George H.W. Bush, the 41 President of the United States passed away last week, sparking the conversation of political legacies in a particularly heightened period of turmoil in Washington.
Nicola Bush ‘19, a student at St. Lawrence University, remembers George H.W. Bush as not only a President of the United States, but as her great uncle. She fondly recalls visits with her great uncle in Kenebunkport, ME, at least once a year, and viewed him as a grandfather figure in her life. “From a social perspective he was kind, charismatic, and would always be sharing new jokes with my grandfather,” Bush says. “He would take us on his boat and drive way too fast, almost always ditching the secret service.”
George Herbert Walker Bush served as President from 1989 to 1993 and before that was the 43 Vice President from 1981 to 1989. He passed away at the age of 94 in his home in Houston, Texas on Nov. 30. George H.W. Bush came from a family who served the country, as his father was a Republican senator. His family’s tradition of political service does not end with George H.W. Bush’s death. His son, former President George W. Bush, as well his son Jeb Bush who was a presidential candidate in 2016, survives him.
“From my perspective, he was one of the last socially responsible Republican Presidents, and I will remember him and Aunt Bar very fondly,” says Nicola Bush of her great uncles passing. In addition to serving as President and Vice President of the United States, George H.W. Bush was a World War II combat pilot, who was the youngest pilot in the navy to receive his wings, and flew 58 combat missions.
Spencer Carr ’21 is an aspiring Republican politician who looks up to Bush’s service to the country, especially during stressful times in world politics. “While too young to have witnessed George H.W. Bush’s presidency he will go down in history as a lifelong public servant whose strong leadership helped put an end to the Cold War,” Carr says.
Grace Harkins ’21, is a government major, but tends to lean more towards the liberal side of the political spectrum. “While he had a lot of experience in the field, he certainly wasn’t perfect, but I think at the end of the day when looking back at his presidency, what sticks out to me most is that people respected him as a human being,” Harkins says.