Transcript: Chapter 16

Narrator: In the midst of the crisis, Bush retreated to his family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. He had vacationed there every summer of his life except once during World War II. He did not let the Gulf crisis keep him from the place he referred to as his "anchor to windward."

Jeb Bush: There is a timelessness to the place, about how you treat others, how you love your family. How you recharge your spirits. There is something that is timeless. And it is downright spectacularly beautiful as well.

Narrator: His mobile phone, Rolodex, and staff traveled with him. Even while fishing for bluefish, Iraq was rarely out of his mind.

Brent Scowcroft: We were out there for four hours. So we really talked about the world, and what was happening to the world; and we discussed how it could change, and in the sense of building this "new world order" where small countries could feel safe from aggression by other countries, and where the UN Security Council could behave the way its framers thought: the countries with the power could use it to preserve a stable and peaceful world.

Narration: Some felt Bush should return to the White House. He was reminded of the Iran hostage crisis and how the attention of President Jimmy Carter, was, he recalled, "controlled by thugs. I was absolutely determined that the American people would be spared this a second time."

Barbara Bush, wife: He played at six so that it would not bother the other members of the club when nobody else was there. But he loves life. He loves the boat. He loves to play golf. He used to love tennis beyond belief. I mean he played all those things, and he played them at full speed.

Billy Busch, friend: The President loves to drive his boat. Just absolutely loves to get in his boat and go. And he loves to fish, loves to be out on the water. Even if the fishing's not good, it's just great to be on the water. Maybe it's like a freedom. President's on his own, driving his own machine, no one else to say, "Do this." It's his.

Jeb Bush: The part that my dad likes the most is the coming back part, where he's going 50-60 miles an hour in this cove. Pulls back on the velocity and makes this turn that is spectacular, and scares the living heck out of everybody that's never done it before.

George H. W. Bush (archival): Very strong fish. Stronger than he looks like just from looking at it.

Marlin Fitzwater, press secretary: We used to play tennis when it was 95 degrees, and we'd finish two sets and I'd say, "Mr. President, I can't go on anymore. I just can't do it." "Oh yes, Marlin, come on. One more -- one more set." And I remember he says, "Don't worry, you stand at the net and I'll just play everything behind you." And I thought, "Oh my God, don't let anybody see this." And so I suddenly the President's feet are going back and forth, back and forth behind me, and I'm not even moving! And finally I just said, "I cannot do it, Mr. President." He said, "Yes, you can, Marlin. You stay right there." He was just the most competitive man.

George H. W. Bush (archival): Iraq will not be permitted to annex Kuwait. And that's not a threat, it's not a boast, it's just the way it's going to be.

Narrator: Kuwaitis detailed the horrors of Saddam Hussein's occupation to a Congressional panel.

Nasir Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti ambassador: They have resorted to acts of mass execution, they have resorted to mass acts of rape, and they have resorted to mass acts of looting and pillaging of my country.

George H. W. Bush (archival): And that's what we're dealing with. We're dealing with Hitler revisited. A totalitarianism and a brutality that is naked and unprecedented in modern times. And that must not stand.

Narrator: Bush had little faith economic sanctions would convince Saddam Hussein to withdraw from Kuwait. In early November, he doubled the size of the forces committed to Desert Shield.

George H. W. Bush (archival): After consultation with King Fahd, and our other allies, I have today directed the Secretary of Defense to increase the size of the U.S. forces committed to Desert Shield to ensure that the coalition has an adequate offensive military option should that be necessary to achieve our common goals.

Narrator: He would now have enough military might to force Saddam to withdraw.

Narrator: Members of Congress were shocked that Bush had acted on his own and began hearings on the possibility of a war in Iraq. Even the architect of the Vietnam War favored economic sanctions instead.

Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense, 1961-68 (archival) The point is it's going to be bloody. There are going to be thousands and thousands and thousands of casualties. Who can doubt that a year of blockade will be cheaper than a week of war?

Senator Sam Nunn (archival): Of course there are no guarantees on economic sanctions. There are also no guarantees on war!

Narrator: If attacked, Saddam Hussein threatened to use Western hostages as shields, including children. If attacked, Saddam threatened to attack Israel. Israelis prepared for chemical warfare. The Iraqi leader had not hesitated to use chemical warfare in its eight-year war against Iran -- or against his own people, Kurds in northern Iraq. Yet even Iran now backed Iraq and threatened holy war against the U.S. if Iraq were attacked.

News announcer (archival): Tonight in a televised speech written by Saddam Hussein and read by his spokesman, the Iraqi President again called for the Muslim world to unite in the holy war against America. "We are the ones who scared America," chant the soldiers, "and if death comes our way we will not be scared."

Narrator: Some feared a war in the Persian Gulf could escalate into World War III. Especially if Israel responded to an attack.

George H. W. Bush (archival): An Iraq permitted to swallow Kuwait would have the economic and military power as well as the arrogance to intimidate and coerce its neighbors. Neighbors who control the lion's share of the world's remaining oil reserves. We cannot permit a resource so vital to be dominated by one so ruthless and we won't.

Narrator: The uncertainty of war and a spike in oil prices had already taken a toll on a fragile economy.

James A. Baker, III: I went to him and I said, "Mr. President, "You know that this has all the ingredients that have brought down a couple of former presidents. It's got $50 oil, body bags," and he said, "I know that, Jimmy, but we're going to do what's right. This is clearly in the national interest, and whatever happens, so be it." He was determined to do what was right, notwithstanding the political consequences.