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President raises money for Nov. 4 elections, visits boyhood home
  
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Accompanied by first lady, he says 'values didn’t change' during administration ending in January
By Bob Campbell
Staff Writer
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush returned to their hometown on the glistening blue and white Air Force One jetliner Saturday to see old friends at the northwest Midland home of Congressman Mike Conaway and his wife Suzanne and, somewhat surprisingly, to visit the president’s boyhood home near downtown. (Watch video of the president's arrival here.)
After 15 minutes inside the restored three bedroom house at 1412 W. Ohio Ave., Bush came outside in bright sunshine at 1:30 p.m. “It’s an amazing experience to come back to a place where you were raised,” he said.
“This is the first time I have been back since I’ve been the president and it is a very heartwarming experience. I told my friends here when I left that I wasn’t going to change as a person in the politics of Washington. I think they appreciate that.
“I want them to know that even though I had to deal with a lot of tough issues, I’m still the same person they knew before. I’m wiser and more experienced, but my heart and my values didn’t change. I learned a lot of values I hold dear here and it’s great to see old friends.”
The presidential couple landed at 11 a.m., got into a black SUV with American and presidential flags mounted on the hood and led a 19-vehicle motorcade around the closed off Loop 250 to the Conaways’ home, where two pointed white tents had been raised for a backyard luncheon cooked by the Chuck Wagon Gang of Odessa.
They attended a reception for Republican House of Representatives candidates and joined 400 to 500 people for the barbecue before winding through town on Midkiff Road and Cuthbert Avenue to the National Presidential Site where Bush and his family lived in the 1950s.
He didn’t take questions after speaking outside the gray home with a rust roof; but when asked during his remarks if the interior was familiar, he said, “I do remember the wood on the walls in the bedroom.
“We’ve got a couple more hard months to go and I have to deal with this financial situation,” he said, referring to the legislation he had just signed to assuage the sub-prime mortgage crisis. “Congress took a big step in that direction, but there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Bush is quoted in a brochure about the home as saying it “seems improbable” for two presidents, his father George H.W. Bush and himself, and a governor of Florida, his brother Jeb, to have lived “in that little house on Ohio.”
Former Commerce Secretary Don Evans and his wife Susan hosted the National Republican Congressional Committee events. As Air Force One approached from the north on the windy, sandy day, Evans said the visit “will in some ways be a day down memory lane.
“I’m sure the president’s mind will wander back to when he played Little League Baseball and learned what it was like to be involved in the community. He wants to say ‘thanks’ for all the calls, letters and messages of support during the 7 1/2 years he has been in Washington.”
Noting Congressmen Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock and Mac Thornberry of Clarendon would take part, Evans said, “He didn’t want to disappoint the people of West Texas who were hoping he’d come by.
“He has had a tough hand to play and has played it well. There are things he wishes he could have accomplished, particularly Social Security reform. But he has advanced the cause of freedom. When it comes to America, there is nothing more important than to advance freedom not only here at home but also around the world.
“The president has stood tall in difficult times. I think historians will record that he had the courage to make the toughest decisions anybody could ever have to think about making and stayed with them when he knew he was doing the right thing.”
The Bushes were met at the foot of the jet ramp at Midland International Airport by Mayors Larry Melton of Odessa and Wes Perry of Midland and Linda Fox, who later accepted the President’s Volunteer Service Award for 23 years with the Recording Library of West Texas.
They left about 2 p.m. for Waco and their Crawford ranch and will attend a Monday fundraiser in San Antonio to complete $1 million in fundraising for the Nov. 4 elections, the Associated Press reported.
“He told some stories about things he has been dealing with,” Perry said. “It was from his heart — that values are important. He said it’s not about us, it’s about the office, and not all about popularity but about character. He said it has been joyous.”
Perry and Bush also talked about mountain biking. “When he found out I do it, he said, ‘I just went biking this morning,’” said Perry. “He’s about to make some more trails at the ranch.”
Texas Speaker of the House Tom Craddick said Bush “was very upbeat and extremely warm.
“He made it clear that every decision a president makes is tough and you have to be ready to do that,” Craddick said. “You can’t hesitate. You have to do it when it needs to be done or things just slide and get worse. It’s a tough job and you have to make hard decisions.”
———
Bob Campbell can be reached at campbell@mrt.com.
After 15 minutes inside the restored three bedroom house at 1412 W. Ohio Ave., Bush came outside in bright sunshine at 1:30 p.m. “It’s an amazing experience to come back to a place where you were raised,” he said.
“This is the first time I have been back since I’ve been the president and it is a very heartwarming experience. I told my friends here when I left that I wasn’t going to change as a person in the politics of Washington. I think they appreciate that.
