Send us a Text Message. In this episode we take you through the tension building period in late October and Early November of 1990. You will listen in to news reports from ABC News and the News from New Zealand as the Middle East moves closer to War.  We will also listen to letters from George H. W. Bush to King Hussein, his staff and to common everyday people. In them Bush tries to reassure them all that he wants to resolve the situation peacefully if at all possible.  But if we have to go to war he feels strongly that it will not be another Vietnam.  Questions or comments at ..read more

This episode is a rare chance to listen in on a speech at the United Nations. The video, and therefore, the audio quality is not the best but the speech is rare and very important to the storyline.  In it the President makes his case to the world of just how important it is to stop the Iraqi aggression now, calling up the lessons of world War 2. Plus he discusses the new direction the World is taking and how we can now leave many of the old fights of the 20th Century behind us. Overall, it was a hopeful speech about the future of our planet. How it worked out I guess is up for debate ..read more

In this follow up episode on the reunification of Germany we arrive at the White House for German - American Day about three weeks after the reunification had occurred. At this White House Event, the President will celebrate the contributions to America made by the millions of Germans who immigrated or were direct descendants of those who did. It was a moment of happiness for all who witnessed it.  The event featured some small children singing, a speech by both the President and the German Ambassador, and even a raid conducted by the President's dog Millie. It was a nice event and we t ..read more

Here is one of the great stories of the Bush Administration and of World History. After 4 decades of separation the people of Germany would be one country again.  Though the Berlin Wall had come crashing down just 11 months before, this was the big moment for the German People, but it did not come without a lot of high level negotiations that involved horse trading, and skilled diplomacy. The other countries of Europe had not forgotten the Germany of two different World Wars and they were also aware that they would be creating an economic powerhouse in the center of Europe, the moment th ..read more

In this episode, we look back at the coming together of the Military coalition on the ground and the man who would command it, General Norman Schwarzkopf. It would be a coalition made up of 42 countries, and troops from around the world.  They would all come together on the ground in Saudi Arabia to prepare for the possible War to come. We will look at the command structure of the coalition and see just how complicated an endeavor this really was for Bush to put together.  We will listen to a 60 Minutes profile from CBS News of the General who would run the operation on the ground i ..read more

In this short episode we will listen in on PBS as Governor Bill Clinton comes to the hall at the Democratic National Convention in 1992 a night early. Clinton will say just a few words of thank you for the Democrats nominating him. The interesting part of the segment is that joining in the commentary from PBS is Senator Joe Lieberman, as he discusses his early history with Bill and Hillary Clinton. It is one of the first moments the country tunes in to hear about this couple who would come to dominate the political landscape for the next 30 plus years.  You will also hear from David Gerg ..read more

Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat from Connecticut, died unexpectedly in April from complication from a fall. He was 82 years old and his loss from the scene will be incalculable. For Joe Lieberman was one of those rare public figures who was not just respected, but beloved, by both sides of the aisle. He was unafraid to take on controversial issues, and he could disagree without being disagreeable and, most importantly, he was committed to bipartisan leadership. He could reach across the aisle, find common ground, and work to find a real, workable, solution.  Like a good chunk of the Am ..read more

In this episode we watch as the Cold War comes quietly to an end. The United States and the Soviet Union actually work together to handle a crisis that involves a client Soviet state, Iraq.  We will tune in as the situation in the Gulf continues to move close  to war. Then we will travel to Helsinki for the meeting of the two leaders of the World's superpowers.  You will be able to listen in on their press conference as the two men answer questions about the situation in the Gulf War and it is in that moment that you realize that the 40 years of a Cold War is finally over.  ..read more

In this episode we hear from Saddam Hussein himself in an exclusive interview by ABC News and Diane Sawyer. In it he denies he has ever murdered his opponents, claims he is not an admirer of Josef Stalin, and tries to justify his actions in Kuwait.  Then we listen in as he rounds up the British citizens who had been working in Kuwait and keeps them in a hotel there under the guise of protecting them. He even goes for a visit and at one point pats a small child on the head, sending a clear message that these people are hostages and he intends to use them as human shields. It is a chilling ..read more

As we approach the eve of the August 10, 1990, Arab League Summit; I thought this a good time for us to go back, with the help of the PBS Documentary series "Frontline", to the summer of circumstances that led to the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.  So, we will relive the summer months prior to the invasion as we listen to the "Frontline: The Gulf War" Documentary sum up the issues between Iraq and Kuwait that escalated into the invasion. How Saddam Hussein mislead Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, who in turn assured President Bush that an invasion was not imminent.  Then we will listen in on a ..read more