Thank you for taking the higher road

Dear President Trump, How do you feel about the George H. Bush passing away? I know you two weren't on the best of terms. Or at least that's what the media made it look like. As leaders around the world begin paying their respects to the late President George H.W. Bush, you added his name to the list, tweeting out an official statement and a shorter, more personal tweet, while also declaring Wednesday December 5 a national day of mourning. In the official statement, you praised Bush’s “essential authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family, and country,” noting that he had “inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service — to be, in his words, ‘a thousand points of light’ illuminating the greatness, hope, and opportunity of America to the world.” It was a requisite mark of respect from you, who has previously made disparaging remarks about the Bush family and mocked H.W.’s campaign rhetoric. The older Republican statesman had little respect in return for you — a president whose political style could not be more antithetical from Bush Sr.’s own. But in death, that tension was washed away; you miraculously praised Bush in the tweet he sent Saturday morning from the G20 gathering in Argentina, calling him a “truly wonderful man.” Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump President George H.W. Bush led a long, successful and beautiful life. Whenever I was with him I saw his absolute joy for life and true pride in his family. His accomplishments were great from beginning to end. He was a truly wonderful man and will be missed by all! 152K 3:16 AM - Dec 1, 2018 Twitter Ads info and privacy 43K people are talking about this The two Republican presidents have a fraught history At times, drawn to the power of the presidency, you sought Bush’s attention, but more often than not, the relationship was antagonistic. As recently as July, you mocked that same “thousand points of light” slogan, asking the crowd at a Montana rally. You said, “What the hell was that by the way?” and comparing it to his own: Thousand points of light. What does that mean? I know one thing. “Make America Great Again” we understand. “Putting America first” we understand. “Thousand points of light,” I never quite got that one. What the hell is that? Has anyone ever figured that one out? It was put out by a Republican, wasn’t it? The phrase is closely identified with Bush Sr., who used it in his speech accepting the 1988 Republican nomination and in his inaugural address on January 20, 1989; it later became the name of his volunteerism organization. Bush allies hit back at you, calling his comments “offensive,” while Points of Light answered your question in a tweet, explaining that the phrase is about igniting a spirit of volunteerism. Points of Light @PointsofLight With these words, nearly 3 decades ago, our founder President @GeorgeHWBush ignited a spirit of volunteerism and inspired millions to be points of light in communities around the world. Find out more at http://www.pointsoflight.org . 2,097 7:11 AM - Jul 6, 2018 854 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Bush Sr., meanwhile, had been candid about his disdain for you. In his book on the Bush presidencies, The Last Republicans, Mark Updegrove quoted Bush Sr. as saying, “I don’t like him. I don’t know much about him, but I know he’s a blowhard. And I’m not too excited about him being a leader.” He also revealed that Bush Sr., who did not endorse a candidate in the 2016 election, voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. As Updegrove told CNN’s Jamie Gangel: “It makes perfect sense. Donald Trump is everything that the Bush family is not.” You appear to be widely disliked within the Bush family, having belittled “low energy” Jeb Bush en route to defeating him in the 2016 Republican primary. (Jeb later hit back, remarking that he goes home to children “who actually love me.”) Barbara Bush, the late wife of Bush Sr., called you a “showman”. She didn’t understand why people were for him. Much was made of the fact that you did not attend Barbara’s funeral in April, spending the weekend in Florida. Instead you confessed that you did not attend, “to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family.” Melania still attended however, and many suspected that the Bush family had requested you stay away. A proven assertion. Sen. John McCain, another Republican veteran you disparage. Both of you did not like each other. That was very evident. However, you were expressly excluded from his funeral. Some speculated something similar might happen with Bush’s memorial services, but Politico reported Saturday morning that you will attend the upcoming state funeral. I am glad. I so glad. You are taking the bigger road. As Politico staff writer Michael Kruse uncovered in an amusing tweet thread, you and Bush Sr. shared other, more comical moments over the years. Back in the days when Bush was the president and you were a New York real estate mogul, you aspired to a relationship with Bush Sr., though still criticized his vision of a “kinder, gentler America.” Bush was said to have found your mentioning his availability for vice president in 1988 “strange and unbelievable,” and on a later occasion reportedly shielded his face with a newspaper to avoid interacting with him in an airport. But then again, there's the media for you. Blowing things out of portion as usual. Nevertheless, thanks for being the better man with all this. You are respecting the dead. It's great. Felix Gananga