George W Bush admitted he knew little about international affairs at his first meeting with Britain’s ambassador to the US, the papers show.
Mr Bush’s later presidency was dominated by US military action in Iraq and Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks of 2001.
When Sir Christopher Meyer, then governor of Texas in 1998 discussed a possible run for the White House and was open about the lack of experience that he had in international affairs despite the fact his father being president between 1989-1993.
George W Bush (above) admitted he knew little about international affairs at his first meeting with Britain’s ambassador to the US, the papers show
‘Bush admitted that, apart from Mexico, he did not know much about international affairs and that he would do well to broaden his experience,’ Sir Christopher wrote.
‘His world view – as he is well aware – is largely limited to the Texan and Mexican horizons.’
Ambassador Bush urged Bush to travel to the UK. But Bush stated that he couldn’t afford high-profile overseas travel in advance of the gubernatorial election that fall.
‘The Texas electorate would not forgive him if he appeared to be taking his eye off the business of governing Texas,’ Sir Christopher reported.
Mr Bush’s later presidency was dominated by US military action in Iraq and Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks of 2001 (pictured)
He said that if Mr Bush did decide to seek the Republican Party nomination, he was regarded in the political salons in Washington as ‘by far the front runner’.
‘This meeting confirmed my first snap opinion of George W: Very personable and with a good self-deprecating sense of humour,’ he noted.
Bush held two terms in office between 2001-2009.