![BUSH, George H. W. (1924 - ), President. Portion of draft press statement nominating James A. Baker, III as Secretary of State, WITH EXTENSIVE AUTOGRAPH EMENDATIONS IN BUSH'S HAND, n.d. [November 1988]. 2 pages (second and third pages of a three-page document), 4to, over 100 words in Bush's hand.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2005/NYR/2005_NYR_01685_0252_000(110649).jpg?w=1)
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BUSH, George H. W. (1924 - ), President. Portion of draft press statement nominating James A. Baker, III as Secretary of State, WITH EXTENSIVE AUTOGRAPH EMENDATIONS IN BUSH'S HAND, n.d. [November 1988]. 2 pages (second and third pages of a three-page document), 4to, over 100 words in Bush's hand.
"HE HAS BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT HE'LL GET THE JOB DONE."
A corrected and heavily amended draft of President-elect George H. W. Bush's announcement of his proposed Secretary of State, James A. Baker, III. This was the first Cabinet selection that Bush made public (he also announces the members of his transition team and Inaugural Committee in this statement), and it was an expected choice. Baker, after serving for four years as President Reagan's chief of staff, and then another four years as Treasury Secretary, took the reigns of Bush's successful election campaign in 1988 against Democrat Michael Dukakis. In the typewritten portion of the text, Bush notes how he had discussed the Baker nomination with the outgoing Secretary of State, George P. Schultz, but changes the phrase "he enthusiastically endorsed my choice," to simply "he endorsed my choice." Bush goes on to add in an extensive holograph addition: "He [Baker] has big shoes to fill but he'll get the job done. I know he feels as I do about the distinguished men & women in our Foreign Service - and he will work constructively with them to achieve our foreign policy objectives." Then near the end of his statement, Bush makes this second substantial holograph addition: "As I said in the campaign, I will for the most part, bring in a bran [sic] new team of people from across the country. In my view this will invigorate the process. It will in no way reflect lack of confidence in those who have served President Reagan so well."
"HE HAS BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT HE'LL GET THE JOB DONE."
A corrected and heavily amended draft of President-elect George H. W. Bush's announcement of his proposed Secretary of State, James A. Baker, III. This was the first Cabinet selection that Bush made public (he also announces the members of his transition team and Inaugural Committee in this statement), and it was an expected choice. Baker, after serving for four years as President Reagan's chief of staff, and then another four years as Treasury Secretary, took the reigns of Bush's successful election campaign in 1988 against Democrat Michael Dukakis. In the typewritten portion of the text, Bush notes how he had discussed the Baker nomination with the outgoing Secretary of State, George P. Schultz, but changes the phrase "he enthusiastically endorsed my choice," to simply "he endorsed my choice." Bush goes on to add in an extensive holograph addition: "He [Baker] has big shoes to fill but he'll get the job done. I know he feels as I do about the distinguished men & women in our Foreign Service - and he will work constructively with them to achieve our foreign policy objectives." Then near the end of his statement, Bush makes this second substantial holograph addition: "As I said in the campaign, I will for the most part, bring in a bran [sic] new team of people from across the country. In my view this will invigorate the process. It will in no way reflect lack of confidence in those who have served President Reagan so well."