Thursday 25 April 2013

Obama, ex-presidents help dedicate George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas

Obama, ex-presidents help dedicate George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Today was the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center located in Dallas, Texas on the campus of Southern Methodist University. To mark this special occasion, President and Mrs. Obama were in Dallas today for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library. It brought all the living former Presidents -- Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush -- together for the first time since right before President Obama took office in 2009. They were joined by former First Ladies Roslyn Carter, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton (also a former Secretary of State) and Laura Bush.

In his remarks, President Obama highlighted the special bond that connects our past presidents, and said that despite disagreement on matters of foreign policy, all of the men on the stage with him shared "a profound respect and reverence for the men and women of our military and their families. And we are united in our determination to comfort the families of the fallen and to care for those who wear the uniform of the United States."

The President praised his predecessor's resolve following the attacks on 9/11, and complimented his commitment to educating all American children and to immigration reform. He also shared a story that illustrated President Bush's appreciation for the challenges that President Obama, like all American presidents, would face in office.

He related a story that on his first day in office, "I found in that desk the day I took office was a letter from George, and one that demonstrated his compassion and generosity. For he knew that I would come to learn what he had learned -- that being President, above all, is a humbling job. There are moments where you make mistakes. There are times where you wish you could turn back the clock. And what I know is true about President Bush, and I hope my successor will say about me, is that we love this country and we do our best."

Other speakers included George W. Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush. Also speaking were former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Send John Presta an email and your story ideas or suggestions, johnpresta@att.net.

John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African American studies, published by The Elevator Group, Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books. John has volunteered for many political campaigns.

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