A Note from Ken Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center

Dear John,

Freedom requires champions. Throughout history, people have stepped up. Some in big ways for the world to see and some that go unnoticed at the time but take on greater meaning after the fact. Today, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a shining example of both. While underestimated when he took office, despite winning 72% of the vote in the 2019 presidential elections, Zelenskyy has emerged as an inspiration to the world and to those he encounters on the streets of Kyiv. He hasn’t retreated in defending democracy.

Like it or not, with a devastating war unfolding in Ukraine <[link removed]> as a result of Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch a wholly unprovoked invasion, we are engaged in a new cold war, too. But this time around, it’s in a tripolar, rather than bipolar, world in which all our actions and reactions are being watched by our foes in China. It’s time for us to be both strong and principled. As President Bush said <[link removed]>, “The American government and people must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as they seek freedom and the right to choose their own future. We cannot tolerate the authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses.”
Thanks to your unwavering support, the Bush Center is fully engaged as part of our work to advance free societies.

David J. Kramer <[link removed]>, who joined the Bush Institute in January and has been named the Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy, is leading these efforts with well-reasoned policy recommendations on how to respond to Putin and his cronies.

A former Assistant Secretary of State in the George W. Bush Administration and a world-renowned expert on global issues with a specialization in Russia and Eastern Europe, David has hit the ground running. He testified <[link removed]> before a congressional panel in March; has published thought-provoking op-eds in places like The xxxxxx <[link removed]>, Foreign Affairs <[link removed]>, American Purpose <[link removed]>, and The Miami Herald <[link removed]> ; and has appeared on PBS, KERA Radio, Fox News, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the Australian Broadcasting Corp. He was interviewed by Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy before it was cut off and has appeared on expert panel discussions hosted by organizations including the Atlantic Council, the Phoenix Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, and the Americas Society/Council of the Americas.

As this conflict rages on, our own people are being affected by the repercussions of Putin’s immoral and illegal act, with high commodity prices and inflation worsened by trade restrictions and a tight global supply chain. But as I wrote <[link removed]> in the Houston Chronicle earlier this month, consumers must gird for this battle. Our economy is strong enough to make this sacrifice for liberty, even as we pray that this cold war doesn’t escalate into a larger hot war in which NATO armies, led by Americans, confront Russian troops.

The Ukrainian people are paying the ultimate price, but Americans must do our part by preparing for the challenges that we may be called on to face. High commodity prices could trigger painful, 1970s-style stagflation, but we’re resilient enough to survive that – as we did half a century ago – to contribute to the fight for freedom.

Banning U.S. imports of Russian products was the right thing to do, and we applaud the many U.S. companies which disengaged from Russia on their own, without the government’s mandate. These actions, coupled with the economic sanctions, should signal to average Russians that their country has crossed the Rubicon toward isolation and that their reckless leader is taking them down a dead-end road.
It’s important that we don’t compromise our principles at the same time we’re fighting for them, which means avoiding Faustian bargains with the tyrant in Caracas and the theocracy in Tehran. Instead, we must help our domestic oil and gas industry, which can provide price relief, as well as jobs, to America.

President Bush reminds us that we can’t be isolationists. To that end, we at the Bush Center haven’t been silent about threats to freedom elsewhere in the world, from Afghanistan <[link removed]> to Burma <[link removed]> to Central America <[link removed]>, and our own southern border. And we continue to advocate for opportunity across all demographic groups here at home.

Our policy and program experts’ ideas are published and cited across the country every day, and they constantly impress me. They continue to make progress on such challenging topics as supporting our veterans’ healthy transitions <[link removed]> to civilian life, raising awareness on women’s health in Africa <[link removed]>, and empowering women worldwide. Comprehensive immigration reform <[link removed]> also remains a priority.

In the first quarter, we welcomed our leadership programs back to the Bush Center, hosting a long overdue convening for members of the 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholars class who hadn’t had the opportunity to join us in Dallas because of the pandemic. In April, the 2022 class <[link removed]> will be here for its fourth module. I’ve enjoyed connecting with these Scholars in person and am encouraged by their commitment to service. We’re also looking forward to welcoming a new group of Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program <[link removed]> Scholars this summer.

In January, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of No Child Left Behind and the impact of President Bush’s landmark bipartisan education law by hosting former Governor Jeb Bush and former Education Secretary Margaret Spellings <[link removed]> for an Engage at the Bush Center, Presented by NexPoint program. The conversation focused on the future of education and how we tackle COVID-19 learning loss, the intersection of politics and learning, the role of parents, and the debate over critical race theory.

Also in the first quarter, we reopened the refreshed Liberty & Laughter: The Lighter Side of the White House special exhibit <[link removed]>, which will run until December 31 at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. It reminds us that, even in grave times, leaders need to maintain their humanity and connection to others.

We’re looking forward to our annual Forum on Leadership <[link removed]> in April, when we will honor former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III with the George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning, with the George W. Bush Institute Citation. Retired Marine Corps General James Mattis, the former Secretary of Defense, will be the keynote speaker. Other notable speakers include Dr. Deborah Birx, Senior Fellow at the Bush Institute; former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels; Elaine Chao, the former Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Labor; and Gary Cohn, the former Director of the National Economic Council.

The Bush Center continues to work hard to engage communities in the United States and around the world to develop leaders, advance policy, and take action to address today’s most pressing challenges. We’re here to support freedom and democracy in a troubled world. Our work is more important than ever, and I’m humbled by the incredible team here leading these efforts.
As always, I thank you for your continued interest in our work and for the support that makes it all possible.

Best regards,

Kenneth A. Hersh
President and CEO, George W. Bush Presidential Center



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