Presidential transition of George H. W. Bush

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Presidential transition of George H. W. Bush
President Ronald Reagan Nancy Reagan George Bush Barbara Bush Dan Quayle Marilyn Quayle Photo Op with Newly Elected George Bush and Dan Quayle.jpg
President-elect Bush speaks in the White House Rose Garden accompanied by his wife Barbara, incumbent President and First Lady Ronald and Nancy Reagan, as well as Vice President-elect Dan Quayle and his wife Marilyn
FormationNovember 8, 1988
DissolvedJanuary 20, 1989
TypeQuasi-governmental–private
PurposePresidential transition
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Co-directors
Craig L. Fuller and Robert Teeter
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President-elect Bush and his wife Barbara hang a banner from the gate outside Number One Observatory Circle, Bush's official residence as Vice President

The presidential transition of George H. W. Bush began when then-Vice President George H. W. Bush won the United States 1988 United States presidential election, becoming the president-elect, and ended when Bush was inaugurated at noon EST on January 20, 1989.

The transition was a "friendly takeover", in which the outgoing president and the president-elect were of the same political party.

"Friendly takeover"[]

This transition was an instance of a "friendly takeover", a term used for a presidential transition in which both the outgoing and incoming presidents are of the same political party.[1][2][3][4] In November 1988, Chase Untermeyer would embrace describing the Bush transition with this term.[4] In this instance, both the outgoing Ronald Reagan and the incoming Bush were Republicans, and Bush was the incumbent Vice President, having served under Reagan since 1981. This was the eleventh instanct of a post-election "friendly takeover" in United States history,[5] and the first instance of one since Herbert Hoover, in his presidential transition, succeeded Calvin Coolidge.[6][4] This was also the first presidential transition in which an outgoing president was handing-over power to their own vice president since the 1836–37 transition, when Andrew Jackson was succeeded by his vice president Martin Van Buren.[7][8]

Pre-election developments[]

Legislative changes[]

Ahead of the 1988 election, there was bipartisan agreement that changes needed to be made to presidential transitions in order to make them easier. This agreement between parties, perhaps, was attributable to the fact that there would be a presidential transition occurring in the year 1988, since President Reagan was term-limited.[9] One of the changes being pushed in congress was to increase the amount of funds provided by the government to a transition.[9] Since 1976, the government had provided $2 million to the president-elect's team and $1 million to the outgoing president's administration to fund a transition.[10]

Legislation named the Presidential Transitions Effectiveness Act was successfully passed in 1988.[7] In part, this legislation increases the amount given to presidential transitions to $3.5 million for the president-elect's team and $1.5 million to the outgoing president's administration.[7][10] It also required that private contributions to transitions and the names of transition personnel would be publicly disclosed.[7] It required, in return for receiving federal services and funding, transition teams would formally disclose the date, source, and amount of all privately contributed funds within 30 days after the inauguration.[7] The legislation also placed a cap of $5,000 on private contributions from any one person or organization to a transition team.[7] The bill also required transitions to disclose information about transition team members prior to initial contact with a federal department or agency.[7]

There had also been an unsuccessful effort to altogether stop president-elects from accepting private contributions to help fund their transitions, a bill for which was approved in the United States House of Representatives on March 31, 1988.[11][12]

Transition planning[]

Early discussions about a prospective presidential transition for Bush began in late 1987.[13] In January of 1988, Bush privately selected Chase Untermeyer to lead the pre-election planning of his potential presidential transition.[3]

Six months before the election, in April of 1988 (after Bush had become the Republican Party's presumptive nominee), action for the planning for a potential Bush presidential transition began in earnest, being led, at this stage, by Untermeyer.[3][14][15][2] This planning effort maintained a low-key profile.[3]

At the same time, Reagan's staff took steps to prepare for a presidential transition.[2] This included having his director of President Personnel meet with Untermeyer for discussions, and having his White House chief of staff, Kenneth Duberstein, prepare a checklist for the transition team of whichever candidate would win the election.[2]

In mid-October, Bush said that, if elected, he would be ready to quickly name his Cabinet picks.[16]

Official transition[]

