The George Bush Presidential Library Center at Texas A&M University

Abstract

This was the first comprehensive doctoral dissertation on the George Bush Presidential Library Center at Texas A&M University. The Bush Presidential Library and Museum was the focal point. The purpose was to describe the global significance, work and educational contributions of the Bush Presidential Library while exploring its partnership with Texas A&M University. The primary data sources were: archival records, museum exhibits, interviews and my field work experiences. Beyond being a descriptive dissertation, this study offered unique hypotheses and conclusions. It examined the higher educational aspects of the Bush Presidential Library Center's operating context within Texas A&M University. These included the educational value of George Bush's career, the Bush Presidential Library's contents, and its benefits and technology use in educational programming. This study answered two unique hypotheses: how President Bush's liberation of Kuwait increased the Middle Eastern funding of presidential libraries and the Corps of Cadets' influence on President Bush's selection of Texas A&M University. George Bush's global presidency, distinguished international public service career and his world-changing, historical presidential achievements gave the Bush Presidential Library and Museum an extraordinary educational value. The data showed the educational value of, benefits of and technology's role in educational programming at the Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The global changes mirrored President Bush's career and his effort to combat terrorism. China's emergence as a world power was attributed to President Bush's career. The Bush Presidential Library and Museum is the core asset of the center. The data showed President Bush's liberation of Kuwait directly influenced the funding of his presidential library and the subsequent ones. The data showed the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets' influence on President Bush's selection of Texas A&M University as the site for his presidential library. Texas A&M University is the best place for the George Bush Presidential Library Center. A university environment is the best place to host a presidential library.