A few weeks back President Busch rolled through town here. I figured he was
just going to roll through with his motorcade, so I didn't make it a
priority, but was really tempted to try to get downtown anyway but
didn't, he tricked me and stopped to talk to some folks on the way through
town. Realize this is only a town of 12,000 people with a small university
campus of 6000 students not yet here at the time. But he stopped and talked
with people. He signed our pastor's Bible, and talked with a young lady
that worked with my daughter. He talked of coming up here to go fishing and
etc. The remarks I heard was that he was so touchable for a man in his
position and very genuine in character. It would be nice to think the
email story is true... hope it is.
Brad
Pat Ferguson wrote:
>Phil,
>
>What a sweet loving story. I had tears in my eyes when I read this. How
>loving! I just figured that President George W. Bush was that loving!
>
>I'm going to vote for him again.
>
>Thanks for sharing that with us.
>
>Love and Blessings,
>Pat Ferguson
>
>At 04:51 PM 9/11/04, you wrote:
> >I got this from a friend today and have never seen this one before. I cried
> >upon reading it, too.
> >
> >Phil.
> >
> >
> > > Here is an excellent piece --- worth every minute it takes to read it.
> > >
> > > Bruce Vincent, from Montana who received an award from President G.W.
> > > Bush.
> > >
> > > He writes:
> > > I've written the following narrative to chronicle the day of the award
> > > ceremony in DC. I'm still working on a press release but the White House
> > > press corps has yet to provide a photo to go with it. When the photo
> > > comes I'll ship it out. When you get done reading this you'll understand
> > > the dilemma I face in telling this story beyond my circle of close
> > > friends.
> > >
> > > The moment with the President in the Oval Office was incredible. I want
> > > to protect the memory because it was an intensely private moment between
> > > two men. At the same time I'd like to share it on a broader scale
> > > because I'd like others to know what I know about the man sitting at the
> > > desk in the Oval Office.
> > >
> > > For now, I'll just tell it to you folks.
> > >
> > > As you know, our efforts concerning the reintroduction of our rural,
> > > resource providing cultures to the ever more urbane society of our nation
> > > has been honored with an award from the President and First Lady Bush.
> > >
> > > Nominated by the Forest Service for the first ever Preserve America
> > > President's Award was our cultural exchange program Provider PalsT and
> > > our restoration of an abandoned CCC built Forest Service ranger station
> > > (Raven Ranger Station) for use as a learning center for students from
> > > throughout the nation that are now engaged in our cultural exchange.
> > >
> > > The award was given at a White House ceremony on Monday, May 3, 2004.
> > > Guests at the East Room ceremony (the Rose Garden was going to be used
> > > but it rained) included Secretary of Interior Gorton, Secretary of
> > > Agriculture Venneman, Undersecretary Mark Rey, Chief Bosworth,
> > > President's Advisory Council for Preserve America, and others. The East
> > > Wing was closed to the public for the event and those who attended
> > > enjoyed brunch and live chamber music.
> > >
> > > Provider PalsT was able to bring members of our board of directors, staff
> > > from our partner Communities for a Great Northwest, our Kootenai Forest
> > > Supervisor and Forest Archaeologist, and two officials from our major
> > > sponsor Ford Motor Company. Thankfully, I was also able to bring PJ and
> > > all four children. In the East Room, Secretaries Venneman and Gorton
> > > spoke as did First Lady Bush and Preserve America's Chairman John Nau.
> > >
> > > The First Lady then gave autographed copies of a White House book to
> > > award winners in this ceremony and posed for pictures. When the ceremony
> > > concluded, the First Lady stayed for a bit in the Green Room and chatted
> > > and posed for pictures. She was then escorted outside to meet the
> > > President and board a Marine One helicopter waiting to whisk them off to
> > > the airport.
> > >
> > > For me, however, the biggest event of the day had already happened when
> > > the East Room Ceremony started up. While the East Room ceremony was
> > > being prepared, the four national award winners and the entities that
> > > nominated them were taken to the Oval Office for the official award
> > > presentation by President Bush and First Lady Bush. There were eight of
> > > us in total.
