The George H.W. Bush promise that changed the Republican Party

Six words that changed conservatism, and American politics.

Presidents give hundreds of speeches, but, for better or worse, Americans tend to remember just a few one-liners. For George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st US president, that line was his pledge at 1988 Republican National Convention when he accepted the nomination.

“Read my lips. No. New. Taxes.”

The crowd roared in approval, but their cheers were short lived. That’s because when Bush took over the Oval Office, he inherited the consequences of his predecessor Ronald Reagan’s supply-side or “trickle down” economics: massive budget deficits. And in 1990, Bush broke his promise and raised taxes.

Bush was a traditional “country club” Republican, whose relatively moderate economic and social beliefs contrasted with more right wing conservatives that had supported Ronald Reagan. So when he lost to Bill Clinton in 1992, Reaganites abandoned a moderate, bipartisan approach to politics and the Republican Party has moved further to the right ever since.

[Vox]

How did the Republicans go from the party of Abraham Lincoln to Donald Trump today?

[StringerNews]

Remember when one single lie from a POTUS was an outrageous thing?

[WestTNConfed]

"For the environment." Makes me want to cry that Republicans completely abandoned this.

[tywinalexandercesaredanaed]

*"Country over Party"*
That's what everyone should strive for, not just power but for the people.

[danielfurjes]

if you listen carefully, he actually says no more Texas

[ahabarhossain]

"His party had become so unrecognizable in his lifetime the former president voted for the wife of the man who had beat him 24 years earlier" -Dang, that's powerful Vox

[ryantyler]

3:31
? Did I just hear a politician say they made a mistake?

[Nick-kzdg]

"The people have spoken and we respect the majesty of democracy"
Geez if only a president could promise that in 2020.

[JordanConley]

That George Bush voted for clinton tells you everything you need to know about how terrible a two party lesser evil system is.

[elliot]

“I did not, have, sexualrelationswiththatwoman”

[themaster]

Wait...do I like Bush Sr now? I never knew he went so middle on certain things. A republican that cared about the environment and disabled? My, how far that party has fallen.

[infjintegrityvsnarcissism]

Bush 41 you will always have my respect for calling Reagan out on voodoo economics.

[abemi]

I'm liberal. But I must say, H.W. was an actual worthy president. He admitted his mistakes, cared about environment and immigration and the actual middle class. Most which even today's dems don’t do.

[TheGerm]

Sounds like I would like these country-club Republicans. At least Bush wanted to work across the aisle to make deals. Current GOP leaders never seem to want to compromise.

[hlheutte]

Vox a left leaning news source has somehow made me like bush wow ok

[Dan-pdys]

I was born 2 years after his presidency terminated, and I’m learning a lot about him now. He is a republican and moderate conservative that I deeply admire and respect. I’m more liberal and centrist, but he was a man with true values. I could have really gotten behind his pragmatic approach.

[Angry]

"I did it because I thought it was right.
And I made a mistake."
Oh how beautiful it would be if politicians still publicly accepted when they were wrong and moved on.

[PhilipJackson]

Why was Reagan’s one liner “Oh there ya go again” I mean if I’m thinking of his best one liner it’s gonna be “Mr.Gorbachev Tear down this wall” that’s his best.

[baconstrips]

Wow George H.W Bush did some good things. Too bad people always put party over country. Reagan just keeps getting worse the more I learn about him.

[mkemhewz]

I'm liking this new tone, Vox. Well researched and nuanced. It speaks of america as a whole nation rather than two warring parties. Keep it up.