海角大神

After President George H.W. Bush鈥檚 passing, the Monitor鈥檚 Howard LaFranchi messaged me. Like several Monitor staffers, he had a memory to share about Mr. Bush鈥檚 well-known love for letter-writing and personal connection.

It revolved around Houston鈥檚 Buffalo Bayou, which Howard wrote about in 1988. The story mentioned that two decades earlier, then-Congressman Bush backed an effort to protect the river. Soon, Howard received a letter from a preservationist he had interviewed. She enclosed a letter from now-Vice President Bush, who鈥檇 seen the article and written that he remembered fondly her good works for Houston.

鈥淚 remember thinking, 鈥榃ow, this guy is VP, and he takes the time to write,鈥� 鈥� says Howard. 鈥淚鈥檝e never forgotten it.鈥�

Then Bush became president.聽Senior Washington writer Peter Grier recalls witnessing Bush鈥檚 connection with troops he visited during the Gulf War. 鈥淗e started throwing presidential pins and cufflinks into the crowd with a left-handed sling motion, so much like the Yale baseball player from long ago. He was smiling 鈥� and the troops loved it.鈥�

And then there was Bush鈥檚 failed bid for a second term. Retired Monitor political writer John Dillin recalls interviewing Bush at the White House. When it emerged John was from Florida, Bush asked how he was doing there. 鈥淧retty well with most of my family,鈥� John replied, 鈥渂ut not my mother.鈥� Bush asked for her number and picked up the phone. 鈥淪he wouldn鈥檛 budge,鈥� John recalls, chuckling, but the effort was impressive.

Now to our five stories, including an appreciation of President Bush鈥檚 long career and an editorial about public service.