‘Honorable, gracious and decent’: In death, Bush becomes a yardstick for President Trump MSN, Nov 2, 2018, Washington Post
The tributes to former president George H.W. Bush poured in this weekend, each in their own way exposing the pitfalls ahead this week for the Oval Office’s current resident.
The 41st president was remembered by Barack Obama, the 44th, as “a humble servant.†“Honorable, gracious and decent†were the words Bill Clinton used in praise of his immediate predecessor. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan’s encomium described Bush as “great in his character, leading with decency and integrity.â€
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The elder Bush’s presidency was marked by some bitterly partisan moments. His presidential campaign was accused of race-baiting in 1988 when it attacked Michael Dukakis, Bush’s Democratic rival, for providing a weekend furlough to Willie Horton, who raped a woman while free from jail. On his deathbed, Lee Atwater, Bush’s campaign manager, apologized for the ad.
The hearings surrounding Bush’s nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court presaged many of America’s bitter divides.
But these days, Bush is remembered mostly for his moderation and willingness to reach across the aisle. His compromise with the Democrats on a modest tax hike helped rein in the federal budget deficit even as it caused his popularity to plummet and helped give rise to a more radical Republican Party.
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