Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Why the Bush Family Always Spent Christmas Day at Camp David
George H.W. Bush (and his son) came from old money. HW’s Mother, Dorothy Walker, stressed to him the need to be humble and to think of others.
When the President is on the road, their Secret Service detail travel with him. So that Secret Service members could spend time with their own families on Christmas Day, HW, and then W stayed at Camp David on Christmas Day. They would not leave for Texas until after Christmas Day.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Published in General
Indeed not, Gary…Thanks!
Another story about HW. He married the first girl he ever kissed, and the same was true of her. I don’t think that that is true of most Presidents or First Ladies.
Of course, his 73 year marriage to Barbara is, by far, the longest of any President.
She also married the first girl she ever kissed? Apparently Republicans aren’t as uptight as they are made out to be.😜
(P.S. Just kidding , Gary, but I couldn’t resist. Thanks for the nice story.🙂)
We Shall not see his like again, I’m afraid.
Thanks for the stories, Gary!
My sister married the first man she ever kissed. They have been married 35 years and have 4 incredible children.
I kissed a few others before I met Mrs. OS but, even so, we’ve been married for 50+ years now, so that might not be the main requirement.
Congratulations to both families. that’s great. Unfortunately, I have no such memories to look back on. But I delight in seeing others look back to their happy times.
On a related note, I just finished watching “A Bush Family Album”, which aired last night on Fox, with Brit Hume doing the hosting honors. It was great to see how close that family is, with all the memories they have to look back on.
Thanks, Gary, both Presidents Bush were some of the classiest people ever in politics.
Contrast this with Obama’s practice of going to Hawaii every single Christmas of his presidency. Some of those Christmas trips lasted over two weeks.
Not to take anything from HW, but it seems that I remember Reagan also made an effort stay in Washington DC area to allow the secret service staff remain home for the holidays.
I remember people pointing out that W stayed in town for Christmas, for the reason given, but didn’t realize that his father had done so as well.
W got it from his Father.
I had heard that, always thought it was so considerate. But they get SS protection for the rest of their lives; did they have to keep doing that til the end? (Maybe they could invite the agents’ families to come along if they want to go to Hawaii or wherever?)
I bet the agents going up to Kennebunkport during the summer!
At least in Mr. Reagan’s instance, they stayed on as support staff/familiar faces after he retired from public life…As well, some former presidents pay the expense themselves.
Remember that the primary job of the Secret Service is not Presidential protection.
Until recently they were under the Treasury department & most of their work is fraud & currency crime investigation.
They have offices & staff in every state, so a forner President moving away from Washington DC could be assigned local staff who would be interested in changing their job. Likewise, when a President visits another state the local staff augments the traveling staff. Everyone is trained similarly so people can move from job role to job role.
So ultimately a retired President wouldn’t need to force DC personnel to relocate.
Of course when the previous occupants of the White House announce they are moving to Cuba I’m not sure how that will be handled….
I recall 1992 when the Clinton campaign tried to start a rumor of an affair by then Pres. Bush. It fell flat quickly.
I didn’t know that. That’s terrible.
I do remember when Bush was running against Dukakis, in ’88. Dukakis said something terrible about Bush when he went down in the war. I honestly don’t remember what it was, but it made light of George Bush’s efforts in the war. No one said anything about it.
I am quite sure that George H W Bush did not feel the need for someone to rush to his defense. His career and service stood on their own merits.
Note: there is actually film of the submarine that rescued George Bush after he was shot down. To his last days he regretted the loss of the other flyers shot down.