June 25, 1950
Dear Mr. McCance,
I hope that you will excuse this long period of silence. I assure you that it has not been caused by any lack of interest in your offer—on the contrary, ever since receiving your letter of May 4th my wife and I have thought about nothing else. My trip back East satisfied me that your business is a fascinating one. In addition to that, many personal factors tended to make us lean towards moving back. The decision has been a most difficult one to make for the choice was between two wonderful jobs.
We have decided to remain with Dresser Industries. I have a great feeling of loyalty to Dresser and to Mr. Mallon; and I am convinced that there is a real opportunity here. It will mean living out here in West Texas for perhaps a year more, and then moving in to Dallas.
I should like to thank you and the others there at Brown Bros. Harriman for making me this offer. It came as a surprise and indeed a thrill and I shall always have a deep feeling of appreciation.
Gratefully Yours,
George Bush
January 1, 1951
Joyous New Years, oh Bemiss!
. . . Midland is a fine town—there are more congenial young people in this place than in any town of near its size that I have ever seen. We really love it. I am selling oilfield equipment and supplies, a task which is great as far as gaining experience goes, but which I do not particularly relish. I am a poor salesman, that has been rather conclusively demonstrated. I don’t know exactly what the Dresser plans are for me, but they do involve moving to Dallas eventually—maybe in a few months, maybe in a year or so.
Have you had any greetings from the Navy dept. as yet. I would, of course, hate to go back in the Navy again, hate to leave the family and all yet I suppose that if this becomes an all out thing my whole attitude will change.8
We have had a fine year—we like Texas, the kids have been well. Robin is now walking around and Georgie has grown to be a near-man, talks dirty once in a while and occasionally swears, aged 41/2. He lives in his cowboy clothes.
The only thing I feel real badly about is that I did nothing, absolutely nothing, towards helping Dad in his campaign. We felt terribly about the outcome after the way Dad worked at it. I do feel that he made a lot of friends though and I think he will be hard to beat if he runs again in 1952.9 . . .
Love to all the family,
devotedly,
Pop
By the spring of 1951, I became too restless in my job with IDECO/Dresser and decided to strike out on my own. I joined up with our good friend and neighbor John Overbey, and together we founded Bush-Overbey Oil Development Co. Leaving my job was a tough decision, not only because it meant lost security, but especially because of my great respect for Neil Mallon. However, he was supportive and even encouraged me to try to start my own business.
April 12, 1951
Mr. H.N. Mallon
Dresser Industries
Dallas, Texas
Dear Neil,
This will let you know that we are in business. . . . we do have a little office here which will suffice until we can make permanent connections. . . .
Overbey is good—he knows the business well and has demonstrated an excellent knowledge of prices, values, etc. I am happy about our arrangement with him, and I hope it will turn out to be a good thing for John.
. . . Midland is full of dust at this season—such sandstorms. I keep telling Bar she never had it so good—three square meals and a sack every nite, but I occasionally detect a lack of conviction as she nods agreement.
. . . Neil I want to thank you once again for your advice and interest in this little project. I shall always be grateful to you, not only for the wonderful training which I had with Dresser, but also for everything which you personally have done for me and for the family. I hated to leave the company, sincerely—maybe someday I will really regret my move, but this too is a challenge and something which I really felt I had to tackle.
My love to all the family, to Dale, and my best wishes and many many thanks to you—
[copy unsigned]
I’m afraid in many of my letters during this time, I bored friends and family with details of the oil business. But it was an exciting time in West Texas, and I’d like to share with you some of those letters so you can get the flavor of what it was like.
June 30, 1951
Dear Gerry:
It has been ages since I have last written to you and much has transpired in that long period. The main thing in our small lives is the new business venture in which I find myself. . . .
So far we have been concentrating in the royalty business10—at this stage our corporation can stand short-term income (any income for that matter) and we feel that the most conservative way and yet a lucrative way if fortunate, is to play royalty. You eliminate many risks by playing royalty. After we start building up a large income, if we do, then we will start drilling wells or taking interest deals in wells. We still can promote wells now, but we don’t want to put much of our capital into this type of venture for the present.
The business is fascinating—always exciting. We have bought a good deal of royalty, a lease or two and some minerals. I have taken trips into North Dakota and Wyoming—Nebraska—Colorado on certain plays.
Most of our stockholders are from New York. My belief is that if we can show them some earnings they will all want to participate as individuals on what I would consider a large scale. Tax-wise the oil business is hard to beat, and I think we are in a position to give them very fair deals, without loading it on like so many people here do in dealing with the Easterners. Many Easterners are trying to get in the oil business but they refrain from it for fear of being “promoted but good”. Our objective now is to get our own situation going and then take on larger deals with ourselves participating but others working in as partners. In this way our stockholders can get the individual benefits such as intangible drilling cost deductions, depletion allowance, etc. whereas in our set-up the corporate entity gets it but not the individuals. . . .
Give my warmest regards to your family.
Write!