> > >
> > > Stepping into the Oval Office, each of us was introduced to the President
> > > and Mrs. Bush. We shook hands and participated in small talk. When the
> > > President was told that we were from Libby, Montana, I reminded him that
> > > Marc Racicot is our native son and the President offered his warm
> > > thoughts about Governor Racicot.
> > >
> > > I have to tell you, I was blown away by two things upon entering the
> > > office. First, the Oval Office sense of 'place' is unreal. The
> > > President later shared a story of Russian President Putin entering the
> > > room prepared to tackle the President in a tough negotiation and upon
> > > entering the atheist muttered his first words to the President and they
> > > were "Oh, my God." I concurred.
> > >
> > > I could feel the history in my bones. Second, the man that inhabits the
> > > office engaged me with a firm handshake and a look that can only be
> > > described as penetrating. Warm, alive, fully engaged, disarmingly
> > > penetrating. I was admittedly concerned about meeting the man. I think
> > > all of us have an inner hope that the most powerful man in our country is
> > > worthy of the responsibility and authority that we bestow upon them
> > > through our vote. I admit that part of me was afraid that I would be let
> > > down by the moment - that the person and the place could not meet the
> > > lofty expectations of my fantasy world. This says nothing about my
> > > esteem for President Bush but just my practical realization that reality
> > > may not match my "dream". Once inside the office, President Bush got
> > > right down to business and, standing in front of his desk, handed out the
> > > awards one at a time while posing for photos with the winners and Mrs.
> > > Bush.
> > >
> > > With the mission accomplished, the President and Mrs. Bush relaxed and
> > > initiated a lengthy, informal conversation about a number of things with
> > > our entire small group. He and the First Lady talked about such things
> > > as the rug in the office. It is traditionally designed by the First Lady
> > > to make a statement about the President, and Mrs. Bush chose a brilliant
> > > yellow sunburst pattern to reflect 'hope.' President Bush talked about
> > > the absolute need to believe that with hard work and faith in God there
> > > is every reason to start each day in the Oval Office with hope.
> > >
> > > He and the First Lady were asked about the impact of the Presidency on
> > > their marriage and, with an arm casually wrapped around Laura, he said
> > > that he thought the place may be hard on weak marriages but that it had
> > > the ability to make strong marriages even stronger and that he was
> > > blessed with a strong one.
> > >
> > > When asked what the biggest challenge of the Presidency was, he talked
> > > about the daily frustration of partisan politics. 'This from a
> > > politician,' he said. He said that when he was elected he promised that
> > > he would do in DC what he had done in Texas and that was build alliances
> > > and coalitions that bridged party lines in order to move the nation
> > > forward. He had quickly learned that there are those in the nation's
> > > capital that would rather see the nation dismantled than work together to
> > > achieve a common good. "That", he said "is a bitter and continuing
> > > disappointment."
> > >
> > > The President talked about the artwork and other items of interest in the
> > > room. For instance the desk he uses is the one that was given to the
> > > U.S. by Queen Victoria and used by FDR and JFK. In fact FDR had a front
> > > panel added to the desk to cover the mid section because FDR did not want
> > > the country to know he was in a wheelchair. President Bush laughed and
> > > said, "My how things have changed, FDR hid a wheelchair and if I eat a
> > > pretzel and get a tingle in my arm it's front page news around the
> > > globe." That little desk faux front is hinged by the way, and is the
> > > door that we all have seen John-John sticking his head from behind in the
> > > famous photo of JFK at work.
> > >
> > > The President also noted that much of the artwork in the office is from
> > > Texas or about Texas. He said that it made sense for him to have it in
> > > his office because Texas is part of who he is. He talked about family
> > > and place and faith helping to build the person you end up being and
> > > noted that the Oval Office reflected who he is. He noted that it would
> > > be a mistake to come to the Oval Office and entertain a mission to 'find
> > > yourself.' He said that with all of the pressures and responsibilities
> > > that go with the job, you'd best know who you are when you put your
> > > nameplate on the desk in the Oval Office. He said he knows who he is and
> > > now America has had four years to learn about who he is. If they like
> > > what they see, he may have another four years. If not, then he may be
> > > going back to Texas.
