Sold – Bush Says Mistreatment of “W” by the “Biased Press” Stings More Than Criticism of Him

On January 24, 2000, George W. Bush won the Iowa Caucus. On February 1 he lost the New Hampshire primary to a resurgent Senator John McCain.  McCain’s victory on the heels of Bush’s Iowa victory exposed not merely a regional and policy split within the Republican Party, but a personality contrast between the two men. Coverage of this revealed the strong affection for McCain as a “maverick” by the national media, which the former president saw as a reflection of a bias against the Bush family and evidence of a generalized liberal tilt.  This argument has persisted and the relationship between McCain and Bush has been a subject of debate since that time.  

At this moment, the momentum seemed to be with McCain after his surprise victory and favorable attention in media.  The key South Carolina primary was just days away.  All of this was on George HW Bush’s mind when he corresponded with a woman who had lost her son in the Panama combat he had authorized, and with whom the elder Bush stayed in contact.  It shows a side of the otherwise relatively silent father in regards to his son’s campaign and also demonstrates the relationship between the Republican Party and the media that has defined a generation.  

Autograph Letter Signed, February 11, 2000, worrying that the election prospects were slipping to McCain, written to Sandra Rouse. “Glad to sign this for Sheila. I too worry about George W.  It is far worse when the biased press attacks Geo. W. than when they used to attack me.  Warm Regards, George Bush.” With postscript, “Thanks for your support for GW.”

On February 15, a televised debate in South Carolina contained a particularly unrestrained attack by both candidates. George W had the advantage and then won the primary, rocketing him to the presidency.