Years ago I was talking with an HMX-1 Presidential pilot. He mentioned that one night they’d landed at the Naval Observatory and shut down and Pres. Bush 41 was still talking in the cabin to someone. Finally, Barbara Bus got up and left the helo. Minutes passed and no Pres. Bush.
Finally, Barbara stuck her head back in and said, “George, come on. These boys need to get some sleep! The President stuck his head into the cockpit and said, “Sorry, guys.”
They flew the bird back to the White House. Since it was so late, they slept on a couple of cots in the basement. The first thing the next morning they flew out to pick up the President & Mrs. Bush. He looked into the cockpit to greet the pilots and saw that they were the same ones as the night before.
“You men didn’t get home last night, did you?”
“No problem, Mr. President.”
“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Class!
I read where Barbara Bush told her grandchildren to get out of the White House pool because a couple of Secret Service personnel wanted to take a swim.
My best friend from my military days (who passed away a couple of months ago) did a tour at the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), which provides comm support for the POTUS and other senior White House officials.
Passing the Yankee White background check (a requirement for working at the agency) is extremely tough, but my friend made it in with flying colors and did an outstanding job at WHCA. However, when Clinton won the 1992 Presidential race, he requested reassignment because he refused to work for an unethical scum bag. The assignment folks thought he was crazy, but he persisted and got a short tour to Turkey as his reward.
He told me George H. W. Bush and Barbara were two of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet and their respect for the military was always apparent. Before 41 left office in January of 1993, he and Barbara flew to WHCA HQ at Bolling and spent the morning meeting with the staff. They also posed for pictures with anyone who wanted a photo and made sure those individuals received a signed photo. My late friend counted his as a prized possession, and he had a stellar military career. Still made it to CMSgt and pulled tours as a senior enlisted adviser before retiring.
His co-workers who decided to stick it out at WHCA had to endure the wrath of Hillary. The Secret Service started sending out warnings when the Hildebeest was still in Little Rock and if anything, they underestimated “the threat.” She was everything advertised and worse.