THE GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY CENTER AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY A Dissertation by JULIA SUSAN FRINK Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY August 2009 Major Subject: Educational Administration THE GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY CENTER AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY A Dissertation by JULIA SUSAN FRINK Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Yvonna S. Lincoln Committee Members, Bryan R. Cole L. Murphy Smith Toby M. Egan Head of Department, Mary Alford August 2009 Major Subject: Educational Administration iii ABSTRACT The George Bush Presidential Library Center at Texas A&M University. (August 2009) Julia Susan Frink, B.A., California State University Northridge; M.S., Tarleton State University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Yvonna S. Lincoln 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 iv 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. v DEDICATION To my devoted parents, Attila and Zsuzsa Frink They have given unselfishly of their love, time and resources. Through the example of their Hungarian immigrant background, they have taught me to trust in the Lord, devote myself to family, have compassion for others, work hard and value education. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you, God, for all blessings and love bestowed upon me. With love and special appreciation for my parents, Attila and Zsuzsa, sisters, Susanna and Ilona, and family members for their love, prayers, encouragement and understanding; I dearly love you, and every day I thank God for you. I thank: My friends for their prayers and encouragement. President George H.W. Bush for living a life of dedicated public service and peacefully leading change in the modern world. Without his career achievements and presidential administration, the subject matter of this dissertation would not be possible to study. First Lady Barbara Bush for her devotion to her family and commitment to serving our country in support of her husband’s career; thank you for raising an outstanding family and a good U.S. President, George W. Bush. Thank you for promoting family values, working to increase literacy and supporting education. Thank you for the Barbara Bush Rose garden at the Bush Presidential Library Center. Thank you to my doctoral committee chair, Dr. Yvonna S. Lincoln, and members, Drs. Bryan R. Cole, L. Murphy Smith and Toby M. Egan, for their service. Special thanks to Dr. Barry C. Nelson, Vice President of Finance and Administration for the Texas A&M University System Health Science Centers, for encouraging my academic endeavors, sharing his great knowledge and generously giving of his time. I thank those at Tarleton State University who gave me the vision to pursue a Ph.D. They are: Dr. Linda M. Jones, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, Dr. Rusty Freed, Department Head of Management, Marketing and Administrative Systems, and Dr. David E. Deviney, Associate Professor of Management. vii Thank you to Dr. Roman Popadiuk, Executive Director of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, and Mr. Warren Finch, Director of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, for permission to conduct the staff interviews, participating and providing me with access to information and resources. Many thanks to Dr. Robert Holzweiss, Supervisory Archivist, for creating organizational awareness of my research study and communicating staff interest to me. His assistance and enthusiasm helped my study begin in a very positive way. I especially thank Brian Blake, Public Relations Specialist at the Bush Presidential Library and Museum, for contributing his great photographs to my project. Many thanks to those from the Bush Presidential Library Center, Texas A&M University and the Bryan and College Station community who participated in this study. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6: 9-10 viii NOMENCLATURE B/CS Bryan/College Station Bush Library George Bush Presidential Library and Museum Bush School George Bush School of Government and Public Service Bush Foundation George Bush Presidential Library Foundation Bush 41 George Bush, 41st President of the United States CIA Central Intelligence Agency GDP Gross Domestic Product Library Library of Congress NARA National Archives and Records Administration NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization PPP Purchasing Power Parity SDI Strategic Defense Initiative SMU Southern Methodist University Soviet Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics U.N. United Nations U.S. United States U.S.S.R. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics WTO World Trade Organization ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... vi NOMENCLATURE.................................................................................................. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... xv 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Problem Statement ............................................................................... 3 1.2 Purpose................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Research Questions ............................................................................. 4 1.4 Research Objectives and Hypotheses................................................... 5 1.5 Operational Definitions........................................................................ 6 1.6 Study’s Importance .............................................................................. 7 1.7 Limitations of Study............................................................................. 9 1.8 Personal Background............................................................................ 10 2. LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................... 12 2.1 Scholarly Literature.............................................................................. 13 2.2 Conclusions.......................................................................................... 14 2.3 Related Literature Review: Presidential Libraries ............................... 15 3. METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................. 35 3.1 Purpose................................................................................................. 35 3.2 Site Selection.......................................................................................