> > >
> > > After about 30 or 35 minutes, it was time to go. By then we were all
> > > relaxed and I felt as if I had just had an excellent visit with a friend.
> > > The President and First Lady made one more pass down the line of
> > > awardees, shaking hands and offering congratulations. When the President
> > > shook my hand I said, "thank you Mr. President and God bless you and your
> > > family."
> > >
> > > He was already in motion to the next person in line, but he stopped
> > > abruptly, turned fully back to me, gave me a piercing look, renewed the
> > > vigor of his handshake and said, "Thank you - and God bless you and yours
> > > as well."
> > >
> > > On our way out of the office we were to leave by the glass doors on the
> > > west side of the office. I was the last person in the exit line. As I
> > > shook his hand one final time, President Bush said, "I'll be sure to tell
> > > Marc hello and give him your regards." I then did something that
> > > surprised even me. I said to him, "Mr. President, I know you are a busy
> > > man and your time is precious. I also know you to be a man of strong
> > > faith and have a favor to ask you." As he shook my hand he looked me in
> > > the eye and said, "Just name it."
> > >
> > > I told him that my step-Mom was at that moment in a hospital in
> > > Kalispell, Montana, having a tumor removed from her skull and it would
> > > mean a great deal to me if he would consider adding her to his prayers
> > > that day. He grabbed me by the arm and took me back toward his desk as
> > > he said, "So that's it. I could tell that something is weighing heavy on
> > > your heart today. I could see it in your eyes. This explains it." From
> > > the top drawer of his desk he retrieved a pen and a note card with his
> > > seal on it and asked, "How do you spell her name?" He then jotted a note
> > > to her while discussing the importance of family and the strength of
> > > prayer.
> > >
> > > When he handed me the card, he asked about the surgery and the prognosis.
> > > I told him we were hoping that it is not a recurrence of an earlier
> > > cancer and that if it is they can get it all with this surgery. He said,
> > > "If it's okay with you, we'll take care of the prayer right now. Would
> > > you pray with me?" I told him yes and he turned to the staff that
> > > remained in the office and hand motioned the folks to step back or leave.
> > >
> > > He said, "Bruce and I would like some private time for a prayer." As
> > > they left he turned back to me and took my hands in his. I was prepared
> > > to do a traditional prayer stance - standing with each other with heads
> > > bowed. Instead, he reached for my head with his right hand and pulling
> > > gently forward, he placed my head on his shoulder. With his left arm on
> > > my mid back, he pulled me to him in a prayerful embrace. He started to
> > > pray softly. I started to cry. He continued his prayer for Loretta and
> > > for God's perfect will to be done. I cried some more. My body shook a
> > > bit as I cried and he just held tighter. He closed by asking God's
> > > blessing on Loretta and the family during the coming months. I stepped
> > > away from our embrace, wiped my eyes, swiped at the tears I'd left on his
> > > shoulder, and looked into the eyes of our President. I thanked him as
> > > best I could and told him that me and my family would continue praying
> > > for he and his.
> > >
> > > As I write this account down and reflect upon what it means, I have to
> > > tell you that all I really know is that his simple act left me humbled
> > > and believing. I so hoped that the man I thought him to be was the man
> > > that he is. I know that our nation needs a man such as this in the Oval
> > > Office.
> > >
> > > George W. Bush is the real deal. I've read Internet stories about the
> > > President praying with troops in hospitals and other such uplifting
> > > accounts. Each time I read them I hope them to be true and not an
> > > Internet perpetuated myth. This one, I know to be true. I was there.
> > > He is real. He has a pile of incredible stuff on his plate each day -
> > > and yet he is tuned in so well to the here-and-now that he 'sensed'
> > > something heavy on my heart. He took time out of his life to care, to
> > > share, and to seek God's blessing for my family in a simple man-to-man,
> > > father-to-father, son-to-son, husband-to-husband, Christian-to-Christian
> > > prayerful embrace.
> > >
> > > He's not what I had hoped he would be. He is, in fact, so very, very
> > > much more.
> > >
> > > Bruce Vincent
> > >
Brad
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