When the Soviet Union collapsed during H.W. Bush's presidency, he never did a "victory lap," at the Berlin Wall. It's hard to imagine such restraint from American politicians today Was his restraint considered odd at the time, since he failed to mark a victory 40 years in the making?

by RusticBohemian
altrsaber

George HW Bush tended to take a more pragmatic approach to foreign affairs than modern American politicians. During China's crackdown of the Tienanmen protest, he opted for only limited sanctions, despite popular outrage, and privately communicated the the Chinese government that it would be considered "an internal affair". [1]

He would maintain a similar attitude towards the Soviets. Some scholars believe that his refusal to take a victory lap, was a strategic move to avoid backlash from hardliners and preserve relations with Eastern Europe. [2]

That said it was indeed considered odd, and in fact when the news broke about the opening of East Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall, one reporter even noted the lack of festivities [3]:

Q: In what you just said, that this is a sort of great victory for our side in the big East-West battle, but you don't seem elated. And I'm wondering if you're thinking of the problems.

The President: I am not an emotional kind of guy.

Q: Well, how elated are you?

The President: I'm very pleased. And I've been very pleased with a lot of other developments. And, as I've told you, I think the United States part of this, which is not related to this development today particularly, is being handled in a proper fashion. And we'll have some that'll suggest more flamboyant courses of action for this country, and we're, I think, handling this properly with allies, staying in close touch in this dynamic change -- try to help as development takes place, try to enhance reform, both political and economic.

And so, the fact that I'm not bubbling over -- maybe it's getting along towards evening, because I feel very good about it.

References:

  1. Document 33: State Department document entitled "Themes". June 29, 1989. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/

  2. Stephen Knott. GEORGE H. W. BUSH: FOREIGN AFFAIRS. University of Virginia, Miller Center. https://millercenter.org/president/bush/foreign-affairs

  3. George HW Bush. Public Papers: Remarks and a Question-and-Answer Session With Reporters on the Relaxation of East German Border Controls. The White House. 1989, November 9. https://bush41library.tamu.edu/archives/public-papers/1174