The 43rd president of the United States launched a Substack site on February 16th with a 1,500-word tribute to his predecessor.
President Trump announces plans to build ‘Independence Arch’ to commemorate 250th anniversary of nation’s founding
President Trump reveals plans to build an “Independence Arch” near Arlington Cemetery to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026 (Scripps News)
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It seems like everyone has a Substack these days, including President George W. Bush.
43rd On February 16, the US president launched his own blog on the site with a 1,500-word tribute to another George, President George Washington.
“Few qualities have inspired me more than Washington’s humility,” President Bush wrote. “Our first president could have remained omnipotent, but twice he chose not to. In doing so, he set a standard for all presidents to follow.”
This essay is part of a new bipartisan history initiative created by the group More Perfect for 250 people in the country.th Anniversary. As part of the project, the group will post essays by celebrities and historians about each U.S. president up through President Barack Obama on a weekly Substack called “In Pursuit.”
Future issues include an essay by Mr. Obama on President Abraham Lincoln, an essay by Chief Justice John Roberts on President William Howard Taft, and a tribute to President Theodore Roosevelt by his successor decades later, President Bill Clinton.
The project is led by former US archivist Colleen Shogan, who was fired by President Donald Trump in 2025 without giving any reason. Trump is not included in the list of essayists on the project’s website.
One George Reflects on Another George
In his essay on Washington, President Bush reflected on the first president’s willingness to cede power, both as commander of the Army and as president, his loyalty to his country, and his accomplishments, including avoiding war and stabilizing a burgeoning economy.
“One of the reasons Washington accomplished all this, according to most historians, was by acknowledging that he might not be up to the task. He called in experts to make the arguments before him,” Bush wrote.
“For me, that lesson meant recognizing what I didn’t know as president, surrounding myself with advisers who knew what I didn’t know, and listening to them.”
President Bush also acknowledged Washington’s flaws in this paper. The article was published hours before a judge ruled against the Trump administration’s removal of exhibits on the history of slavery at Washington’s former mansion in Philadelphia. Bush said the first president’s ownership of others was a “stain” on his “pure private and public life.”
Still, President Bush described Washington as “exceptional,” “indispensable” and a man of “integrity.”
“Without him, there would be no America. And without America, the world would be a very different, darker place.”
What is Substack?
Substack is an online platform that allows writers and other creators to contact subscribers directly through ad-free blog posts and email.
This includes creators and communities covering topics such as politics, history, popular culture, science and technology.
Carissa Waddick, who covers America’s 250th anniversary for USA TODAY, can be reached at kwaddick@usatoday.com.
