Posted on 12/04/2018 12:24:54 PM PST by Kaslin
I first met the man who would become America's 41st president in 1968. He was a Houston congressman and I was a young reporter for a local TV and radio station. My first impression was how kind he was to this "kid," who had just moved to Texas from the Washington, D.C., area and was just starting to learn the "language," like "fixing to go" and "y'all."
Everyone who worked for George H.W. Bush, or knew him, has a story to tell. I have several.
Mr. Bush was a letter writer like none other. I think I have an almost complete collection of his notes and letters, some typed, some handwritten, from every position he held in public life. These include congressman, Republican National Committee chairman, chief liaison officer to the People's Republic of China, U.N. ambassador, CIA director, vice president and president.
When he became president, I wrote him a congratulatory note and he responded on White House stationery. I later told him I was keeping the letter "just in case you amount to something." He laughed.
One time we were scheduled to meet at Walker's Point, the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, where they had vacationed for decades. Mr. Bush had to cancel due to an unexpected visit from an ambassador. Apparently concerned that my feelings would be hurt, he instructed an aid to get a phone number where he could call me. I gave him a payphone number at a local hardware store (this was before cellphones had become ubiquitous) and he called to apologize.
Our last meeting was two years ago at Walker's Point and this time he didn't cancel. My youngest daughter was with me. We were told that the president sometimes appeared to doze off, but that he was listening. We had a wonderful visit, recalling Houston days. He asked questions and seemed lucid and interested in talking politics and world events.
On one visit to the Oval Office when he was president, he sat behind the desk and I sat in a chair next to him. When I showed his son, the 43rd president, that picture some years later, he motioned me over to the same desk, we sat down and the picture was replicated. I have both hanging in my office.
Mr. Bush was not a favorite of conservatives, who believed he would be the third term of his predecessor, Ronald Reagan. When he promised a "kinder, gentler nation," some thought he was being critical of Reagan. In fact, a case could be made that it wasn't Reagan who was unkind and ungentle, but his critics.
Mr. Bush faltered when he broke his "read my lips, no new taxes" pledge in exchange for a promise by congressional Democrats to cut spending. The Democrats got their tax increase, but didn't deliver on spending cuts. He also took heat for nominating David Souter to the Supreme Court. Souter was sold to him as a conservative by Chief of Staff John Sununu, but he turned out to rule with the court's liberal wing. Still, he gave conservatives Clarence Thomas, a solid constitutional originalist.
As president, Mr. Bush brought just the right attitude to the collapse of the Soviet Union, warning Americans they should not engage in triumphalism over the collapse of the communist regime (many celebrated anyway) and the end of the Cold War because of the uncertainty of what might follow. He also ordered the military to oust Saddam Hussein's forces after they had invaded Kuwait, a highly successful operation.
Any epitaph on the life of George H.W. Bush must include at least three words: character, honor and integrity. From his service in World War II, to his political career and post-presidency, not to mention his faithfulness to Barbara, his wife of 73 years.
Perhaps one of the reasons he seems so attractive is his contrast with the current bitter and corrosive political climate. We are not likely to see his kind again, but we will have his memory and example to recall when considering the definition of the word gentleman.
Yep lots of threads posted and most likely a lot more to come.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=all;o=time;q=quick;s=bush
Still amazed at the shenanigans around The Alamo.
The entire bush family are a bunch of deep state, one world globalists. I cannot stand this media love fest with Senior dying. Really media?? You freakin hated the man while he was alive in any capacity now he’s your bestest prezzy evah (after Obama of course).
Dirt bag media. All.
George H. W. Bush was a Globalist.
That is all you need to know.
GHWB was a tax-loving globalist gun-grabber, and paved the way for Ruby Ridge and Clinton and the Waco disaster. Man of character, my foot.
I haven’t commented on any of the memorial threads, but as this article is a reference to ‘character’ I’ll offer my opinion,
His “New World Order” was always about setting the stage for the rise of the anti-Christ Beast System over the Earth and where they first had to utilise and then diminish a free United States of America and its informed citizens. This evil man did everything in his sphere of influence to aid, abet and bring in that system,
They hate President Trump because for the first time since January of 1989 the office of President of the United States is not a direct part of this reprobate bipartisan cabal or their evil Satanic agenda for the last days,
It is my opinion that G.H.W. Bush and later his spawn both gave allegiance to that demonic thing in New Haven in the Skull and Bones Tomb and by doing so they and many others like them have also been given their seat power and great authority as a benefit of not dissimilar dark initiations,
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12
I also wonder how many innocent deaths this war mongering globalist was directly responsible for? I suspect that where he is now, that number is very precisely known,
If you think William Jefferson Clinton would have brought the wall down than you are greatly mistaken.
“Mr. Bush faltered when he broke his “read my lips, no new taxes” pledge in exchange for a promise by congressional Democrats to cut spending. The Democrats got their tax increase, but didn’t deliver on spending cuts. “
He got played.
Now the dems have Trump.
Reagan’s biggest mistake. Didn’t need a deep state liberal on the ticket.
“This has been the longest week ever and it’s only Tuesday.”
Truth! man I need a break already! dang.
Prove it that he was a liberal.
He wasn’t the first old man who did it, and he won’t be the last old man. Old man are known to do that. Not every one of course
Yep!
Did you know that he send Air Force One to Houston to pick up the late President and have him brought to DC to lay in honor at the capitol?.
Fox News reported that, I doub't that the drive-by media did.
You better go to the bathroom because you are full of it.
Good points about the offspring.
The kids who “carry on” the family name almost always believe that government, in and of itself, is not only benign, but beneficial, honorable, even grand.
Which is idiocy.
Are you for real?
You sir give conservatives a bad name
Hahahaha! Are you in a coma?
interesting comment - I’m no big Bush fan but I would like to know the concept. Thanks!
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