Best Wishes,
Pop
August 22, 1951
Mr. G.H. Walker Jr.
Kennebunkport, Maine
Dear Herby:
I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful two days at K’port. It was great fun from the cunner fishing to the links to the boat to the tremendous chow and to seeing the family.
Bar and the kids and I got back here Monday night after a tiring but uneventful flight. The kids behaved fairly well on the plane—only occasional screams and gripes. It is nice to be back in a way and the desk is stacked high with things to do. This business is so darned exciting that when away for a little while only many new developments have taken place. . . .
I enjoyed our talks up there Herby. There are many ways for us to expand when we think the time is ripe. The Delaware Basin thing has tremendous appeal to me; and I am convinced we could make some money for any investor we might find as well as for our company. When the time becomes riper to get after this thing, I’ll write to you for some advice. The Liedtkes,11 our good friends here, might be interested in some kind of joint deal whereby they provide half the capital and we provide the other half, both sharing in the expenses of some qualified employee—this might be a good approach with the new company being a partly owned subsidiary . . .
Another avenue which we have not entered, of course, is the drilling business. We have stayed away from this because we cannot afford the tax write-off; but here again we could possibly get additional money from people who have spoken to me about getting into drillings deals . . .
In any case there are plenty of places to go from here—the only trouble is that the ‘here’ is keeping us busy as it is right at the present.
Much Love to Mary and many many thanks again to the whole family for a wonderful visit and for the many kindness’ bestowed.
[copy unsigned]
&
nbsp; Dear Sir:
On Nov. 18, 1951 I was apprehended by a Weatherford [Texas] officer for speeding—his charge that I was doing 50 in a 30 mile zone. I should like to settle this matter with your court. I do not feel I was doing 50, nor does my companion, but I do admit I was exceeding 30. For this I am very sorry. There was little traffic, but nevertheless I do realize I was wrong.
I hope that you will consider my feeling of not doing 50, and I assure you I will be more considerate of Weatherford’s laws in the future.
Will you please advise as to what I am to do.
Yours Truly,
George H Bush
[I lost my appeal and paid my $10 fine.]
January 21, 1952
Mr. Dave Hershey12
Cornell College
Ithaca, N.Y.
Dear Moose:
I can’t thank you enough for the chair, which appeared here last week. It is really a beauty and is far too big a gift for you to have sent us. You can well imagine the pleasure that it is giving us right now. We have it situated in our little den in our new house and it is just perfect.
In a way the chair has brought us very good luck, for the day it arrived Barbara was out in the yard working on some shrubbery. It was the delivery of the chair which brought her into the house where she smelled smoke. She rushed into Robin’s room where she found the little darling feeding plastic toys into the heater and cackling with joy at the flames. We lost an antique rug, $3.95 at Penny’s, and almost lost Robin. Only the heroic efforts of the delivery man who threw the rug and heater out the window saved the day. Now you can see we feel particularly attached to the chair.
Seriously, Moose, it was most thoughtful of you to send this wonderful present and we really appreciate it. Let me know your plans for the summer and if I can be of help to you. Many thanks from the four of us to all of you.
Yours truly,
[copy unsigned]
Dear Herby:
. . . I am working locally on the Ike thing, being head of the publicity committee for newspaper work and on the finance comm. Our main job is to get the word spread about Ike making no reference to the word REPUBLICAN—it is surprising how strong the prejudice against the Republicans is, and yet I am more and more impressed by the number of people who express their preference for IKE for this year. It is hard to grasp the full meaning of all the hot air put out, but if you can believe half of what you read here I believe IKE can carry Texas.
Your efforts on Dad’s behalf are terrific. I’ll bet Neil will be able to help a lot in this connection. I am attaching a small donation—its size in no way reflects my interest, for I find myself thinking all the time about things up there in Conn.—Dad just has to win this time.
Love to all the clan:
[copy unsigned]
October 8, 1952
Mr. H. N. Mallon
Dresser Industries
Dallas, Texas
Dear Neil:
Barbara and I will not be able to come into Dallas for the Oklahoma game like we were planning. I hope that letting you know at this late date will not foul up your weekend plans. As you may have heard, Barbara is expecting again and just does not feel up to making the long drive. The baby is not due until February, but she feels pretty punk if she has to travel for long distances.
. . . Bar is urging me to take her to Dallas sometime this fall for a Christmas shopping trip. My check book keeps insisting that we not make this trip, but somehow I have a feeling that Barbara may win out. If this is the case, we will have the gall to hit you up for a couple of free sacks.
Love to all the family.
[copy unsigned]
[You must find it curious that Barbara did not feel up to driving to Dallas for a football game but did want to go there to shop. The truth is, she was suffering from morning sickness, which we knew would go away later in the pregnancy.]
Obviously I preferred to do my Christmas shopping the easy way . . .
October 9, 1952
Parker Brothers Inc.
Salem, Massachusetts
Dear Sirs:
Would you please send me a Winnie the Pooh game at the above address. I would appreciate your including a statement of your charges at that time.
