Bush's Upcoming Book: History or His Story?

Former President George W. Bush, who dubbed himself "The Decider," is writing a book about some of decisions he made while he was in office. The book, tentatively titled "Decision Points," is scheduled for a 2010 release by the Crown Publishing Group.

During the last days of his Presidency, George W. Bush began talking about writing a memoir that gives the America people and perhaps the world, an idea of the world as seen through a president's eyes. Reportedly, the new book will concentrate on personal and presidential choices. Among the personal topics will be his relationship with family members, including his father, George H.W. Bush, his religious faith, and his decision to quit drinking. Among the Presidential choices that are expected to be touched on are selecting Dick Cheney as his Vice-President, the decision to send troops to invade Iraq and his highly criticized response to Hurricane Katrina. Once known for his reluctance to acknowledge any possible mistakes, Bush said the book would include self-criticism, but cautioned that "hindsight is very easy" and that he would make sure readers could view events as he saw them. During a telephone interview with the Associated Press from his Dallas, TX office, Mr. Bush stated,

"I want to recreate what it was like, for example, right after 9/11 and have people understand the emotions I felt and what others around me felt at the time. I want people to understand the environment in which I was making decisions. I want people to get a sense of how decisions were made and I want people to understand the options that were placed before me."

Although the former President didn't keep a diary while in office, he has said he jotted down an occasional note. Mr. Bush began writing the memoir of his years as president just two days after leaving the White House. According to the AP, Bush, has written "maybe" 30,000 words, working with research assistants and a former White House speechwriter, Chris Michel. Virtually all the top officials in the Bush administration, from Condoleeza Rice to political strategist Karl Rove, have either completed books or are in the midst of writing them. Former Vice-President Dick Cheney has said he too plans a memoir. In the meantime, since leaving office former Bush administration officials have been on the talk show and interview circuit attempting to put a positive spin on the Bush years. Bush himself started his rewrite during his last days in office and has since began his speaking tour to do much of the same. But history speaks for itself. According to a person familiar with the matter, George W. Bush’s book deal is reportedly valued at about $7 million, less than half what Bill Clinton was paid for his memoir and less than the $8 million Hillary Clinton received. Book Publishers and critics alike, taking note of his low approval ratings at the time he left office, have questioned Mr. Bush's capacity for self-criticism and have generally been less enthusiastic about his upcoming book. And while there are polls out suggesting that the general public is less than enthusiastic about Bush's new book, the past indicates that perhaps they should not be too quick in writing off his prospects. Twenty-eight years ago there was another former President, a onetime Southern governor, who professed of a deep Christian faith, that left office unpopular thanks to an economy left in disarray and a foreign-policy disaster in a Muslim country. But while Jimmy Carter's memoir failed to garner a seven-figure advance, President Carter has since become a prolific, highly paid bestselling author of books on a variety of topics. Perhaps Jimmy Carter could teach George W. Bush about how to rebuild a reputation while building a fortune at the same time.