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446394059
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1974 Correspondence U - V
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446394059
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1974 Correspondence U - V
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George H. W. Bush Papers
China Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
Donated Historical Materials
Collection/Office of Origin: Bush, George H.W., Collection
Series:
Personal Papers
Subseries:
China File, Correspondence File
OA/ID Number:
25870
Folder ID Number:
25870-017
Folder Title:
1974 Correspondence U-V
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
6
22
1
1
November 28, 1974
The Honorable
Leonard Unger
American Ambassador
Taipei, Taiwan
Dear Len:
Thank you for your most thoughtful note of
November 11. You're not very far away, but
the letter just arrived today. By the time
you get this we will have had a good visit at
the Chiefs of Mission meeting. I'm looking
forward to that immensely. I'm in the midst
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
of the Kissinger visit as I write this and
things are predictably hectic.
Thank you for your kind words and your thought-
fulness. Barbara and I are very happy here,
very happy indeed.
Warm regards,
George Bush
Unger, amb Leonerd
GBush: hek
in
Tive states Buck mailen
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
OF
Taipei, Taiwan
November 11, 1974
OFFICIAL INFORMAL
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
Honorable George Bush
U. S. Liaison Office
Peking
Dear George:
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
As you can imagine, I think of you and your mission in Peking
often and have been very remiss in waiting this long to pass
along my greetings and my welcome to China. As time goes
on and we have both been at our posts for a while, I am
sure there will be matters we will want to discuss, by
letter if by no other means. Meanwhile, fortunately there
will be also a good opportunity to get together at the
forthcoming Chiefs of Mission session in Honolulu and I
hope that we will be able to find a little time there for
that purpose.
In a couple of weeks, you'll be having a most interesting
visitor. It would be nice to know what is anticipated
will be taking place at that time and thereafter, but I
know there is nothing to do but await developments.
All the best.
Yours,
Lev
Leonard Unger
Ambassador
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
December 20, 1974
The Honorable Leonard Unger
American Ambassador
American Embassy
Taipei, Taiwan
Dear Len:
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
Here is a scandal piece that floated in in my mail.
I thought you might be interested in the centerfold
where they talk about you. If these kinds of nuts
attack you, you can't be all bad.
I just can't tell you how much I enjoyed renewing
our friendship at the Chiefs of Mission Conference.
Let's stay in touch.
Warmest personal regards,
Sincerely,
George Bush
Enclosure
December 3, 1974
Mr. Charles Untermeyer
c/o The Houston Chronicle
801 Texas Avenue
Houston, Texas 77002
Dear Charles:
Barbara and I were thrilled to get your letter of
November 16. I think you are making exactly the right
move going with Jon Lindsay. I wish I knew him. I am
pleased that he won that race, but I think it's essential
now that he make an excellent job. With you there, he's
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
in good shape as far as sound, seasoned advice goes.
Please let me know from time to time how it goes. On
this end things are fine. Bar flew back to the States
with Secretary Kissinger for Christmas. My mother is
coming out here to look after me. I'll miss the kids
and Bar particularly, but I just didn't feel I should
leave, having just arrived. Peking is a marvelous city.
One of great contrasts and strange ways.
The Kissinger visit went well and I am very pleased that
he came this soon after my arrival. All in all, I love
this assignment. Some day I hope you'll be coming this
way.
Thanks for that great newsy letter. It meant an awful
lot to us.
Warm regards,
George Bush
I am of course excited over this opportunity, not only in
helping Jon assume his very potent new responsibility but also
in helping the local GOP acquire a new image of interest in and
action for people -- our first real chance to show our stuff.
As a step in this direction, I've made tentative outreach toward
black, Mexican American and feminist leaders to show we 11 be
interested in what they have to say. The president of the local
Nat'l Organization for Women chapter was stunned and delighted
I even called.
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
At the same time I believe this is exactly the entrypoint
into politics I have been seeking. I am glad I didn't run for
the state legislature this year, for I probably would have been
defeated by the Democratic incumbent. But even if I had been
elected, I doubt a freshman minority member of the lower house
of the state legislature would have anywhere near the impact
on government that I think I'll have starting JaN. 1 in Harris
County. Jon is particularly interested in mass transit, flood
control and land subsidence. I don't know what the "next step"
for me will be because a lot depends on how successful I am
in helping Jon. But I feel I'm at least in a better position
to jump.
It was in a X way sad to leave the CHRONICLE and journalism.
I was in a spot where, sooner or later, I would have had offers
to join larger papers elsewhere; I was already the Texas political
"stringer" for the WASHINGTON POST. But in journalism, going up
would also have meant going out -- out of this area. I am really
committed to staying here because it is (as you especially know)
an exciting place to live, an agreable place to live (I like
humidity) and a place where political opportunities do exist for
young people, even young Republicans. We'll see.
I'm sorry I didn't have time to visit more with you at the
state GOP k convention in September; we both were rather busy.
I doubt there'll be any official Harris County delegations to
Peking in the near future, either. Incidentally, in a recent
conversation your name was mentioned alongside Jon Lindsay's,
and I mused: "Peking and the Harris County courthouse, two
palces no one would ever have guessed there'd be Republicans
by 1975. All best wishes,
Charle
Charles/Chase Untermeyer
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
BC TEXAS MENUE, HOUSTON TENAS 77002
(713) 220-7171
Saturday, 16 November 1974
Dear George & Barbara:
Aside from just checking in with the Bushes (Far Eastern
branch) and wishing I could tell you this
in person, I
have some rather interesting personal-political news to relate.
