George W. Bush is on Substack. Here's what he said about another George

It seems everyone has a Substack these days – even President George W. Bush.  

The 43rd president of the United States launched his blog on the site Feb. 16 with a 1,500-word tribute to another George: President George Washington. 

“Few qualities have inspired me more than Washington’s humility,” Bush wrote. “Our first president could have remained all-powerful, but twice he chose not to. In so doing, he set a standard for all presidents to live up to.” 

The essay is part of new bipartisan history initiative created by the group More Perfect for the country’s 250th anniversary. As part of the project, the group will post essays from public figures and historians on each American president, up to President Barack Obama, on a weekly Substack called “In Pursuit.”  

Among the forthcoming issues will be an essay on President Abraham Lincoln written by Obama, one on President William Howard Taft by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and a tribute to President Theodore Roosevelt by his decades-later successor President Bill Clinton.  

The project is led by Colleen Shogan, a former archivist of the United States, whom President Donald Trump fired without giving a reason in 2025. Trump is not included among the list of essayists on the project website.  

One George reflects on another 

Bush in his essay on Washington reflected on the first president's willingness to cede power both as the Army's commander and as president, his loyalty to his country and his achievements, including avoiding war and stabilizing a burgeoning economy.  

“By most historian accounts, one of the reasons Washington achieved all of this was by admitting he might not be up to the task. He summoned experts and let debates play out in front of him,” Bush wrote.  “For me, that lesson meant recognizing what I didn’t know as President, surrounding myself with advisors who did know what I didn’t know, and listening to them.” 

Bush also acknowledged Washington’s flaws in the essay. Bush described the first president's ownership of other humans as “a stain” on his “otherwise sterling private and public life.” 

Still, Bush described Washington as an “exceptional” and “indispensable” man of “integrity.”

“Without him, there would be no America; and without America, the world would be a very different and much darker place,” he wrote.

What is Substack?

Substack is an online platform that allows writers and other creators to reach subscribers directly through ad-free blog posts and emails.

It includes creators and communities who cover politics, history, popular culture and science and technology, among other topics.

Karissa Waddick, who covers America's 250th anniversary for USA TODAY, can be reached at [email protected].