George H.W. Bush and the Contradictions of Public Office

Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham talked to us about his new presidential biography Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush. George H.W. Bush's father was a liberal Republican politician who supported Planned Parenthood and denounced Joseph McCarthy. But Bush veered away from his father's liberalism as he campaigned for office in Texas.

Listen to Meacham tell Leonard about why he believes that Bush was a much better politician than people give him credit for, and why he was more liberal than people think. Meacham's book has dominated headlines because of Bush's criticism of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and his son's administration. Meacham said that when he first heard these criticisms firsthand from Bush, "I nearly fell out of my chair."

EVENT: On Wednesday, November 11, Jon Meacham will be in conversation with George Stephanopoulos at the 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10128 at 7:15 P.M.