President George Herbert Walker Bush

1988 was the first presidential election in which I was of legal age to vote.

I voted for George Herbert Walker Bush.

Growing up in the 80's, it was nearly impossible to be unaware of the popularity of Ronald Reagan. For those who are too young to remember his presidency, and have only heard tell of it as a history lesson, believe me when I tell you, yes, he was that well-liked. Especially after the assassination attempt. The first year of his presidency consisted of most people poking fun that we had an actor as a president, and the doldrums of a lousy economy compliments of one Jimmy Carter. But after John Hinkley tried to kill him with a pistol outside of a D.C. hotel, and the subsequent courage and bravery showed by Reagan to recoup from the attempt, his popularity shot through the roof, and was cemented as his economic policies brought prosperity back to the country.

It wasn't until I was in high school in the last half of the 80's, however, that I began to really get interested in politics in general, and became aware that there was a political left, and many who resided therein who didn't like Ronald Reagan that much. And I watched as a good deal of the media mocked Reagan's occasional public gaffes in the last two years of his administration, unaware that he had indeed began to suffer the onset of the Alzheimers disease that would ultimately take his life.

I wrote an opinion column for my high school newspaper. Our newspaper teacher at school had recognized a style in my writing that lended itself to opinion writing, and thankfully invited me to do just that for our school publication. It was my only job on the newspaper staff for the two years I was on it. And as I became interested in politics, and began reading other national opinion writers, my column would occasionally forage into the political world. Leading up to the 1988 presidential election, there was a lot of political fodder about which write. For those of you who'll recall, you'll remember the likes of Gary Hart and Donna Rice, Joe Biden (yes, THAT Joe Biden) and his plagiarism ordeal, televangelist Pat Robertson, Jack Kemp, and, of course, Michael Dukakis.

And yes, George H. W. Bush.

Bush, Sr. was Reagan's Vice-President, although as the 80's wore on, despite Bush's vast political career, the average American citizen didn't have a clue who he was. I distinctly remember watching a television segment wherein a news reporter randomly stopped people on the street and asked them who the VP of the United States was, and not one person could name George Bush. It wasn't until the primary season approached and candidates started announcing their intent to run that anyone began to take notice of Bush. Only then did people remember that Bush had very nearly received the GOP nomination for President instead of Reagan in 1980, and that he was indeed a very serious political heavy hitter.

And it was in front of that backdrop that I voted for Bush for President in 1988.

While more interested, and more versed, in politics than many my age at that time, I was still a novice. In the days before the internet and social media, one truly did have to largely rely on the mainstream media to get their news. Cursory research in a library and through periodicals of the day could provide valuable information, but more or less, one had to watch the news and read the papers to get the info one was looking for. And it was clear from day one that the mainstream media didn't like George H. W. Bush all that much.

He was labeled a wimp by the media, largely due to his playing second fiddle to Reagan for eight years, but mostly because he was a genuinely nice guy. And in the media's attempt to destroy anyone who isn't a liberal, they literally stooped to mocking the fact that he was just so nice, and questioned whether his kindness would allow him to be tough when needed. He had a very nasty, and very public spat with CBS news anchor, Dan Rather, who disliked Bush so much he literally made up and broadcast outright lies about Bush.

But in the end, his political savvy, and know-how, won out, and he won the Presidency in 1988. And were it not for Ross Perot in 1992 (a subject we can discuss another time) he would have won again in 1992, likely in a landslide, and we very likely would not be talking about any Clinton political dynasty today.

I liked George Bush, Sr. very much. I still do. Even more so today, it could be said. I could see from Day 1 that he was a good guy. It cannot be said about every President in our history that he was an authentically good person. But it can be said unequivocally about George H. W. Bush. He was honest, forthright, kind, smart, a loving and devoted husband, and a doting father. His kids are good kids, and proved to be solid leaders themselves. Even his political enemies don't have a bad word to say about him. His presidency was a success, even as a cyclical recession his the country near the end of his term; a recession that gave rise to Ross Perot and ultimately doomed Bush for a second term. A tax increase that famously went against a campaign promise didn't help either. (See: "Read My Lips... No New Taxes!)

His leadership, courage and stoicism was inspiring as he led us through the first Gulf War, foreshadowing the same from his son, George W., following 9/11 a decade later. His only mistake being that he didn't finish the job and remove Saddam Hussein from power when he had the chance.

After his presidency, not only did he not criticize subsequent administrations (unlike a certain former president making the media rounds these days) but he did not attempt in any way to influence his own son's administration and decisions. He was a source of advice and counsel to subsequent Presidents, even forming a unique bond with Bill Clinton that ultimately led to a great deal of global good.

What we learned about Bush during his retirement years was that he was a prolific note and letter writer (and later, as technology allowed, an emailer) sending letters of love, sadness, encouragement, congratulations, and sympathy to virtually everyone with whom he ever came into contact. Friend or political foe alike, it did not matter. And he had a prolific sense of humor.

Several years ago, a book was released that compiled letters, notes, and emails written by Bush over his entire lifetime. Personal letters written over the years with no intention of them ever being made public. Some written long before he was a famous politician, and others long after he was out of office. To friends, family, political foes and allies, and foreign dignitaries both friendly and hostile to the US. He's a brilliant writer, and they're funny, sad, poignant, happy, congratulatory, vulnerable, and very real and open. I laughed and cried reading his notes to others. A particular note he wrote to his Mom about the loss of his daughter is the most tender thing I've ever read, and perhaps the best piece of writing I've ever seen.

And given they were never intended to be seen by anybody other than to whom they were addressed, it shows his true character. It only served to confirm what most of us already knew about him: He was genuinely kind, caring, honest, and full of integrity. A good man. And his love for and his devotion to his wife and family is something we all should aspire to. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of that book. If you didn't vote for him back then, you'll regret not having done so after you read it.

I wish there were more men like him. Especially among our public servants. There are some, but not many. It would be nice to have a few more.

It is a source of pride for me to know I got my first attempt at a Presidential election so right. I, for one, am honored to have called him my President.

May he rest in peace.