Yours very truly,
George H. W. Bush
October 14, 1952
Q-T Novelty Co., Inc.
Murray Hill Station
New York 16, N. Y.
Dear Sirs:
Attached herewith is a check in the amount of $1.00 for one set of your wooden “Seven Little Indians”.
Would you please send this set to me at the above address.
Yours very truly,
George H. W. Bush
The beginning of 1953 was eventful, highlighted by the birth of our third child, John Ellis Bush, called Jeb. Dad did win his election, so was sworn in as a U.S. senator from Connecticut. I entered into yet another business venture: Bush-Overbey officially joined forces with the Liedtke brothers, calling our new company Zapata. We took the name from the Midland movie marquee; Marlon Brando’s Viva Zapata! was playing at the time. But then, among all the excitement, came the most dreaded news: we learned that spring that Robin, age three, was suffering from advanced leukemia. Our doctor in Midland advised us to take her home to die, but refusing to give up, Barbara and I took her to Memorial Hospital at Sloan-Kettering in New York City. For the next few months, Barbara stayed in New York with Robin while I went back and forth between New York and Texas, trying to look after business and the boys. I wrote this letter to Thomas “Lud” Ashley, a classmate from Yale and one of my best friends. He served for years as a Democratic congressman from Ohio, but at this time, he was a bachelor living in New York.
May 26, 1953
Dear Lud:
. . . I cannot begin to tell you here just how much we appreciate all that you did for Bar and myself. I know how busy you were, but you let that make no difference and you devoted your time to us when we needed you. It is funny what friendships can mean in times of stress. When thinking about Robin’s illness, I cannot help but get philosophical—I have stopped asking “why”. One thing I do know is that when one is worried or suffering or troubled that there are only two things which help, friendships (love) and faith. I will say no more, but you have helped us both in a time of need. A few tougher days will probably lie ahead, Lud, but I don’t believe many will be rougher than those first couple of weeks. We will have many wonderful memories of people who helped us and tried to help us, but none will exceed in my mind your many gestures of true friendship. . . .
August 19, 1953
Mr. Fitzgerald Bemiss
Richmond, Virginia
Dear Gerry:
. . . I hope that your honeymoon was all that you expected and that we will have the opportunity of seeing you before long. I am hoping that Barbara and Robin will come back to Texas in the next couple of days. Robin apparently is making headway, or at least has not lost ground. While you were in Europe she went through a crisis during which she was flown to New York and given radically different treatments that saved her life, and once again she is back to normal, at least to what we have come to accept as normal. She is still full of fun and we hope that she will have many more months of active life. I have been back here with our youngest boy for several weeks and am eagerly awaiting Barbara’s return. . . .
Best regards,
Pop
[Robin’s suffering ended on Columbus Day, 1953, with Barbara and me at her bedside.]
October 22, 1953
Senator Prescott S. Bush
Grove Lane
Greenwich, Conn.
Dear Dad:
Just a note to let you know that I saw Senator Lyndon Johnson yesterday at the hotel here in Midland.
He was making a speech yesterday evening to the Lions Club, and he walked in as I was walking out. I introduced myself to him as your son and received a very warm greeting. He announced that you were the best thing that had happened to t
he 83rd Congress. I countered with the statement that I was glad to hear that coming from a staunch Democrat, to which he replied, “Your father and I don’t like to be thought of as Republican or Democrat, rather as good Americans!” All I could do was nod enthusiastically and hum a few verses of the Star Spangled Banner. . . .
All is well here, and we are settling back into our normal life. At times I think we are just beginning to miss Robin, but I also know that in time we will only have pleasant memories to look back on.
Devotedly,
[copy unsigned]
December 27, 1954
Mr. Marvin Pierce
The McCall Corporation
New York, New York
Dear Mr. Pierce:
I am sending you a copy of our recent press release on our off-shore drilling project and a glossy print of the proposed barge. Zapata has taken this deal and we have hired the personnel and set up the organization. We will end up with partners undoubtedly, in fact we are now talking about a public financing since it is too big for us to handle alone.
The main part of our business has done fairly well this year. We now have a one-third interest in seventy wells and it looks like we have about one hundred more to drill next year. As a result of this development program our company’s income is going up pretty well. I will send you a statement when we get it out in a couple of months. . . .
Your Christmas presents were the hit of the day. My suit case is just perfect, Jebby never took his eyes off the record player and George was most enthusiastic over his German cars.
Please give my love to Willa13 and many thanks for such a wonderful Christmas.
Best regards,
[copy unsigned]
January 24, 1955
Honorable Thomas Ludlow Ashley
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
Dear Lud:
Just a line to let you know that Henry Mallon Bush, weighing 9 lbs. 9 oz., was born Saturday night. Bar is fine and we are very happy with our third giant boy. I was afraid she might be a little disappointed at not having a girl, but I know now that she couldn’t be more happy.
All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other Writings Page 8
