CELEBRATING A NATION’S IMMIGRANTS PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH HAS USED
the art of painting to honor the everyday heroes of America. His new book shines a spotlight on America’s immigrants and their stirring stories, highlighting how hard work, strong values, dreams and determination know no borders or boundaries. From the April 26, 2021, online program “President George W. Bush: Out of Many, One—Portraits of America’s Immigrants.” PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, Author, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants IN CONVERSATION WITH KORI SCHAKE, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute KORI SCHAKE: I am honored to have the opportunity to talk with President George W. Bush about his new book Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants, which is a pairing of portraits he’s painted of American immigrants with discussion of their life journeys. The book profiles 43 first-generation Americans, all still living when he painted them. Mr. President, welcome. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Thank you Kori. And thanks to The Commonwealth Club as well. I appreciate the opportunity to share some thoughts. SCHAKE: Let’s start by having you tell us about your purpose in creating the book. What were you hoping to do? BUSH: I’m hoping to bring some sense into what is a heated dialogue right now. The immigration issue has been an important issue to me. After all, I was a governor of Texas, and we dealt with a lot of issues
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with Mexico. And I tried as president to fix a broken system. It’s still broken. I’ve been troubled by the rhetoric, however, surrounding this issue. It just goes to show what a political football it’s been. And I hope to bring a positive perspective to the role immigrants have played in our [country]. So I picked 43 people, some of whom are famous, and then some of them people never heard of. All of whom are good contributors to our country. SCHAKE: You write in the book that “Americans can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time.” It reminded me of your emphasis on compassionate conservatism, which seems to be so lacking in our current political climate. Is that in your mind? BUSH: I am not trying to defend that political philosophy. I am trying to move the needle on fixing a broken system. And it starts with talking about positive things.
Former President George W. Bush. (DOD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II.)
