The life of President George H.W. Bush was marked by civility and should be a case study for today’s political leaders. At his state funeral on Wednesday, Bush was recognized as a statesman of uncommon personal kindness.
Former President George W. Bush said his father “valued character over pedigree, and he was no cynic. He’d look for the good in each person, and he usually found it.”
Jon Meacham, a presidential biographer, said in a eulogy, “George H.W. Bush was America’s last great soldier-statesman. He stood in the breach in the Cold War against totalitarianism. He stood in the breach in Washington against unthinking partisanship.”
Bush, the 41st president, occupied the White House from 1989 to 1993, during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the expulsion of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait.
When he ran for re-election in 1992, he was dogged by Democrats and many Republicans for violating a famous 1988 campaign promise: “Read my lips, no new taxes.” He was easily defeated by Bill Clinton.
Even in defeat, Bush penned a gracious letter to Clinton, which has circulated in the news and on social media in recent days:
“When I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too. I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described. There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course. You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you.”
During his ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, all surviving former U.S. presidents were present. U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stood and were captured in a photo with former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former first lady Hillary Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter in the front row of the cathedral.
During one of the eulogies, President Clinton wiped away tears and former first lady Michelle Obama leaned over to pat him on the arm.
Taking his seat at the cathedral, President Trump shook hands with his predecessor, former President Obama, who he has often sharply criticized. Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 election opponent, and her husband and former president, shared the front pew with Trump, Obama, and their spouses.
Behind the former presidents sat Vice President Mike Pence and wife Karen, who were accompanied in the same row by former vice presidents Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney and Joe Biden alongside their wives Marilyn, Lynne and Jill, respectively
The cathedral also was filled with other past and present leaders of both political parties.
Even though Trump had reportedly infuriated the late president by attacking his sons, George W. Bush and Jeb Bush, a rival in the 2016 Republican primary campaign, he was treated with civility and respect at 41’s funeral.
And to Trump’s credit he issued an appropriate statement after Bush’s Nov. 30 death and tweeted the day of the funeral that he was “Looking forward to being with the Bush family. This is not a funeral, this is a day of celebration for a great man who has led a long and distinguished life. He will be missed!”
He also proclaimed the day of the funeral a national day of mourning and closed the federal government.
So all of these diverse political ideologies converged and followed 41’s example of civility — proof that it can be done. And if it can be done one day, it can be done other days. We need more leaders who are rooting for each other, regardless of differences.
Shea Wilson is the former managing editor of the El Dorado News-Times. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter.com @sheawilson7.