Memory of George H.W. Bush

I met George H.W. Bush as a young television reporter in Twin Falls, Idaho. He graciously sat down with me for a five-minute interview. He reminded me of my dad; a straight shooter who believed in doing what was right, not what was convenient. I remember asking him about the escorting of oil containers through the Persian Gulf. At the time, oil ships were under attack and the US Navy was escorting those ships through the gulf. He had just finished arguing with Dan Rather two weeks earlier, so he was pretty firm with me. He wasn't taking any slack. He said it was necessary and "if you want to see gas lines from here to Boise" you will support the effort. I was out-of-time and he ended with that statement. Afterwards, he thanked me for the interview and shook my hand. He wanted the presidency.

I saw him three years later in Texas late on the campaign trail; he was tired and I could tell he didn't want to keep fighting. He was pragmatic; the sort of Texan who understood sometimes "it is what it is."

When George W. Bush was running for president, as Texas Governor, I spent a short time talking to him about his experience compared to his dad. He had high praise for his dad saying he learned self-discipline (although not always learning the lesson right way), compassion, and a love of life from his father. He said his dad taught him to stick with something and work toward putting others first.

In the end, we are just people who try to do our best. That is the lesson I took from my brief encounter with George H.W. Bush.

Copyright © 2018 Michael Shawn Sommermeyer

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