00:00An essay by George W. Bush published on President's Day is drawing attention for its reflections on
00:05power, humility, and the responsibilities of the presidency. The piece appeared through
00:09More Perfect, a bipartisan alliance working to protect and renew American democracy ahead of
00:14the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It serves as the inaugural entry
00:19in a new history project titled In Pursuit. In the essay, Bush pays tribute to George Washington,
00:24emphasizing the first president's decision to relinquish power. Our first president could
00:28have remained all-powerful, but twice he chose not to, Bush wrote. In doing so, he set a standard
00:33for all presidents to live up to. Bush highlighted Washington's decision to step down as commander
00:38of the Continental Army following the American Revolution and later to leave office after
00:42two presidential terms. He wrote that those actions ensured the United States would not
00:46become a monarchy or concentrate power indefinitely in one leader. While the essay does not mention
00:51Donald Trump by name, The New York Times reported that its themes arrive amid renewed national
00:56debate over executive authority and presidential norms. Bush also focused on Washington's personal
01:02qualities, citing humility, self-restraint, diplomacy, and a commitment to placing the nation
01:07above personal ambition. He wrote that Washington carried himself with dignity and avoided elevating
01:13the presidency to near-mythical status. The In Pursuit series is expected to include contributions
01:18from Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and John Roberts. Bush is not conducting interviews related to the essay.
01:24The project is being overseen by former National Archivist Colleen Shogan, who told The New York
01:28Times that the initiative aims to present history in a way that remains relevant while taking a
01:32long-term perspective. According to Shogan, the lesson of presidential humility transcends time,
01:38framing Washington's example as a lasting benchmark for leadership. Follow for more political updates.
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