Interview · moment 10 of 23
Reconstructing Bush's Path to CIA Director
from Dead President with Russ Baker · #125
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
2 minGuest
Baker walks through his research process discovering the chain of Nixon-era relationships and Prescott Bush's intelligence-community ties that explain why George H.W. Bush was chosen to lead the CIA at that critical moment.
- 35:13Tim found evidence in Bush's presidential library papers from Zapata Offshore, the company that piqued his interest.
- 35:27Prescott Bush, the father, essentially oversaw Senate intelligence operations and was close to Allen Dulles.
- 35:43Young George H.W. Bush wasn't just in the Navy during World War II—he was in Naval Intelligence.
- 36:00Zapata Offshore made no money despite operating in landlocked countries with no oil reserves.
- 36:19The Washington Post owner and owners of major sports teams all invested in the unprofitable company, arranged through Prescott Bush.
- 36:39George H.W. Bush traveled the world meeting with people who turned out to be intelligence operatives, not oil businessmen.
- 36:57A memo identified him as "Mr. George Bush of the CIA."
George H. W. BushPrescott BushZapata OffshoreAllen DullesSkull and BonesFamily of Secrets