Farewell to #41
Class act
In 2014, President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle came to Houston Intercontinental Airport. There was little fanfare, and the only one I saw waiting to greet them was President George H.W. Bush.
I cried as I looked at him sitting, blanketed, in his wheelchair waiting patiently for the Obamas’ arrival. There was a warm embrace between the Democrat and this Republican, who for that day and that moment just became regular people.
When asked why he chose to come, his response was: “I just wanted to say hello to the president and the first lady. When the president comes to your hometown, you show up and welcome him.”
What a man. I wish him Godspeed! Lena T. Sidney, Clear Lake City
An easy vote
Regarding “Too little, too late” (Letters, Wednesday): I am an independent voter who voted for George H.W. Bush in 1992. It was the first and only time so far I’ve voted for a Republican at the presidential level. Also, I’ve never once pulled a straight-party lever. I’m sure there are others like me.
I voted for Bush that year because I felt he had done a great job keeping our country safe and secure, and I strongly agreed with Operation Desert Storm. I also saw an experienced man with values I admired and a likeable man with an even temperament (most of the time).
He had a Democraticmajority Congress yet still managed to get much done in four years. From my perspective I see valid and genuine praise for George H.W. Bush by the media and many or even most Democrats. Jesse Cancelmo, Houston
Major thrill
One more story about 41’s gracious interactions with ordinary citizens, and how he made us feel extraordinary: My husband and I treated my collegeage son and his friend visiting us from Kansas City to an Astros game back when it was called Enron Field. We were lucky to have Diamond seats that night and went in to the dining room.
Our son Michael was in the buffet line, when someone said over his shoulder, “Excuse me, could I just break in here for a minute to get some soup?” The courteous interloper was, of course, George H.W. Bush. After a moment of disbelief, my son gathered his wits enough to reply, “Of course, Mr. President!” He came back to our table with a huge grin on his face. Had he caught a fly ball that night, I doubt it could have competed with the thrill of this brief encounter.
President Bush’s gentlemanly inquiry left a lasting impression which I truly believe informs my son’s attitude and behavior to this day. Karen Kash Redden, Colorado Spring, Colo.