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What should be the legacy of outgoing President George W. Bush? Critics say he could be considered one of the worst presidents ever. But supporters say he deserves a lot more credit than he's getting.
He leaves as a very unpopular president. He reached record low approval ratings. But people who are hired to defend President Bush's legacy say this first rough draft of history is incomplete.
Salt Lake City resident Jared Whitley said, "Harry Truman, when he left office, he had terribly low poll numbers, but with the judgment of history, he's been vindicated."
Whitley, who worked with the White House Communications Office, is one of many people in charge of writing "The Bush Record." He has a tough sell because many people agree with University of Utah Political Science Lecturer Tim Chambless. He calls President Bush one of the five worst presidents in history.
"[He] is leaving this country in far worse shape than he found it when he took office in 2001," he said.
Chambless says Mr. Bush started two wars that will have a long lasting negative effect on the country.
"We'll be paying for these wars until late in the 22nd Century. We're early in the 21st century," he said.
Chambless also feels the standing of the U.S. has gone down around the world since President Bush took office. But, that's a statement Whitley says is false.
"We have better relationships with most of Asia than we used to, with India, with Pakistan and Japan and China and South Korea. We have better relationships with Mexico and with Colombia. Africa just loves President George W. Bush," he said.
Whitley says it's unfair to label current economic problems as a result of President Bush's failed policies. He says Mr. Bush tried to stop the problems with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which some economists call the tipping point of the country's current economic crisis.
"He'd been pushing Congress to increase regulation of those organizations, but Democrats blocked that," he said.
But Chambless says Freddie and Fannie weren't the only problems with the economy. "George W. Bush came to office inheriting a budget surplus, and he's leaving the American people with a debt projected to be $1.2 trillion. (It's) unprecedented," he said.
Chambless says we likely won't know George W. Bush's true legacy until after he's passed away.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
