read my lips May 5, 2014

George H. W. Bush Honored for Courageously Breaking ‘No New Taxes’ Pledge

By Margaret Hartmann, senior editor for Intelligencer who has worked at New York since 2012

U.S. President George Bush responds to reporters 12 January 1993 as he leaves Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD after his annual physical examination.

Photo: Lukle Frazza/AFP/Getty Images

The world must be much different than President George H. W. Bush imagined it would be 24 years ago, and while it ranks below seeing a son (or two?) become president, receiving an award for breaking a campaign promise has to be among the biggest surprises. On Sunday night, the former president was honored with a 2014 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for raising taxes in a 1990 budget compromise with Democrats despite declaring, “Read my lips: no new taxes.” Bush could not travel to Boston for the ceremony (he joked that he heard a “nasty rumor” that broccoli would be served), but we’re sure the award really took the sting out of losing in 1992.

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Bush Honored for Breaking ‘No New Taxes’ Pledge

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