BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DEDICATED AMID GREAT FANFARE.Byline: Tom Fiedler Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire Amid blaring trumpets, flapping flags and a rare display of patriotic pageantry, three of the nation's presidents and a host of other dignitaries gathered here Thursday to honor another in their exclusive ranks, former President Bush. The occasion was the dedication of the George Bush Presidential Library The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. It was dedicated on November 6, 1997 and opened to the public shortly thereafter. on the campus of Texas A&M University, a $43 million structure that seems part Smithsonian and part archive to house the 41st president's papers and memorabilia. But the dedication also provided a rare opportunity for a meeting of what Jimmy Carter jokingly called ``our small fraternity,'' the first time they've gathered since the death of President Nixon in 1994. Presidents Ford, Carter and Clinton led the list of speakers, along with former first lady Nancy Reagan, who spoke on behalf of her ailing husband. David Eisenhower Dwight David Eisenhower II (born 1948) is the grandson of the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. His father is the former U.S. ambassador to Belgium, John Eisenhower. and his wife, Julie Nixon Eisenhower Julie Nixon Eisenhower (born July 5 1948 in Washington, D.C.) is the second daughter of Richard and Pat Nixon and younger sister of Tricia Nixon Cox. In 1968, she married David Eisenhower. , representing two administrations, shared the platform with first lady Hillary Rodham Rodham is an English surname which may refer to a number of persons or places. People Family of Hillary Rodham Clinton
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy (born November 27, 1957) is the daughter and only surviving child of U.S. Schlossberg, daughter of assassinated as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. President John F. Kennedy "John Kennedy" and "JFK" redirect here. For other uses, see John Kennedy (disambiguation) and JFK (disambiguation). John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917–November 22, 1963), was the thirty-fifth President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in . Together, they provided a historical thread stretching back more than four decades. Other dignitaries included retired Gen. Colin Powell Noun 1. Colin Powell - United States general who was the first African American to serve as chief of staff; later served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush (born 1937) Colin luther Powell, Powell , chief of staff under Bush, and several former heads of state including Brian Mulroney of Canada and John Major of Great Britain. Drawing nearly as much interest as the presidents were celebrities Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cicely Tyson. The Bush family itself also played more than cameo roles. Host of the event, which drew about 15,000 people, was Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the president's eldest of four sons. The master of ceremony and president of the George Bush Library Foundation was Jeb Bush, the Miami businessman and current candidate for governor of Florida The Governor of Florida is the chief executive of the Government of Florida, and serves as chairman of the Florida Cabinet. The Governor has the power to execute Florida's laws and to call out the state militia to preserve the public peace, being Commander-in-Chief of the state's . Bush, the 41st president, seemed abashed by the attention, joking he owed an apology to his late mother because she always insisted on humility and admonished him and his siblings ``against using `the big I.' '' ``And I'm afraid that some of the exhibits here might violate her `no bragging' rule,'' he said. Bush had no need to brag about himself, however, as the other presidents did it for him. Ford, who served from 1974 until after his defeat by Carter in 1976, recalled Bush's service as the nation's youngest fighter pilot in World War II, shot down at the age of 20. Carter spoke about the common threads that bind the presidents. He cited the challenges of Korea, of dealing with communist Cuba and, nodding toward the incumbent, added: ``I'm sure Bill Clinton appreciates inheriting from George Bush the challenge of Saddam Hussein and Iraq.'' Carter also joked about a common need to make money after leaving the White House. He noted that President Bush was concluding work on his presidential memoirs. ``Rosalynn asked me to announce, by the way, that our books are still on sale.'' |
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