In the final year of my presidency, I began to think seriously about writing
my memoirs. On the recommendation of Karl Rove, I met with more than a
dozen distinguished historians. To a person, they told me I had an
obligation to write. They felt it was important that I record my perspective on
the presidency, in my own words.
“Have you ever seen the movie Apollo 13?” the historian Jay Winik asked.
“Everyone knows the astronauts make it home in the end. But you’re on the
edge of your seat wondering how they do it.”
Nearly all the historians suggested that I read Memoirs by President
Ulysses S. Grant, which I did. The book captures his distinctive voice. He
uses anecdotes to re-create his experience during the Civil War. I could
see why his work had endured.
Like Grant, I decided not to write an exhaustive account of my life or
presidency. Instead I have told the story of my time in the White House by
focusing on the most important part of the job: making decisions. Each
chapter is based on a major decision or a series of related decisions. As a
result, the book flows thematically, not in a day-by-day chronology. I do not
cover all of the important issues that crossed my desk. Many devoted
members of my Cabinet and staff are mentioned briefly or not at all. I value
their service, and I will always be grateful for their contributions.
My goals in writing this book are twofold. First, I hope to paint a picture of
what it was like to serve as president for eight consequential years. I
believe it will be impossible to reach definitive conclusions about my
presidency—or any recent presidency, for that matter—for several
decades. The passage of time allows passions to cool, results to clarify,
and scholars to compare different approaches. My hope is that this book
will serve as a resource for anyone studying this period in American history.
Second, I write to give readers a perspective on decision making in a
complex environment. Many of the decisions that reach the president’s
desk are tough calls, with strong arguments on both sides. Throughout the
book, I describe the options I weighed and the principles I followed. I hope
this will give you a better sense of why I made the decisions I did. Perhaps
it will even prove useful as you make choices in your own life.
Decision Points is based primarily on my recollections. With help from
researchers, I have confirmed my account with government documents,
contemporaneous notes, personal interviews, news reports, and other
sources, some of which remain classified. There were instances in which I
had to rely on my memory alone. If there are inaccuracies in this book, the
responsibility is mine.
In the pages that follow, I have done my best to write about the decisions I
got right, those I got wrong, and what I would do differently if given the
Page 5
chance. Of course, in the presidency, there are no do-overs. You have to
do what you believe is right and accept the consequences. I tried to do that
every day of my eight years in office. Serving as president was the honor of
a lifetime, and I appreciate your giving me an opportunity to share my story.
Page
• 生于1946年7月6日美国康涅狄格州的纽海文市
• 美国第43任总统
• 任期 :2001年1月20日——2009年1月20日
• 父亲是美国第41任总统乔治•赫伯特•沃克•布什
读过《抉择时刻》 2011-12-12 17:07:41 乔治•沃克•布什《抉择时刻》,中信出版社,2011年 今年我读的新书并不多,倒是很多老书时常翻翻,如贡斯当《古代人的自由与现代人的自由》、奥尔森《权力与繁荣》、哈耶克《通往奴役之路》、埃德蒙•柏克《自由与传统》等。这...
评分美国于1776年宣布独立,迄今225年,其国土面积及人口总量均居世界第三位,自1870年以来,美国经济高居全球之首。如今,美国总统已至第四十四任,每位总统先生身上都饱含智慧与传奇。值得一提的是第四十三任,乔治∙沃克∙布什先生。他不仅从2001年至2008年连任两届,而且他...
评分小布什上台的时候没人会看好他,不如克林顿帅气和睿智,不如老布什稳重。我第一眼看到他就觉得他像个“Monkey”,其貌不扬,刚上台讲话的时候也没什么感染力,除了演讲稿写不错之外,其余没什么深刻的印象留下。随着他任期内不断发生的事件,他的一些风范慢慢显露出来,驾驭事...
评分有张照片让我印象深刻,一个小孩子踩着书,才能站高穿过写着脏话满是肮脏的墙看到墙外无比美好的世界。 也许大多数人会觉得这个世界并没有那么糟糕 但是应该会有人像我一样,身处大陆,轻易地就想放下自己的风度,放肆地大骂,他妈的这个操蛋的国家真是糟糕透了。 我不知道自己...
评分美国前总统卡特在位的时候,并不大受欢迎。下了台,反成了活宝。 世界上有些人不适合当父亲,但适合当祖父,不适合当总统,但适合当前总统。小布什当政大部分时间,我都在美国,一直在观察、批评、甚至嘲笑。他下台之后,倒是颇为怀念。 作为一个前总统, 小布什的表...
世界上有一部分人可能弹不好恋爱,确是情感专家;有一部分人可能不能成为好总统,但却是一名让人怀念前总统。看了他的自传,觉得小布什是一个直截了当,爱憎分明的人,在为人处事上有一套自己的方式。他没有用过多修饰的华丽辞藻来写这部自传而用的是亲民的白话,呼应了它自己提倡的白话英语:一件事物若不能用简单明了的语言解释清楚,而是需要大量复杂,学术的,专业的词语来解释,肯定是有问题要掩饰的。
评分让我对过去十年从媒体读到的新闻事件有了完全不同的认识
评分看……不下去了……
评分明白无误的表述,平易近人的角度,清晰的思路。。。。。
评分读不下去草草了事,故不给分
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