On November 9, Bush named Craig L. Fuller and Robert Teeter as the heads of his transition team.[7][14] Fuller was his Vice presidential chief of staff, while Teeter had been his campaign's top pollster and senior strategist.[14] This would be indicative of the rest of the transition, where Bush largely relied on close advisors and political allies he had become acquainted with over his career to lead the effort.[3] Bush also named Chase Untermeyer as its personnel director, and pledged "major turnover" in order to "reinvigorate" the government.[14] He named C. Boyden Gray , his longtime legal counsel, as the transition's legal advisor, and Sheila Tate, who had been the campaign's press secretary, as the press secretary of the transition.[14] These members Bush named at the start of his transition were largely young, in the 30s and 40s, had reputations as moderate-leaning Republicans, had years of experience in Washington, D.C. politics, and had (except for Tate) worked with Bush for several years.[7][14]

Untermeyer remained on the transition as a deputy.[2] Bush also named James Baker as an advisor on "key aspects" of the transition.[7] While Untermeyer's original recommendation was for the transition to have a small staff of roughly 100, the staff would grow to around 225 members.[2] Even still, this transition was much smaller than the previous Reagan transition, which had accumulated a massive 1,000 to 1,500 volunteers and paid staff.[3][4] Bush had publicly expressed his desire to run, "a somewhat leaner transition organization than we had in 1980."[4]

President-elect Bush meets with his Democratic 1988 presidential election opponent Michael Dukakis on December 2, 1988

The transition team received $3.5 million and the outgoing White House received $1.75 million in funding from the federal government.[17] The outgoing White House received $250,000 less than the normally would be given to a transition, due to the fact that the incumbent vice president (Bush) would not be transitioning out of government.[17]

In mid-November, Bush opened his transition office on Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C..[7][4] The transition opted to use a private building at expense, rather than the alternative of having the General Services Administration provide his team office space in a federal government property, which would have been free-of-charge to the transition.[17]

On November 22, 1988, Duberstein requested that both Cabinet members and agency heads provide information to the transition team pertaining to organizational matters, goals and functions, resource descriptions, congressional oversight committees, regulatory programs, and other important matters of relevance to each agency.[7]

By the end of November, the majority of executive branch agencies had already designated internal transition leaders to assist Bush's transition liaisons.[7] Because the transition did not have large teams for each agency, Duberstein sent a memo to agency political appointees urging them to prepare briefing brooks for incoming appointees.[2] In regard to White House aides, the transition suffered from a lack of communication between the outgoing aides and their counterparts in Bush's planned administration.[18]

President-elect Bush with President Reagan and Soviet Premier Gorbachev during the Governors Island Summit

On December 7, Bush joined Reagan for the Governors Island Summit with Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Nine days before Bush's inauguration, his wife Barbara received a tour of the White House from Reagan's wife Nancy. The two wives had a unfriendly relationship with one another, and it was reported that the tour that Nancy Reagan gave was rather curt.[19]

Reagan is credited with, during this transition, having begun a tradition of presidents leaving a handwritten note in the Oval Office for their successors.[20]

Selection of appointees[]

As many as about 5,000 jobs would be available for the incoming president to appoint new holders to.[4]

The day after the election, Bush named his first Cabinet secretary designee, designating James A. Baker as his choice for secretary of state.[4] This was unusually early, at the time, for a president-elect to begin naming Cabinet designees, as the earliest any of the last several president-elects had begun doing so in their transitions was when Dwight D. Eisenhower did so 16 days after his election.[4]

Nine days after winning the election, Bush chose John H. Sununu to serve as his White House chief of staff.[2] Per media reports, in the days after the election, there had been tense disagreement among his staff about who should hold this position in Bush's administration. According to these reports, both Fuller and Teeter were opposed to the choice of Sununu, and this would be the reason that neither of them chose to join Bush's presidential administration after the transition.[2]

