George H. W. Bush
1924 - 2018
President of the United States
1989- 1993
Vice President of the United States
1981 - 1989
Public Servant
I never voted for George H. W. Bush, who died last night at the age of 94, but I admired the man greatly. To me, he truly defined what it meant to serve the country and the public. Long after he left the White House I read a book called "The Flyboys: A True Story of Courage" by James Bradley. The book centered around a group of US Navy airmen who were shot down and/or captured by the Japanese during World War II. One of those flyers was George Bush. Find and read that book to get a chilling story of the experiences that helped shape the man. It certainly changed how I felt about him.
Some of the best stories being written of George Bush today concern the things that he did after he left office. For example, this note that he wrote and left in the Oval Office on the morning of January 20, 1993 - perhaps his last note as President - to his successor, Bill Clinton:
Nothing partisan there, is there? Only a concern for the future of the country. It speaks volumes about the man.
Then, of course, there was his teaming up with former President Clinton for numerous humanitarian purposes, most notably, hurricane relief efforts in the United States. Those efforts and the President's lifetime of service were also recognized by another of his successors, who awarded him the Presidential Medal pf Freedom.
And for all of his service, I once remember hearing him say that perhaps he was proudest achievement was seeing one of his sons also serve as President of the United States.
The most eloquent tribute I read today came from our Forty-fourth President, Barack Obama, who said, in part...
George H.W. Bush’s life is a testament to the notion that public service is a noble, joyous calling. And he did tremendous good along the journey. Expanding America’s promise to new immigrants and people with disabilities. Reducing the scourge of nuclear weapons and building a broad international coalition to expel a dictator from Kuwait. And when democratic revolutions bloomed across Eastern Europe, it was his steady, diplomatic hand that made possible an achievement once thought anything but – ending the Cold War without firing a shot.
It's a legacy of service that may never be matched, even though he’d want all of us to try.
After seventy-three years of marriage, George and Barbara Bush are together again now, two points of light that never dimmed, two points of light that ignited countless others with their example – the example of a man who, even after commanding the world’s mightiest military, once said “I got more of a kick out of being one of the founders of the YMCA in Midland, Texas back in 1952 than almost anything I’ve done.”
What a testament to the qualities that make this country great. Service to others. Commitment to leaving behind something better. Sacrifice in the name of lifting this country closer to its founding ideals. Our thoughts are with the entire Bush family tonight – and all who were inspired by George and Barbara’s example.
RIP George H.W. Bush.
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