"I don't know what the official protocol is, but they've been very vigilant about staying in the background. I bet they just didn't want the extra fuss, security, etc. that would have gone along with them being there. I'm sure they talked it over with Nancy . . ."
The President knows it's not "all about him". I'm glad they are taking a few days as well. This week has brought home to me how merciless the press was with Pres Reagan, and how present attacks on Pres Bush are so eerily similar. God Bless them both.
Looking back at the Reagan years has brought back how evil the press were back then. Rather was mean when he was on 60 minutes and Sam Donaldson was one of the biggest Clymers around along with Helen Thomas.
I wasn't old enought to vote for Reagan either time, and my family wasn't much "into" politics. But I've been struck, too, by how similar the two men are with their determination to do what is "right", their faith, how much they got criticized, and so on.
And you're right that the Pres. knows it's not "all about him" I was so impressed by their visit to the Capitol; so short, but obviously meaningful. The people looked so surprised, yet honored, that they were there. But the Pres. and Laura were there and gone so fast I bet some of the people there didn't even realize who had been in and out so fast. I'm NOT criticizing the length of their visit; I thought it was perfect and another example of knowing it isn't "all about them".