Reagan had asked his appointees to submit letters of resignation, to make way for Bush appointees.[1][21] Reagan requested that cabinet appointees and more than 500 other political appointees tender their resignations in time for Bush's presidency.[4] However, many appointees, wrongly presuming they would be retained in the "friendly takeover", did not do so.[1][21] Reagan's White House chief of staff, Kenneth Duberstein, would later recount having to have uncomfortable conversations with individuals to persuade them to tender their resignations.[1] While many Reagan appointees were expected to resign, it had been anticipated from the start of the transition that select recent Reagan appointees, who Bush had had input in hiring, would remain for the Bush administration.[8] Bush did keep a number of Reagan appointees. For instance, of his 53 White House staff hires, 27 had held a role in the Reagan administration.[22] Bush also had shortly after the election that he would retain three Reagan Cabinet secretaries, treasury secretary Nicholas F. Brady, attorney general Richard Thornburgh, and secretary of education Lauro Cavazos.[22] Additionally, Bush selected many more Reagan high-ranking administration officials to different top positions than the ones that they had held under Reagan.[23]

Many of Bush's Cabinet selections were longtime associates with strong levels of prior government experience.[2] Bush's picks for his Cabinet were more ethnically diverse than those of the Cabinets previous Republican Party presidents, including two women, two hispanic Americans, and an African-American.[22]

Some of Bush's Cabinet picks would attract controversy.[22] For instance, his pick for secretary of health and human services, Louis Wade Sullivan, encountered some resistance from "pro-life" conservatives because of his previously stated stance on abortion. Sullivan had previously been quoted as saying that that, while he opposed federal funding for abortion, he supported what he regarded to be a woman's right to elect for an abortion if she desires one.[24] Sullivan, once nominated, would say he would side with Bush's stance of opposing abortions in most instances.[25] Sullivan would ultimately express opposition to abortion during his United States Senate confirmation process, and was confirmed.[22][26] John Tower, Bush's selection for secretary of defense, would later attract tremendous controversy during his United States Senate confirmation process in the early days of Bush's presidency, ultimately becoming the first Cabinet nominee formally rejected in a U.S. Senate vote in 30 years, and the most recent one.[22][27][28]

Defense and foreign policy[]

Domestic policy[]

Economic policy[]

White House staff[]

Other[]

  • Richard Darman, director of the Office of Management and Budget (announced November 21, 1988)[32]
  • Anna Maria Perez, press secretary for the First Lady (announced January 14, 1989)[37]

Analysis of transition[]

In early March of 1989, it was reported that many experts argued that Bush's transition, and the first two weeks of his presidency, had both been lackluster.[39]

Some have retrospectively characterized the transition as having been somewhat bumpy,[21] In March 2001, Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution wrote that the transition had been "uneasy".[22]

Some have given the transition great praise. In 2020, academic Barbara A. Perry gave it as an example of a "good" presidential transition.[40] In 2000, journalist Jonathan Weisman of The Baltimore Sun called it "among the best transition teams".[41]

