- Written by
- President Bush, George H. W., American, born 1924
- Published by
- Charles Scribner's Sons, American, founded 1846
- Owned by
- General Powell, Colin L., American, 1937 - 2021
- Date
- 1999
- Medium
- ink on paper (fiber product) and cardboard
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (open): 9 1/2 × 14 5/16 × 1 15/16 in. (24.2 × 36.4 × 5 cm)
- H x W x D (closed): 9 1/2 × 6 1/2 × 1 15/16 in. (24.2 × 16.5 × 5 cm)
- Caption
- This book belonged to General Colin Powell and his wife Alma. It is inscribed by President George H.W. Bush, "To Colin & Alma, All the best, con afecto! George Bush." In 1989, President Bush selected General Powell to be the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell was the first African American, the first ROTC graduate, and the youngest officer to serve in that position.
- Description
- A signed, hardcover edition of All the Best, My Life in Letters and Other Writings, written by President George H.W. Bush and inscribed to General Colin Powell. The white book features a glossy color paper jacket over its hardcover. The blue spine displays the book title, author, and publisher name with logo, printed horizontally in gold text. There are no markings on the front and back covers. On the jacket front is a large photograph of President Bush seated at a dark table, holding a white document in his proper right hand, and his eyeglasses and fountain pen in his proper left hand. He wears a red and blue checkered print tie featuring white elephants, a white dress shirt, and navy-blue Camp David cardigan. The U.S. Great Seal and Stars and Stripes flags are visible behind President Bush on the left, and a gilt-framed painting of the U.S. Capitol building hangs on the wall on the right. In large blue text, the front jacket reads: [ALL THE BEST, / My Life in Letters and Other Writings / GEORGE BUSH]. The spine of the jacket features the same text as the cover. Throughout the book are grayscale photographs and the last page is numbered at 640. On the flyleaf is a handwritten inscription to Colin and Alma Powell, on a large white custom “GEORGE BUSH” label. On the reverse of the jacket is copy of a typewritten personal letter from President Bush to his children, “George, Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Doro,” with handwritten corrections and additions.
- Place printed
- New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Books and Published Materials
- Topic
- Domestic life
- Education
- Families
- Government
- International affairs
- Men
- Politics
- U.S. History, 1969-2001
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
- Object number
- A2022.101.1.44
- Restrictions & Rights
- © Charles Scribner's Sons
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




