Two powerful political families, two scions. But what, beyond an instantly recognisable surname and a frequent appearance in the headlines, could George Bush and Mark Thatcher have in common?

Tuesday January 18, 2005

The Guardian

Mistaken identity

Empire of the sons

Two powerful political families, two scions. But what, beyond an instantly recognisable surname and a frequent appearance in the headlines, could George Bush and Mark Thatcher have in common?

1946 - Bush: born to notably steely mother.

1953 - Thatcher: born to notably steely mother.
 
1963 - Bush: finishes academically undistinguished career at one of nation's top prep schools.

1970 - Thatcher: finishes academically undistinguished career at one of nation's top public schools.

1972 - Bush: fails to show up for Air National Guard physical exam.

1970s - Thatcher: fails accountancy exam - three times.

1976 - Bush: loses driving privileges after third drunk-driving arrest.

1982 - Thatcher: loses self while driving on Paris-Dakar rally.

1977 - Bush: somehow persuades pleasant, level-headed Texan woman to marry him.

1987 - Thatcher: somehow persuades pleasant, level-headed Texan woman to marry him.

1977 - Thatcher: with no experience, launches car-racing stable, Mark Thatcher Racing. It goes bust.

1978 - Bush: with no experience, launches oil exploration company Arbusto Energy Inc. About to go bust when acquired (by oil company owned by family friends).

1986 - Bush: reportedly receives large amounts in "consultancy" fees after Harken Oil, owned by a Republican supporter, acquires failing Spectrum 7 and wins lucrative contract to drill for oil off Bahrain while his father is president.

1986 - Thatcher: reportedly receives "consultancy" fees upwards of £10m for helping British Aerospace sell jets to the Saudi government while his mother is PM.

1990 - Bush: suspected of breaking insider trading laws in connection with selling Harken stock at 200% profit shortly before $23.2m drop in profits is announced and stock drops 60% over next six months. SEC, headed by friend of Bush's father, the then-president, finds no evidence that Bush deliberately set out to break rules.

1995 - Thatcher: suspected of breaking racketeering and fraud laws in connection with acquiring Ameristar, an aviation-fuels company. Case settled after Thatcher's mother, the former prime minister, contributes to £300,000 settlement fee.

2004 - Bush: becomes embroiled in ill-advised scheme to overthrow despotic ruler of oil-rich third-world country.

2004 - Thatcher: becomes embroiled in ill-advised scheme to overthrow despotic ruler of oil-rich third-world country.

Ellin Stein