“I want them to know that even though I had to deal with a lot of tough issues, I’m still the same person they knew before. I’m wiser and more experienced, but my heart and my values didn’t change. I learned a lot of values I hold dear here and it’s great to see old friends.”
The presidential couple landed at 11 a.m., got into a black SUV with American and presidential flags mounted on the hood and led a 19-vehicle motorcade around the closed off Loop 250 to the Conaways’ home, where two pointed white tents had been raised for a backyard luncheon cooked by the Chuck Wagon Gang of Odessa.
They attended a reception for Republican House of Representatives candidates and joined 400 to 500 people for the barbecue before winding through town on Midkiff Road and Cuthbert Avenue to the National Presidential Site where Bush and his family lived in the 1950s.
He didn’t take questions after speaking outside the gray home with a rust roof; but when asked during his remarks if the interior was familiar, he said, “I do remember the wood on the walls in the bedroom.
“We’ve got a couple more hard months to go and I have to deal with this financial situation,” he said, referring to the legislation he had just signed to assuage the sub-prime mortgage crisis. “Congress took a big step in that direction, but there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Bush is quoted in a brochure about the home as saying it “seems improbable” for two presidents, his father George H.W. Bush and himself, and a governor of Florida, his brother Jeb, to have lived “in that little house on Ohio.”
Former Commerce Secretary Don Evans and his wife Susan hosted the National Republican Congressional Committee events. As Air Force One approached from the north on the windy, sandy day, Evans said the visit “will in some ways be a day down memory lane.
“I’m sure the president’s mind will wander back to when he played Little League Baseball and learned what it was like to be involved in the community. He wants to say ‘thanks’ for all the calls, letters and messages of support during the 7 1/2 years he has been in Washington.”
Noting Congressmen Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock and Mac Thornberry of Clarendon would take part, Evans said, “He didn’t want to disappoint the people of West Texas who were hoping he’d come by.
“He has had a tough hand to play and has played it well. There are things he wishes he could have accomplished, particularly Social Security reform. But he has advanced the cause of freedom. When it comes to America, there is nothing more important than to advance freedom not only here at home but also around the world.
“The president has stood tall in difficult times. I think historians will record that he had the courage to make the toughest decisions anybody could ever have to think about making and stayed with them when he knew he was doing the right thing.”
The Bushes were met at the foot of the jet ramp at Midland International Airport by Mayors Larry Melton of Odessa and Wes Perry of Midland and Linda Fox, who later accepted the President’s Volunteer Service Award for 23 years with the Recording Library of West Texas.
They left about 2 p.m. for Waco and their Crawford ranch and will attend a Monday fundraiser in San Antonio to complete $1 million in fundraising for the Nov. 4 elections, the Associated Press reported.
“He told some stories about things he has been dealing with,” Perry said. “It was from his heart — that values are important. He said it’s not about us, it’s about the office, and not all about popularity but about character. He said it has been joyous.”
Perry and Bush also talked about mountain biking. “When he found out I do it, he said, ‘I just went biking this morning,’” said Perry. “He’s about to make some more trails at the ranch.”
Texas Speaker of the House Tom Craddick said Bush “was very upbeat and extremely warm.
“He made it clear that every decision a president makes is tough and you have to be ready to do that,” Craddick said. “You can’t hesitate. You have to do it when it needs to be done or things just slide and get worse. It’s a tough job and you have to make hard decisions.”
———
Bob Campbell can be reached at campbell@mrt.com.
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| Conaway one of many Texans to switch votes to help pass bailout bill | President Bush's arrival takes lots of law enforcement manpower, time |
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
kenny bunk stupid wrote on Oct 4, 2008 7:07 PM:
" buy a house next to an airport and complain. thanks for letting us all know you are a moron. "
els raaijmaakers wrote on Oct 4, 2008 7:48 PM:
" Last April my husband and I made a three-weeks car tour through Texas. Being a staunch supporter of President George W. Bush I visited his childhood house at Ohio Ave. At that moment I was the only visitor. A nice lady showed me around. Feeling the warmth of the house and the goodness of its former occupiers was a fine experience. Mr. Bush is a brave, resolved and compassionate man. His presidency has been extremely tough. I hope the rest of his life will be as happy as his youth in Midland.
Els (Netherlands) "
Els (Netherlands) "
Jeff Stevens wrote on Oct 5, 2008 10:50 AM:
" Being in the right place at the right time! As good luck would have it my daughter and I were in town for a tennis tounament and decided to visit President Bush's childhood home. What a great decision that turned out to be! Much to our suprise while we were in the home -the President and the First Lady came walking in (along with numerous Secret Service agents). It was an experience that we will never forget! The prsident's photographer took pictures and I am looking forward to framing them to remember this once in a lifetime event! "
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kenny bunk wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:19 PM: