A Man of Faith

March 29, 2004
In time for election fever is this favorable look at how George W. Bush's faith has influenced his life and politics. Aikman, a former senior correspondent for Time
magazine and the author of several books, including Great Souls
, opens with Bush's startling 1999 declaration that the philosopher he most identified with was "Christ—because he changed my heart." A seasoned journalist, Aikman proceeds to methodically unpack Bush's spiritual journey, documenting important touchstones along the way, much as Stephen Mansfield did in his book, The Faith of George W. Bush
, but without Mansfield's colorful detail. Aikman offers some Bush family history, examines his wayward years and details Bush's transformation from churchgoer to a Christian who internalized his faith. The tone is solidly pro-Bush, with quick jabs at the likes of Maureen Dowd and generous flattery for the Texan. Some information offered for context borders on filler, including almost three pages of Methodist church history (related to the Bushes' affiliation with that denomination in 1989–1995) and the text of a sermon Bush preached in 1999. And, although he spends time summarizing Bush's positions on everything from Israel to 9/11, Aikman fails to address Bush's controversial environmental policies, something Mansfield also neglected. Still, in an election year when voters want to see if Bush's spiritual rhetoric is more than just surface chatter, there's plenty of evidence here that the man is sincere in his faith.

May 15, 2004
In this spiritual biography of the President, Aikman (Great Souls; When the Almond Tree Blossoms), a former senior correspondent for Time, stresses the important role Bush's strong faith has played in his life and the impact it has had on voters' perceptions. Aikman was given exclusive access to members of Bush's inner circle, such as Carl Rove and Karen Hughes. While the resulting work is not a whitewash, it doesn't disguise the author's enthusiasm for both Bush's presidency and his religious views (Aikman himself is an evangelical Christian). Consequently, he sees nothing improper in the manner in which Bush was admitted to Yale, the Air Force National Guard, or the Harvard Business School. And he doesn't even mention Bush's widely debated reassignment to Dannelly Field, AL. On the other hand, Aikman does provide extensive coverage of the President's drinking problem and the general aimlessness of his early years. Written with the competence one would expect from an experienced senior Time editor, this book should reassure evangelical readers and may cause dismay among secular ones.-Richard S. Watts, San Bernardino Cty. Lib., CA

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