48.5 F
New York
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Living Presidents Join George W. Bush at Library Dedication

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former President George H.W. Bush and former President Jimmy Carter praise former President George W. Bush at the dedication of the George W. Bush Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas.
President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former President George H.W. Bush and former President Jimmy Carter praise former President George W. Bush at the dedication of the George W. Bush Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas.
Flanked by his father and all three living presidents, former President George W. Bush was the subject of praise on Thursday, April 25th, as the presidential library and museum in his name was dedicated in Dallas, Texas.

In a voice reverberating with palpable emotion, President Bush said, “I dedicate this library with unshakeable faith in the future of our country.” Standing on the campus of Southern Methodist University, the library and museum is a 226,565 square-foot complex and was built with privately raised funds.

Taking an optimistic tone reminiscent of the late president Ronald Reagan, President Bush called his days as president an “honor of a lifetime to lead a country as brave and as noble as the United States” and said that despite the awesome challenges that the nation faces, “I’ll always believe our nation’s best days lie ahead.”

On only very rare occasions do all living U.S. presidents gather in one place; the last time such an event took place was in the White House in 2009 prior to President Obama’s inauguration. Standing all together in the oval office were then President-Elect Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, his father, President George H.W. Bush, President Bill Clinton and President Jimmy Carter.

In his address at the library’s dedication, President Obama said that the living presidents have been called “the world’s most exclusive club,” but he added, “Our club’s more like a support group… No matter how much you think you’re ready… it’s impossible to truly understand the nature of the job until it’s yours.”

Calling Bush “a good man” President Obama paid tribute to his immediate predecessor by saying that he showed strong leadership in the days subsequent to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. “As we walk through this library,” Obama said, “obviously we’re reminded of the incredible strength and resolve that came through that bullhorn as he (President Bush) stood amid the rubble and the ruins of Ground Zero, promising to deliver justice to those who had sought to destroy our way of life.”

No references were made concerning the controversies that plagued Bush’s two terms in the White House, including his decision to invade Iraq, his administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina and the financial collapse that occurred on his watch.  Rather, Thursday’s dedication focused on the positive accomplishments of the nation’s 43rd president including his initiative to combat HIV/AIDs in Africa, his education reforms and his unsuccessful effort to reform the nation’s immigration system, which is back on the congressional agenda for the first time since he left office.

Making a direct appeal to Congress for passage of the immigration reform bill, President Obama said he was hopeful that with the help of House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), who was in the audience, the legislation would reach his desk sometime this year. “And if we do that, it will be in large part thanks to the hard work of President George W. Bush.”

Former President Bill Clinton spoke about his close personal relationship with the Bush family in a jocular sense, noting that people have called him the “black sheep son” of former President George H.W. Bush. Of former President George W. Bush, Clinton said, “I like it when we have disagreements. He’s disarmingly direct.”

He also joked that the newest facility in the presidential library system is the “latest, grandest example of former presidents to rewrite history.”

“In January 2005 there was a peace treaty between North and South Sudan that ended a war,” said former President Jimmy Carter, adding that “George W. Bush is responsible for that.” He also lauded him for his work in Africa on behalf of “the most needy people on earth.”

Seated in a wheelchair, former President George H.W. Bush made only brief remarks and thanked those in attendance for being there. After he finished, he rose from the chair, aided by his son and wife Barbara, to smile and wave to the audience of Bush family friends, relatives, supporters and former administration officials.

President Bush opened his address by saying, “Oh happy day” and joked that there was a time in his life when he “wouldn’t have been found at a library, much less found one.” On a serious note, he then said that the library would reflect the unwavering commitment to his personal principles and values as he made decisions throughout his presidency. “When our freedom came under attack, we made the tough decisions required to keep people safe,” he said.

The museum features an interactive exhibit in which visitors “can step into a gaming experience” to weigh four big decisions Bush confronted while in office, namely the invasion of Iraq, the troop surge, the response to Hurricane Katrina and the financial crisis. The exhibit offers the visitor advice from advisers, and after four minutes, Bush explains his own decision-making process in a video.

While the museum also mentions the controversial points in Bush’s administration, it highlights the initiatives that assisted in defining Bush as a “compassionate conservative,” such as his educational directive called “No Child Left Behind” and his efforts in curtailing the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Saying that “leaders are defined by the convictions they hold,” Bush added that, “my deepest conviction, the guiding principle of the administration, is that the United States of America must drive to expand the reach of freedom. I believe that freedom is a gift from God and the hope of every human heart.”

As to what future generations will learn when visiting his museum and library, Bush said, “They’re going to find out we stayed true to our convictions.”

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -