Talk:Prescott Bush
How accurate is this statement: However the treason investigation did inspire Prescott's eldest son, George Herbert Walker Bush, to flee the family and join the U.S. Navy.? -- Zoe
- Hard to say what is meant by 'inspire' here - maybe 'scare' ? Maybe 'convince'? Who knows. Some think the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Not sure if 'accurate' is the right criterion for this kind of decision.
- This is a contentious statement. According to the biographies I have read, he joined the Navy on June 12, 1942. This was his 18th birthday and also the day he graduated from Philips Academy. It was common practice at the beginning of World War II for young men to enlist on their 18th birthdays. Chadloder 02:49 Jan 26, 2003 (UTC)
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I just researched this a bit more. First, the timing of his entry into the armed services, compared to the timing of the treason investigation, makes this disparaging statement quite unlikely to be true. Second, why would a high school student put himself into certain mortal danger in order to "flee" an investigation into his father's business (with which he had NO involvement)?
Here is a quote:
In October 1942, ten months after entering World War II, America was preparing its first assault against Nazi military forces. Prescott Bush was managing partner of Brown Brothers Harriman. His 18-year-old son George, the future U.S. President, had just begun training to become a naval pilot. On Oct. 20, 1942, the U.S. government ordered the seizure of Nazi German banking operations in New York City which were being conducted by Prescott Bush.
Chadloder 02:53 Jan 26, 2003 (UTC)
As I recall biographical data on the Vice President from the 1980s, patriotism was widely proffered as an explanation for his becoming disgusted with his family's business—which of course he was not directly involved with but one would not be surprised if he were being groomed to inherit—and over their strenuous objections to join the military, where indeed his life was at risk. I didn't see this as and fail to see how it could be a slur. I suppose a more direct statement evoking patriotism would have been appropriate. Obviously the timing of the Congressional Union Bank investigation and GHWBs enlistment are wrong; now I'll have to do research off-line. The Horror! Of course recent non-rant biographical material seem to omit Prescott's NAZI peccadillos entirely; such is the way of history.
June 12th would have been about the time is father was front page news at the NYTribune. Without going to New York I have had no luck finding a copy of the original article.
I know the article you're talking about. I think you are right about the timing of the "Hitler's Angel" Tribune article, but that article referred to Fritz Thyssen, not Bush. I don't think the Prescott Bush scandal broke until October, after his son was already in the Navy. Like I said, it doesn't make sense that he would "flee" a scandal that he didn't even know about and put himself in harm's way as a pilot in WWII. Unless you have some evidence (diaries or letters maybe...?) to back up the contentious statement "He fled into the Navy", I would advise you not to include it. Chadloder 04:47 Jan 27, 2003 (UTC)
It's currently not included. I merely state that I read this in 1987 in biographical material discussing the Vice-president and presidential candidate. My memory could be faulty (though I can't imagine how I could have invented that) or the report could have been false. The timing appears to be incorrect: the article seems to have apppeared in July, and you appear to be right that it was Thyssen labelled “Hitler’s Angel” , and Prescott was his banker. I would like to find a source with an accurate reproduction of the article if you know of any.
The statement regarding slave labor in Poland STRONGLY needs some kind of documentation. Pizza Puzzle
- I agree. Indeed, it is specifically denied in the 'Straight Dope' article to which we link. I'm doing more research now, to see what else I can find out about Prescott Bush's activities in Poland in the 1930s. Quite possibly, there is an accurate story to be told here, but it seems that the way it was written was highly misleading.
Good call, Pizza Puzzle. Jimbo Wales 17:40 11 Jul 2003 (UTC)
God himself has stepped out of the clouds to reward me, oh, delightful day this! Pizza Puzzle