started considering a tax increase. ultimately proved his demise. he was out jogging. i was in the press pool, negotiations were going on and i did one of those very undistinguished screaming questions, mr. president, what about taxes now, or whatever it was i said? as he jogged by, he said read my hips, no new taxes. so a sense of humor. but he was considering raising taxes. and he did. and that s why bill clinton, years later, had a balanced budget. but it contributed to his losing bush losing re-election. no doubt. the book ends are very, very important. george herbert walker bush was elected, kind of on the coattails of ronald reagan s years. and when he lost in 1992, he and bill clinton it was the old guard, a new, younger generation elected, but also in that race was h. ross perot. 19 million votes perot took.