portrayed in previous pages. Again, if politics is a game about power and tactics, rather than a means of representing the people in a democratic republic, then this portrayal of Baker works. However, it is deeply unsettling to consider politics this way and I think readers would implicitly question the portrayal.

I have not read other books by Denyer, so I cannot comment if these views on Bush and Baker align with his view of politics and history in those other works. He definitely does a nice job exploring their rise into politics and how they developed their own ideas, something I think that will interest most of his readers.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Texas Titans is a look at the decades long friendship between George HW Bush and James Baker. Savvy politicians who called Houston, Texas home, they were involved in some of the biggest events in history, including the collapse of the Soviet Union.

This is a book about politics, but not about political parties (for the most part). Very rarely does the Republican platform appear. This book is about public service, about doing what is best for the country instead of self. This is especially true of Bush. Baker can be a heavy hitter, a mud slinger when necessary. Bush was a statesman, a man who made hard choices that he truly felt was best for the country even when they weren't popular. To quote Bill Clinton, "People always came before politics, patriotism before partisanship."

I enjoyed this a lot. While I don't care for politics as a whole, I found their stories inspiring. It made me long to see someone in politics with the mindset and values Bush had.

This is a terrific look at these two men and how their friendship changed their lives and the world.

Thanks to BookSirens for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Caroline David · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the recent book I've read about James A. Baker, I became fascinated with the man who was behind many of the Republican greats. I have worked in conservative politics for over six years and hasn't heard the name. I was happy when that changed and I learned more. This book was a deep dive into Baker's relationship with George H. W. Bush. Charles Denyer starts at the beginning and it plays out in descriptive lore that any can appreciate it. It is the untold story of two Texas Titans painting the country red.

[Carol Macarthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Denyer's account of the interaction and decades-long friendship of two prodigious political figures of the Twentieth Century reaches masterpiece level. The era of George H.W. Bush's presidency is related incident by incident, and Bush comes alive as one of the most gracious and well-intentioned presidents to serve the country. His friendship and collaboration with the highly -skilled James Bakers undoubtedly worked toward the successes of the Bush presidency. This amazing double-biography recreates the characters of two giants of politics as a tasty, not "dry" historical read!

[Eric Van Der Hope]

Washington is overrun today by bickering and infighting...

Washington is overrun today by bickering and infighting, and I don't even know if it's ever going to end, so it's nice to see a book like Texas Titans come out and talk about civility and respect. Bush and Baker were two very important political figures during the Cold War years, and Denyer's book illustrates the dangerous landscape these two men had to carefully navigate. I found the book extremely easy to read, well-written, and uplifting. Why can't we have more books like this.

[Joyce Qallison · Rating 3 out of 5]

read about 50% of this book. If you don't agree with my political commentary, just walk away from this review.

My goal was to understand how history "sees" these two men, especially Bush's multi country agreement to attack Iran. This book contained no analysis; just a compilation of many newspaper articles from the times. I just didn't learn anything new about their lives or the history of the times.

[Runner10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Texas Titans is a wonderfully written book about the friendship of President George H.W. Bush and James Baker. It is a refreshing read during our current times. I learned many interesting facts about President Bush.

[Irl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am fascinated in the two figures, especially what they did and why. But I found few in depth answers here. There is too much repetition and very little in depth analysis of why they acted and thought as they did.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Read

Coming from someone who’s not into politics at all, I actually enjoyed this book. Instead of seeing these two men as political leaders, I had the chance to envision them outside of the political world. Two strong and brave men that didn’t see things as Democrats Vs Republicans, but a country that needed a leader with a vision. Amazing what a friendship can bring to an entire country.