Spring 2019 Newsletter FideSpring li2019 Newsletterty Fidelity Photo credit: Paul Morse “A GREAT AND NOBLE MAN” THE HONORABLE GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH JUNE 12, 1924 - NOVEMBER 30, 2018 eorge Herbert Walker and was survived by five A man of quiet but intense GBush, World War II naval children and their spouses, faith, President Bush believed aviator, Texas oil pioneer, 17 grandchildren, eight great- his life was, in the pilot’s and 41st President of the grandchildren, and two siblings. saying from his World War II United States of America, He was preceded in death by days, “ceiling and visibility died peacefully at his Houston his wife of 73 years, Barbara; unlimited” or CAVU for short. home on November 30, 2018 his second child, Pauline He was grateful until the surrounded by his family and Robinson “Robin” Bush; very end both for his family closest friends, Jim and Susan and his brothers Prescott and for the many engaging Baker. He was 94 years old and “Bucky”. opportunities he had to serve Photo credit: Archives/David Valdez (continued on page 3) GeorgeandBarbaraBush.org 1 George & Barbara Bush Foundation ABOVE: Former Vice Presidents Dick Cheney (left) and Dan Quayle (right) join Vice President and Mrs. Pence paying their respects at the Bush family gravesite on April 5, 2019. (Photo credit: David Valdez) A MESSAGE FROM DAVID B. JONES e begin the Spring 2019 newsletter with Of course, together with our new name, we also have a new website Wa tribute to the 41st President of the address: GeorgeAndBarbaraBush.org, that also highlights the United States of America — our namesake, important work being done by the Bushes’ other “legacy institutions” our friend, and one of the two individuals who — the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, the Barbara will continue to inspire and guide our actions Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and Points of Light. going forward. As difficult as the President’s As this year marks three decades since President Bush entered passing was coming so soon after losing the presidency, we are now approaching some significant and historic Barbara Bush, we can also be confident that anniversaries ahead — including the fall of the Berlin Wall later this he would not want us moping around in sadness. Ever the optimist, year, the unification of Germany in 2020, the liberation of Kuwait George Bush was always “looking forward” and moving on to the in 2021, and more. Each of these occasions present opportunities to next event, and so we will take our cues from his sterling example. remind us of the pivotal leadership role that our 41st President, and In this time of transition, then, we look to a bold and bright our nation, played in these life-altering events. Stay tuned for more future. Our plans, some of which are highlighted in this edition of news on that front coming soon. our newsletter, will build on President and Mrs. Bush’s commitment Finally for now, the US Postal Service will issue a Forever Stamp to service, and leading with integrity, as we take our Presidential on June 12th in honor of President Bush’s 95th birthday featuring an Library and Museum and The Bush School of Government and image that the subject himself personally approved. As many of you Public Service to new levels of excellence and sustainable growth. can personally attest, President Bush was the ultimate letter writer. We announced our new name, the George and Barbara Bush Why not pick up a book of these new stamps and send a hand-written Foundation, in early April to reflect Mrs. Bush’s critical role and note to a friend, a colleague or a loved one? the substantial contributions she made not only to President Bush’s storied public service career, but also to the many causes she embraced during her own full and meaningful life. Her sustained commitment to service and the respect she earned across the country David B. Jones, and around the world made her an equal partner to President Bush, President and Chief Executive Officer and we could not be prouder now to bear her name on our foundation as well. 2 Spring 2019 GEORGE H.W. BUSH competitor Senator Bob Dole — (continued from page 1) who was movingly helped out the country he loved. Earlier of his wheelchair to salute the that evening, in fact, he took a president one final time. phone call from his eldest son, At the national prayer President George W. Bush, who service at Washington recounted their conversation in Cathedral on December 5th, his eulogy five days later: all living presidents and first I said, “Dad, I love you ladies (except the Carters, — you’ve been a wonderful who were unable to attend), father.” And the last words he vice presidents and foreign would ever say on earth were, dignitaries such as German “I love you, too.” Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prince Charles were among Six days of tributes, honors ABOVE: On the morning of Monday, December 3, 2018, several of President and ceremonies followed Bush’s grandchildren gathered around his casket at the funeral home in Houston 3,200 of the Bushes’ close President Bush’s passing. as the public ceremonies of his state funeral begin. (Photo credit: Mark J. Burns) friends and colleagues gathered BELOW: On Thursday, December 6, 2018, after four days of public events and to remember and celebrate Members of his Secret Service traveling to and from our Nation’s Capital, the Bush family arrived on the detail served as his first grounds of the Bush Library and processed to the gravesite for interment services. George Bush’s extraordinary honorary pallbearers on Monday, (Photo credit: Eric Draper) life of service. Interspersed December 3rd, as the president’s President Bush subsequently pay their respects along with with the scripture readings remains were borne from laid in state in the U.S. Capitol President and Mrs. Trump, by his granddaughters and Houston to Andrews Air Force Rotunda until the morning of congressional leaders of Christian rites performed by Base outside Washington, DC Wednesday, December 5th. both parties, members of the clergy, the president’s close by “Special Air Mission 41” — During those 36 hours, over Supreme Court, and President friends Michael W. Smith and also known as Air Force One. 42,000 persons filed past to Bush’s erstwhile colleague and Ronan Tynan sang, respectively, (continued next page) GeorgeandBarbaraBush.org 3 George & Barbara Bush Foundation GEORGE H.W. BUSH and kind soul will stay with (continued from page 3) us forever. So, through our tears, let us see the blessings “Friends” and “Last Full of knowing and loving you – a Measure of Devotion.” great and noble man, and the “George Herbert Walker best father a son or daughter Bush was America’s last could have. And in our grief, great soldier statesman, let us smile knowing that Dad a 20th-century founding is hugging Robin and holding father,” declared presidential mom’s hand again.” historian Jon Meacham in That afternoon, the Bush the first of four eulogies. “He family traveled back to governed with virtues that Houston, whereupon over most closely resembled those 11,000 persons made their of Washington and of Adams, ABOVE: President Bush’s service dog, Sully, lays near his casket in Houston way to St. Martin’s Church as of TR and of FDR, of Truman on December 2, 2018. (Photo credit: Evan Sisley/Office of George H. W. Bush) President Bush lay in repose BELOW: The Union Pacific funeral train led by the “4141” engine arrives and Eisenhower, of men who in College Station on December 5, 2018. (Photo credit: Gabriel Chmielewski/Texas overnight. believed in causes larger than A&M University) On Thursday morning, themselves.” December 6th, another 1,200 of Added former Canadian gentleman, a genuine leader, W. Bush sounded a deeply President Bush’s closest friends, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney: one who was distinguished, personal and emotional note former colleagues and other “When George Bush was resolute, and brave.” at the very end of his remarks, invited guests filled St. Martin’s president of the United States of After a warm and entertaining which earned sustained for the funeral mass that was America, every single head of tribute from President Bush’s applause: led by the Bushes’ pastor, the government in the world knew close friend Senator Alan “… we’re going to miss Reverend Russ Levenson, that they were dealing with a Simpson, President George you. Your decency, sincerity, and featured stirring musical performances by the Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire and the St. Martin’s Parish Choir. The president’s grandsons served as honorary pallbearers, while his granddaughters again took turns with the scripture readings. Final tributes were rendered by President Bush’s friend of 60 years, former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, who asserted: “As history will faithfully record, he became one of our nation’s finest Presidents; and beyond any doubt, our nation’s very best one-term President. For millions and millions across the globe, the world became a better place because George Bush occupied the White House for four years.” Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush rounded out the eulogies in part by remembering 4 Spring 2019 He was grateful until the very end both for his family and for the many engaging opportunities he had to serve the country he loved. his grandfather’s good-natured gravesite for a brief committal antics and caring concern: service. The Bushes’ daughter, “Always the competitor, each Doro Bush Koch, received the night Gampy challenged all of flag that draped her father’s the grandkids to the coveted casket per his wishes.