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Letter: Remembering George H.W. Bush, a great man

December 6, 2018

In this time of bitter partisanship, I hope that whatever one’s political beliefs, we can all mourn the passing and celebrate the life of George H.W. Bush. Mourn because America can ill afford to lose a man who led his life based on a belief in duty, honor, country and family. Celebrate because he lived a full, meaningful consequential life, and leaves the world a better place because of his time on Earth. 

George H.W. Bush was a man whose life could have been one of ease and comfort. Born into a wealthy patrician family, he could have followed a path that avoided the harsh realities of 20th Century America. Instead, he chose to live a life of service and self-deprecation. As drummed into him from his earliest days, the Bush family ethos was don’t gloat, expect praise or show off. Instead, go to work, work hard, achieve much.

That is what he did his entire life, but I think his service in World War II exemplifies the man he became. Listen to what he said as he recounted being hugged by his father and going off to war. “I climbed on the train; I didn’t know one single soul. And I was off for an experience unto the unknown, and it shaped my life.”

On Dec. 7, 1941, Bush was a senior at Andover Academy, a prep school for the sons of the wealthy. By May, 1942, Bush was a Naval air cadet, and at 19 he was the Navy’s youngest combat pilot and engaged in bombing runs over Wake Island. At age 20, his plane was shot down with the loss of his turret gunner, Ted White, and radioman Del Delancey.

Bush was rescued at sea and later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. Bush said, “They wrote it up as heroism, but it wasn’t - it was just doing your job.” And of his crew, Bush decades later said, “It worries me, it terrifies me. Did I do enough to save them?” A humble man, deflecting praise, worrying about others. 

On a personal note, I was privileged to get to know George and Barbara Bush in my job as director of Presidential Libraries for the National Archives.

My first encounter with them was at the rededication of the Eisenhower Presidential Library in 2003. It was a celebratory event with receptions, dinners and other events where food was being served. On this occasion, it was a fried chicken dinner. I was seated with Barbara Bush, who noted my nervousness, and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll get along fine with George. Just don’t get in his way when they say ‘Chicken is ready.’” 

I did get along fine with “George,” Barbara and their son George W. To say that they were the most down-to-earth, friendly and non-pretentious of the presidential families I dealt with is doing them a disservice. They would hold that distinction in any setting, anywhere. 

While the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas is not unpretentious, it honors and extols the lifetime of service the man gave to his country, not the man himself.

President Bush was often at his library for the many educational symposia, panels and celebratory events for which all presidential libraries are known. I think, however, his happiest times there were when he could be seen, alone, fishing at the little pond he had installed behind his library. 

Perhaps he is fishing at a little pond today, waiting for Barbara to say, “George, the chicken is ready.”

Richard Claypoole
Lewes

 

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