American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush

AMERICAN DYNASTY: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush BY KEVIN PHILLIPS VIKING 2004, 348 PAGES, $25.95

In the preface of American Dynasty, Kevin Phillips confesses that his disdain of the Bushes began in the 1960s, and, in "Acknowledgements," he admits he disliked the Bushes even when he was involved in GOP politics before their two presidencies. After researching and writing the book, Phillips "discovered why." Pour generations of Bushes have been working to build a family "dynasty" According to the author, the Republicans under the "House of Bush" have become the new "imperial party"

This so-called American dynasty began with George Herbert Walker, the "founding father" of the clan and the first to make "arms deals, clandestine shipments, foreign covert operations, rogue banks, and money laundering" part of the family "escutcheon." It is charged that the family has shown favoritism toward the energy sector, defense industries, Pentagon, and CIA. Meanwhile, for today's investor class and upper-income groups, it has insisted on tax breaks, which have put the American political system in a "perilous state." The emergence of such a dynastic presidency contradicts the American political tradition "and the shorter its duration the better."

In 1985, evangelist Billy Graham "planted a mustard seed" in the soul of George W. Bush, a liaison with the religious right for his father's presidential campaign. In fact, the fundamentalists made history in "securing" the elections of the Bushes: Republican presidents elected by a religious, conservative, southern-centered coalition led by a block of white Protestant evangelicals. The book contends that George H.W. received 70% of the evangelical vote, and George W. 84% of "high-commitment evangelicals."

The author believes George W. leads the nation's Christian right because of conspicuous personal religiosity, belief in the power of prayer, and language--"a veritable biblical message center" He implies that Bush peruses the Bible for strategic mandates, believes he has been chosen by God to lead the country, and thinks the Lord speaks directly to him.

As for George H.W. during his vice presidency under Ronald Reagan, Phillips says he should be known as the "Secret-arms deal VP," because his "web of covert international relationships" has resulted in charges of participating in and "covering up" three actual or "at least alleged" illegalities: the "October Surprise" negotiations with Iran in 1980, the Iran-Contra scandal, and Irangate--the secret arming of that country between 1984-90. Moreover, once George W. was elected, several of those who "helped his father cover up the Iran-contra and other scandals" gained jobs in the Bush II Administration. The author contends that four generations of building toward a monarchy account for the Bush family's hunger for power, practices of crony capitalism, and "moral arrogance." He accuses them of "thread[ing] their way" through "damning political, banking, and armaments scandals" that, "in another climate or a different time might have lead to impeachment." In this diatribe, Phillips seems to have located every negative thing ever printed about the Bush family and their friends.

The book is slow and repetitious. Most readers probably will see this volume for what it is--a blatant attack just before an election. Democrats will find it interesting reading; however, they had better check their sources.

RAYMOND L. FISCHER

Mass Media Editor

COPYRIGHT 2004 Society for the Advancement of Education
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