![]() His attendance at the funerals of three Soviet leaders allowed him to meet the Soviet successor on each occasion. He was characteristically self-effacing regarding ceremonial duties like attending funerals of foreign dignitaries (“You die, I fly,” he said) but leveraged those occasions to establish personal relations with other leaders. Once again, Bush knew exactly how to conduct himself.īush used his diplomatic skills to handle important foreign missions for Reagan. He covered some events on Reagan’s schedule during the President’s convalescence but never aggrandized his role, a marked contrast with Secretary of State Al Haig’s “I’m in charge” approach. He overruled Secret Service plans that he helicopter to the White House, insisting that only the President lands on the South Lawn. When an assassination attempt almost took Reagan’s life 10 weeks into their first term, Bush demonstrated model vice-presidential behavior. Bush developed personal rapport with Reagan during their private weekly lunches, often bringing a good joke or two. His original vice-presidential staff focused on helping Reagan govern, not advancing Bush politically. To do this, Bush established a friendship with Reagan and won the trust of the President and his circle by working loyally to advance Reagan’s agenda. Bush showed his character in one phone call (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Patrick Smith/Getty Images Bush arrives for the coin toss prior to Super Bowl 51 between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots at NRG Stadium on Februin Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: President George H.W. Mondale had created, whereby the vice president served in the White House as a close adviser and trouble-shooter for the President. In the process, Bush made important contributions to the Reagan presidency and the development of the vice presidency.īush embraced the new vice-presidential model that Jimmy Carter and Walter F. Bush accepted – without reservation – and handled the perception that he was Reagan’s second choice with characteristic grace.īush’s determination, loyalty and skill, in governance and in interpersonal relations, soon won over the President, if not Nancy Reagan. Yet when Reagan and Ford determined that the arrangement was unworkable, Reagan belatedly turned to Bush, though with some misgivings, because Reagan, and his wife, Nancy, had been unimpressed with Bush’s primary campaign and Reagan worried about differences in their positions. The dream ticket seemed inevitable even as Bush delivered his convention speech. Yet widespread interest in a Reagan-Ford dream ticket consumed the Republican convention, and negotiators for Reagan and Ford explored such an unprecedented pairing. Ford came to the convention backing Bush as Reagan’s running mate. The prize seemed near again in 1980 after Bush was the effective runner-up to Reagan for the Republican presidential nomination. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson, File) Lawrence Jackson/APįormer Secret Service agent: Why we loved Bush 41 (aka Timberwolf) 30, 2018, about eight months after the death of his wife, Barbara Bush. ![]() Bush died at the age of 94 on Friday, Nov. Bush arrives on the South Lawn of White House in Washington. FILE - In this file photo, former President George H.W.
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