As word may have reached you, there were two bright spots
for the GOP in Texas and around the country 11 days ago. These
were the election of Republicans as county judge in Harris and
Dallas counties. Yup -- as incredible as it seems, a Republican
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
defeated 16-year incumbent Bill Elliott here, chiefly a reaction
to his long, unpopular tenure but also a result of steady,
effective organizing by Nancy Palm and her minions.
The winner was a quiet, unassuming civil engineer named
Jon Lindsay (that's how he spells his name) who only 2 years
ago was Democratic candidate for the state legislature and
lost by less than 200 votes. Nancy recruited him to run against
R
Elliott, and he switched over to the GOP. He won a contested
primary against the man who was GOP nominee for county judge in
1970. Jon had no money, and throughout the campaign the political
writer of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE felt he had no chance, even after
a grand jury issued a report critical of Elliott's actions in
a mini-scandal. The county GOP finally gave him $13,000 and he
was able to get on the air with some spots. On Nov. 5th Lindsay
won with 57% of the vote.
When it was clear Lindsay had won, my own political innards
began sending a signal. I realized Lindsay had no staff, no
government experience and few contacts among minorities, labor
and the press. There was only one Republican I could think of
who had those contacts: myself. So the next day I drove out to
his home in far-off Spring, Texas, and asked if I could join
his staff. I think Jon was surprised at the offer, but he
quickly accepted. So H as of now I am the sole aide to the County
Judge-elect. I quit the Chronicle a week ago but am still oper-
ating out of my old desk because the Commissioners Court, in its
considered wisdom, refused to give us any courthouse office space.
(John Butler Jr. may give us something downtown til New Year's.)
OVER
December 27, 1974
Mr. Richard Valeriani
NBC News
4001 Nebraska Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20016
Dear Dick:
Great letter written on December 13 about Lynn Pascoe.
I will see that it works its way into his file, but
I'll see that it doesn't get put on top -- thus sparing
him the likelihood of having to go through that drill
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
again.
Lynn is a first-rate officer and I really do appreciate
your taking the time to write about the job he did.
I want to take this opportunity to apologize to you for
being so damned inhospitable. Barbara and I had wanted
to get you and some of your colleagues over to our house
for something relaxed and something fun, but unfortunately
I spent all of my time looking serious in meetings. She
was furious with me. Next time we'll do better by you.
Barbara is home in the States with the kids for Christmas,
which is as it should be though this will be the first
time in 30 years I have not been with her for Christmas.
My mother is here, though, and that's just great. Peking
is cold, but fortunately the wind hasn't been blowing much
and it is clear. As asmatter of fact, in a funny sort of
way, Christmas means an awful lot more here.
Warm regards,
NBC NEWS
A DIVISION OF NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.
4001 NEBRASKA AVENUE, N. W.WASHINGTON D.C. 20010, EMERSON 2-4000
December 13, 1974.
Ambassador George Bush
U. S. Liaison Office
Peking
People's Republic of China
Dear George:
You've probably discovered by now that letters you get
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
from correspondents are either demanding or complaining.
This one is somewhat different.
The intent is to commend the performance of Lynn Pascoe
in his job of shepherding the Kissinger 14. But I don't
want to commend too much, lest he get stuck with the
job again.
It was good to see you and Barbara, and if all goes well,
I guess we'll meet at least twice more in 1975.
Speaking of which, have a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
Regards,
Did
November 15, 1974
Mr. John W. Vollmayer
1600 Ferris Lane
Reno, Nevada 89501
Dear John:
Just a quick note to thank you for your thought-
ful letter of the 23rd of October which reached
me in Peking on the 7th of November. We're
settling in here enthusiastically and happily.
I'm glad to know of your China past. I miss the
political arean, but this is full-time, challeng-
ing work, and Barbara and I are both pleased to
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
be here.
Thanks for your thoughtfulness.
Yours very truly,
VOLLMAYER, Mr. John W.
George Bush
GBush: lz (POUCH)
JOHN W. VOLLMAYER
1600 FERRIS LANE
RENO, NEVADA 89501
23 October, 1974
Honorable George Bush
Emissary, American Mission
Peking, China.
Dear George,
Just 2 note wishing you the best of
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
Congradulations ON your previous "job well done "as
Chaiman of the G.OP, plus best of wishes for
an equally will job to be dune IN your current
Capacity to Mainland China,
As an ex-Marine who served IN China IN 46,
our 45 P.A, class had several "China hands."
"Ding-how". & " gung- ho"
Cordially
P.S. Have Some of the good Peking- Back , and when
IN Teintsin visit the "Be Do",CIF still going Quei-
Quoe"
October 22, 1974
Professor Karl von Vorys
Department of Political Science CC
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia 19174
Dear Karl:
That was a very thoughtful letter that
was on my desk when I got to China yester-
day.
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
Good luck with those wonderful classes
at the University. Some day I would like
to drop in again for another lively ex-
change.
With warm personal regards,
Sincerely,
George Bush
GBush: lz (POUCH)
UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA
PHILADELPHIA 19174
October 7, 1974
DEPARTMENT OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE CC
The Honorable George Bush
Head, American Liaison Office in the
People's Republic of China
c/o Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20521
Dear George,
Photocopy from George Bush Presidential Library
We were sorry to hear that you will not be able
to visit our class this semester. Our colleagues and
students were very much looking forward to meeting you.
We are all delighted, however, that you have assumed
the extraordinarily important and challenging assignment
in China. If anyone can successfully represent American
interests in that strange and unstable environment, we
believe, it is a man who combines an unreasonably keen
mind with a cosmopolitan charm.
As scholars, citizens and your friends we wish
you the very best and on your visits home, or at the
completion of your assignment, we hope to have the
pleasure of seeing you again.
von Varys, Trof rare
Karl Sincerely,
von Vorys
KvV/pe
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