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| Convergence of Presidents at Bush Library Dedication | Convergence of Presidents at Bush Library Dedication |
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| UNIVERSITY PARK, Tex. — President Obama joined all of his living predecessors on Thursday to pay tribute to George W. Bush as the arguments of the past decade gave way, at least for a day, to a more generous appraisal of a leader who responded to great challenges with determination and grit. | UNIVERSITY PARK, Tex. — President Obama joined all of his living predecessors on Thursday to pay tribute to George W. Bush as the arguments of the past decade gave way, at least for a day, to a more generous appraisal of a leader who responded to great challenges with determination and grit. |
| The five current and past presidents gathered for the first time since Mr. Obama’s ascension to dedicate the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum here on the campus of Southern Methodist University. Joining them were a collection of former foreign leaders like Tony Blair of Britain, Ehud Olmert of Israel, Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and John Howard of Australia as well as hundreds of former Bush administration officials and thousands of his admirers. | The five current and past presidents gathered for the first time since Mr. Obama’s ascension to dedicate the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum here on the campus of Southern Methodist University. Joining them were a collection of former foreign leaders like Tony Blair of Britain, Ehud Olmert of Israel, Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and John Howard of Australia as well as hundreds of former Bush administration officials and thousands of his admirers. |
| “I’m really looking forward to attending the Bush Library opening tomorrow,” Mr. Obama said at a Democratic fund-raiser in Dallas on Wednesday night. “And one of the things I will insist upon is that whatever our political differences, President Bush loves this country and loves its people and shared that same concern and was concerned about all people in America, not just some, not just those who voted Republican.” | “I’m really looking forward to attending the Bush Library opening tomorrow,” Mr. Obama said at a Democratic fund-raiser in Dallas on Wednesday night. “And one of the things I will insist upon is that whatever our political differences, President Bush loves this country and loves its people and shared that same concern and was concerned about all people in America, not just some, not just those who voted Republican.” |
| Laura Bush opened the ceremony by honoring her husband as a caring man who comforted a nation during times of terrorism and war as president and has continued to help the afflicted by rehabilitating a health clinic in Africa as a former president. “I remember how steadfast and steady he was for eight years,” she said, adding, “My George is a man who when someone needs a hand offers them their arms.” | |
| In addition to Mr. Obama, former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and the first George Bush spoke at the program. | |
| The event was a public re-emergence of sorts for the elder Mr. Bush, who spent weeks in a hospital last winter and at one point appeared close to death. Now in a wheelchair because of a form of Parkinson’s disease in his legs, Mr. Bush, the 41st president, has recovered considerably and remains lively and engaged, according to people who have seen him lately. | The event was a public re-emergence of sorts for the elder Mr. Bush, who spent weeks in a hospital last winter and at one point appeared close to death. Now in a wheelchair because of a form of Parkinson’s disease in his legs, Mr. Bush, the 41st president, has recovered considerably and remains lively and engaged, according to people who have seen him lately. |
| Also on hand was former Vice President Dick Cheney, who after a heart transplant last year appeared physically revitalized and in good spirits. Wearing a cowboy hat and khakis, he attended a casual reunion of administration officials at a Dallas bar on Wednesday night and never even made it inside as he chatted in the parking lot until past 11 p.m. with colleagues like Karl Rove and Senators Rob Portman of Ohio and Ted Cruz of Texas and posed for pictures with former aides and complete strangers alike. | Also on hand was former Vice President Dick Cheney, who after a heart transplant last year appeared physically revitalized and in good spirits. Wearing a cowboy hat and khakis, he attended a casual reunion of administration officials at a Dallas bar on Wednesday night and never even made it inside as he chatted in the parking lot until past 11 p.m. with colleagues like Karl Rove and Senators Rob Portman of Ohio and Ted Cruz of Texas and posed for pictures with former aides and complete strangers alike. |
| Among others spotted or expected on Thursday were former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; White House aides like Andrew H. Card Jr., Joshua B. Bolten, Karen Hughes, Dan Bartlett, Joe Hagin, Joel Kaplan, Mary Matalin, Harriet Miers and Anita McBride; and political advisers like Ken Mehlman and Mark McKinnon. | |
| In addition to the presidents and their wives, other presidential families were represented by Lucy Johnson, Lynda Robb, Tricia Nixon Cox, Susan Ford Bales and Michael Reagan. | |
| Mr. Bush’s foundation raised more than $500 million for the presidential complex and associated programs. The $250 million facility, on 23 acres at S.M.U., houses the library and museum, which will be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration, and a public policy institute, which will remain under Mr. Bush’s control to promote favored causes like global health and democracy. | Mr. Bush’s foundation raised more than $500 million for the presidential complex and associated programs. The $250 million facility, on 23 acres at S.M.U., houses the library and museum, which will be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration, and a public policy institute, which will remain under Mr. Bush’s control to promote favored causes like global health and democracy. |
| The museum features the story of Mr. Bush’s presidency as he sees it, a narrative driven by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and his responses to it. Everything from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to an expansive program to fight AIDS in Africa are cast under the larger theme of spreading freedom around the world. | The museum features the story of Mr. Bush’s presidency as he sees it, a narrative driven by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and his responses to it. Everything from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to an expansive program to fight AIDS in Africa are cast under the larger theme of spreading freedom around the world. |
| Critics will not find enough about controversies like the inaccurate intelligence that preceded the invasion of Iraq or the stuttered initial response to Hurricane Katrina, but the museum includes an interactive theater to let visitors decide how they would have handled major challenges. Mr. Bush and his advisers said they were intent on exhibits short on hagiography and long on information that would help Americans see the various moments of decision through the president’s eyes. | Critics will not find enough about controversies like the inaccurate intelligence that preceded the invasion of Iraq or the stuttered initial response to Hurricane Katrina, but the museum includes an interactive theater to let visitors decide how they would have handled major challenges. Mr. Bush and his advisers said they were intent on exhibits short on hagiography and long on information that would help Americans see the various moments of decision through the president’s eyes. |
| “The museum does give people the opportunity to hear the different points of view that I got on these particular issues,” Mr. Bush told CNN’s John King. “The purpose of which is not to try to defend the policy. The purpose of which is to try to show people what it's like to be the president. And how you make decisions. History will ultimately judge the decisions that were made for Iraq, and I’m just not going to be around to see the final verdict.” | “The museum does give people the opportunity to hear the different points of view that I got on these particular issues,” Mr. Bush told CNN’s John King. “The purpose of which is not to try to defend the policy. The purpose of which is to try to show people what it's like to be the president. And how you make decisions. History will ultimately judge the decisions that were made for Iraq, and I’m just not going to be around to see the final verdict.” |