About the Author

Peter Schweizer is a fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author of several books, including Reagan’s War. Rochelle Schweizer is a writer and a media consultant. They live in Florida with their two children.

Reviews

"Fascinating. . . . Provides illuminating insights into the internal dynamics of the Bush family dynasty." –The New York Times

“If you want to know as fully as can be told the story of how the Bushes rose from Midwestern obscurity to equal the records of families like the Roosevelts, the Kennedys and the Adamses–this is the book.” –New York Post

“Revealing about the internal dynamics of this interesting familyÉ. The Bushes opened up to the Schweizers and discussed intimate details of their history.” –The Washington Post Book World

“No one has gotten as close to penetrating the Bush family dynamics, and the complex relationship between father and son.” –The Providence Journal

"This is a dynasty indeed, no matter how the family demurs. . . . The Schweizers have succeeded in humanizing what can be a curiously detached family by ferreting out fascinating detail." –Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Offer[s] rare--and controversial--insight into the family some call the Republican Kennedys." –Boston Herald

"What the Schweizers do best is explore that dynamic over three generations of Bush males. . . . This book is the place to start if you want to understand how family has molded the Bush men." –Houston Chronicle

“Offers insights on the Bush relationships and rivalries, their ambitions and their impressions of each other’s successes and problems.” –Tallahassee Democrat

"Entertaining . . . full of charming anecdotes. . . . A delightful book." –National Review

"[A] detailed history of the Bush dynasty--sprinkled with anecdotal family gossip that provides fresh humanizing insights . . . along with an intriguing snapshot of the conflicted relationship, fuelled in equal parts by love and competition, between 'Big George,' and 'Little George.'" –The Independent on Sunday

Like Kevin Phillips in his bestselling American Dynasty, the Schweizers trace the history of the Bush family back to progenitors George Herbert Walker and Samuel P. Bush. It's easy to spot both continuity and change in four generations of prominent Bushes. Of Prescott Bush's career in business, we're told, "Consensus and camaraderie forged behind closed doors suited him perfectly," a description that fits his grandson's style in the White House. And many of the family's connections span decades: Back in 1928, a firm headed by Prescott Bush purchased Dresser Industries-which today is a subsidiary of Halliburton. However, the family's politics have shifted rightward like those of their party: Prescott Bush lost his first election after being "smeared" as an advocate of birth control, and later he became one of the first senators to denounce Joseph McCarthy-a bold gesture of moderation. Unlike Phillips, the Schweizers try hard to put a positive spin on the family saga. They insist that George H.W. Bush disliked negative campaigning, without mentioning the infamous Willie Horton ad that helped him win the 1988 election. When recounting the Florida election crisis of 2000, they find it "troublesome" that Carol Roberts, who oversaw the Palm Beach recount, was a Gore supporter, but fail to note that election supervisor Katherine Harris helped run Bush's Florida campaign. Thus, while this group portrait usefully gathers much family lore in a single, accessible source, the unbiased, authoritative story of the dynasty remains to be written. (On sale Apr. 6) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

"Fascinating. . . . Provides illuminating insights into the internal dynamics of the Bush family dynasty." -The New York Times

"If you want to know as fully as can be told the story of how the Bushes rose from Midwestern obscurity to equal the records of families like the Roosevelts, the Kennedys and the Adamses-this is the book." -New York Post

"Revealing about the internal dynamics of this interesting familyE. The Bushes opened up to the Schweizers and discussed intimate details of their history." -The Washington Post Book World

"No one has gotten as close to penetrating the Bush family dynamics, and the complex relationship between father and son." -The Providence Journal

"This is a dynasty indeed, no matter how the family demurs. . . . The Schweizers have succeeded in humanizing what can be a curiously detached family by ferreting out fascinating detail." -Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Offer[s] rare--and controversial--insight into the family some call the Republican Kennedys." -Boston Herald

"What the Schweizers do best is explore that dynamic over three generations of Bush males. . . . This book is the place to start if you want to understand how family has molded the Bush men." -Houston Chronicle

"Offers insights on the Bush relationships and rivalries, their ambitions and their impressions of each other's successes and problems." -Tallahassee Democrat

"Entertaining . . . full of charming anecdotes. . . . A delightful book." -National Review

"[A] detailed history of the Bush dynasty--sprinkled with anecdotal family gossip that provides fresh humanizing insights . . . along with an intriguing snapshot of the conflicted relationship, fuelled in equal parts by love and competition, between 'Big George,' and 'Little George.'" -The Independent on Sunday