Further reading[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Walls, Madison (15 January 2021). "Laws and customs guide presidential transitions — but some go off the rails anyway". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kamensky, John (4 March 2008). "Transition 1988: George H.W. Bush". 2008 Presidential Transition Initiative. IBM Center for the Business of Government. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Skinner, Richard (5 October 2016). "Jimmy Carter changed presidential transitions forever". Vox. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Bush transition team already setting course for the first 100 days". Newspapers.com. The Pittsburgh Press. Associated Press. 13 Nov 1988. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  5. ^ Chapin, James (24 December 2000). "Analysis: Presidential transitions - First of three parts". UPI. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  6. ^ Hatfield, Mark (with the Senate Historical Office) (1997). "Vice Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1981–1989)" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 23, 2003. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Smith, Stephanie (11 February 2008). "CRS Report for Congress Presidential Transitions" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b Solowey, Eric S. (17 November 1988). "Bush, Reagan Work on Easy Transition | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. The Crimson. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Congress for easing presidential transitions". Newspapers.com. Kenosha News. 6 Mar 1988. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. ^ a b "JUST ASK Where does the money come from to pay Bill Clinton's transition team expenses?". Newspapers.com. Democrat and Chronicle. 13 Nov 1992. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Iowa Delegation". Newspapers.com. The Courier (Waterloo, Iowa). Roll Call Report Syndicate. 3 Apr 1988. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ^ Delaney, Gil (1 Apr 1988). "'Influence Peddling' Bill Passes in House". Newspapers.com. Intelligencer Journal. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  13. ^ Burke, John P. (2009). "The Contemporary Presidency: The Obama Presidential Transition: An Early Assessment". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 39 (3): 574–604. ISSN 0360-4918. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Bush transition team is young, moderate". Newspapers.com. The Kansas City Times. The Washington Post. 10 November 1988. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  15. ^ Meisler, Stanley (6 Mar 1989). "Is the honeymoon over?". Newspapers.com. The Capital Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Bush sticks to original 'game plan'". Newspapers.com. The Ithaca Journal. The Associated Press. 17 Oct 1988.
  17. ^ a b c Fram, Alan (21 Oct 1992). "$5 million tabbed for transition into White House". Newspapers.com. Muncie Evening Press. Associated Press. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Reagan to Bush: Brookings and the 1988-89 Presidential Transition". Brookings. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  19. ^ Brower, Kate Andersen (2016-04-06). "When first ladies meet: An awkward post-election White House tradition". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  20. ^ "What is the presidential transition process?". Partnership for Public Service. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  21. ^ a b c Vyse, Graham (16 November 2016). "Bill Clinton's Transition Was Worse Than Trump's (For Now)". The New Republic. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Hess, Stephen (1 March 2001). "First Impressions: A Look Back at Five Presidential Transitions". www.brookings.edu. Brookings Institution. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  23. ^ a b c "Only few new faces". Newspapers.com. The Paris News (Paris, Texas). The Associated Press. 15 Jan 1989. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  24. ^ Povich, Elaine S. (21 December 1988). "ABORTION FUROR HALTS CABINET NOMINATIONS". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  25. ^ Roberts, Steven V. (1989-01-24). "NOMINEE OF BUSH'S IS SAID TO OPPOSE BANNING ABORTION". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Louis Sullivan, expressing his opposition to abortion, won approval..." UPI. 24 February 1989. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  27. ^ King, Elizabeth (3 February 2017). "This Is What Happened Last Time a Cabinet Nomination Was Rejected". Time. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  28. ^ Oreskes, Michael (1989-03-10). "SENATE REJECTS TOWER, 53-47; FIRST CABINET VETO SINCE '59; BUSH CONFERS ON NEW CHOICE". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Excerpts of the President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Appointment of Brent Scowcroft as National Security Advisor | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. The American Presidency Project (University of California Santa Barbara). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  30. ^ a b c "Senate Cabinet review opens with Baker". Newspapers.com. The Miami Herald. The Associated Press. 18 January 1989. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  31. ^ "The President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Nomination of Clayton Yeutter as Secretary of Agriculture | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. United States Presidency Project (University of California Santa Barbara). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  32. ^ a b c "The President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Nominations of Richard Thornburgh as Attorney General, Lauro F. Cavazos as Secretary of Education, and Richard G. Darman as Director of O.M.B. | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. The American Presidency Project (University of California Santa Barbara). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Excerpts of the President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Nominations of James Watkins as Secretary of Energy and Bill Bennett as Director of National Drug Control Policy | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. The American Presidency Project (University of California Santa Barbara). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  34. ^ a b c d e "The President-Elect's News Conference Announcing Five Cabinet Nominations | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. The American President Project (University of California Santa Barbara). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Excerpts of the President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Nomination of Jack Kemp as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. The American Presidency Project (University of California Santa Barbara). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  36. ^ "Excerpts of the President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Nomination of Elizabeth Hanford Dole as Secretary of Labor | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. The American Presidency Project (University of California Santa Barbara. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  37. ^ a b c d e "Bush reels off tales of big one during Florida fishing sojourn". Newspapers.com. The Sacramento Bee. The Associated Press. 15 Jan 1989. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  38. ^ "The President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Appointment of John Sununu as Chief of Staff | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. The American Presidency Project (University of California Santa Barbara). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  39. ^ "Bush transition gets lackluster rating". Newspapers.com. News Press (Fort Myers, Florida). Los Angeles Times-Washington Post. 5 Mar 1989. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  40. ^ "Historical Presidential Transitions | C-SPAN Classroom". www.c-span.org. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  41. ^ Weisman, Jonathan (13 Nov 2000). "Job of staffing new government can be awesome". Newspapers.com. The Record. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
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