History will be kind to former President George H.W. Bush. That's what the panel of historians told the crowd assembled at a College Station luncheon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his presidency.

Three authors, all working on books about Bush, discussed his legacy as part of the three-day event: former Newsweek editor Jon Meacham; Mark Updegrove, director of the LBJ Museum; and Jeffrey Engel, SMU's director of presidential history projects. The panel was moderated by Shannon Bream of Fox News.

About 600 people, largely friends and former colleagues of the Bushes, gathered under a tent at the George Bush Presidential Library Center for the luncheon. The group included dozens of attendees, such as Karl Rove, senior adviser to President George W. Bush.

The Bushes were in attendance and, similar to their reception at the other events, received a standing ovation from the crowd. Barbara Bush sported a maroon Texas A&M windbreaker in honor of the couple's adopted university.

"One of the things that history can help fix in terms of what journalism sometimes gets wrong is the journalistic market, the current political market, tends to discount for success," Meacham said. "You don't get as much credit for things that don't happen."

Examples Meacham gave included a nonviolent end to the Cold War and the 1990 budget compromise. He said the 25 years have allowed passions to recede, giving the public, and historians, a clearer perspective. Bush was a master of quiet diplomacy and small gestures, Meacham said -- a man who didn't "spike the football." He said that leadership style has been good for America long term, but was not self-glorifying at the time.

THE BANK AND TRUST

"George H.W. Bush is looking far better with the passage of time," Meacham said. "I think there is no doubt he was in the White House during an enormously important time, a crossroads in the history of the world in many respects."

The men also talked about what they felt Bush did right.

"President Bush and his administration faced more complex and overlapping global problems than any president in U.S. history with the possible exception of Franklin Roosevelt at the height at World War II," Engel said. "They've accomplished these things with an extraordinary record not only of accomplishment ... [but] without doing the wrong thing."

Updegrove similarly lauded Bush's foreign policy, particularly the liberation of Kuwait and the fall of the Berlin Wall. He said the foreign policy will withstand the testament of time better than tax policy.

"So often, history is reflected in sound bites ... I think when George H.W. Bush left office he was remembered for, 'Read my lips. No new taxes,' which was ultimately his downfall," Updegrove said. "I think 25 years from now he will be remembered more for 'this aggression will not stand.' I don't think there is any question about that."

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