George W. Bush: Post-Presidency

January 20, 2009 – present

George W. Bush left office with a 33% approval rating in January 2009.^[1]Gary L. Gregg II, “George W. Bush: Life After the Presidency,” millercenter.org, accessed November 10, 2022, https://millercenter.org/president/gwbush/life-after-the-presidency

A. The George W. Bush Presidential Center

On April 25, 2013, George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, formally opened the George W. Bush Presidential Center, known colloquially as The Bush Center, at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.

Housing the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the George W. Bush Institute, “the George W. Bush Presidential Center is a nonpartisan institution advancing the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion.”^[2]George W. Bush Presidential Center, “Homepage,” bushcenter.org, accessed November 10, 2022, https://www.bushcenter.org/^[3]SMU “The George W. Bush Presidential Center and SMU,” smu.edu, accessed November 10, 2022, https://www.smu.edu/bushcenter

B. On the Campaign Trail

In 2016, Bush returned to the campaign trail in South Carolina to support his brother Jeb’s campaign for the presidency.^[4]Julie Pace and Bill Barrow, “George W. Bush Jumps Back Into Presidential Politics,” pbs.org, February 15, 2016, … Continue reading

He headlined fundraisers in 2018 for Republican senate candidates in Arizona and Indiana, and for other GOP candidates in Florida and Texas. In 2020, he was guest of honor at a joint virtual event for Republican Senators Susan Collins (Maine), Cory Gardner (Colo.), Martha McSally (Ariz.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) who were all campaigning for reelection.^[5]Felicia Sonmez, “George W. Bush to Host Virtual Fundraiser for Republican Senators,” washingtonpost.com, June 17, 2020, … Continue reading

C. Speeches

According to an article in Politico, between 2009 and 2015, Bush gave at least 200 paid speeches, earning between $100,000 and $175,000 per event. The majority of these speeches were made during private events in the U.S., Canada and Asia, under strict confidentiality rules surrounding content and payment. Audiences included global wealth management firms, multinational energy firms and chambers of commerce.^[6]Michael Kruse, “On Talk Circuit, George W. Bush Makes Millions But Few Waves,” politico.com, June 7, 2015, … Continue reading Unpaid speeches for the Bush Center are cataloged on the Center’s website.^[7]George W. Bush Presidential Center, “Newsroom,” bushcenter.org, accessed November 10, 2022, https://www.bushcenter.org/newsroom

In August 2022, Bush joined the Masterclass online platform with a 3-hour, 12-lesson class on “authentic leadership.”^[8]MasterClass, “President George W. Bush Teaches Authentic Leadership,” masterclass.com, accessed November 10, 2022, … Continue reading^[9]MasterClass YouTube Channel, “Tough Calls and Life Lessons | President George W. Bush | MasterClass,” youtube.com, August 12, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXrT7NylMcY  

D. Charity Work

In 2010, at the request of President Obama, Bush collaborated with Bill Clinton on the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund with the aim “to lead a major fundraising effort to assist the Haitian people to ‘build back better’” after the devastating January 2010 earthquake.^[10]Guidestar, “Clinton Bush Haiti Fund,” guidestar.org, accessed November 16, 2022, https://www.guidestar.org/profile/27-2122785 After raising and distributing $54.4 million, the fund ceased operations in December 2012. ^[11]Meg Galloway Pearce, ”The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund Commits Its Remaining Funds,” clintonbushaitifund.org, December 20, 2012, … Continue reading

In 2011, Bush founded the Warrior 100K mountain bike ride and the Warrior Open golf tournament, both for veterans wounded in action since September 11, 2001. Participants became members of Team 43, a group that “provides an open forum for soldiers to discuss their struggles, and form life changing bonds with people in similar situations.”^[12]Gabrielle Hondrop, “Former President George W. Bush Hosts Annual 100K Ride for Injured Veterans,” bicycling.com, November 13, 2019, … Continue reading

In 2017, Bush was one of five former presidents who “joined together to issue the ‘One America Appeal’ to ask their fellow citizens and friends around the world to support the staggering recovery needs from Hurricane Harvey.”^[13]The Carter Center, “Former US Presidents Launch ‘One America Appeal’ to Help Hurricane Victims,” cartercenter.org, September 7, 2017, … Continue reading The fund was extended to cover recovery efforts after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and distributed $41.3 million to communities in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The fund stopped receiving donations in January 2018.^[14]One America Appeal, “One America Appeal Concludes Fundraising with Over $41 million,” youtube.com, January 24, 2018,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt_znDIUdYo

E. Books

In 2010, Bush released his memoir titled “Decision Points.” It sold over two million copies in just over a month and reached number one on the New York Times Best Sellers List.^[15]Lynn Mitchell, “George W. Bush ‘Decision Points’ a Runaway Best Seller With 2 Million Copies Sold,” weashingtonexaminer.com, December 24, 2020, … Continue reading

His biography of his father, George H. W. Bush, titled “41: A Portrait of My Father,” was published in 2014, and also topped the New York Times Best Sellers List.^[16]Barnes and Noble, “41: A Portrait of my Father,” barnesandnoble.com, accessed November 17, 2022, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/untitled-george-w-bush/1120264603

Bush had two more bestsellers with his 2017 book “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors” and 2021’s “Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.” Both books containing art painted by Bush himself.^[17]Barnes and Noble, “Portraits of Courage,” barnesandnoble.com, accessed November 17, 2022, … Continue reading^[18]Barnes and Noble, “Out of Many, One” barnesandnoble.com, accessed November 17, 2022,  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/623006/out-of-many-one-by-george-w-bush/9780593136966/

F. Hobbies & Reflection

Post presidency hobbies include biking, watching the Texas Rangers play baseball, reading American history, playing golf, and painting, noting in an interview that, “I think part of having a fulfilling life is to be challenged. I’m challenged on the golf course, I’m challenged to stay fit, and I’m challenged by my paintings … I am happy.”^[19]Gary L. Gregg II, “George W. Bush: Life After the Presidency,” millercenter.org, accessed November 10, 2022, https://millercenter.org/president/gwbush/life-after-the-presidency