I try not to get too political on this website, so I am treading with caution when I talk about President George W. Bush, our nation’s 43rd President, who narrowly won two different elections – losing the popular vote in the first – and served from 2001-2009. His performance in office is generally ranked abysmally by the bulk of historians, and his lack of experience and good-old boy demeanor generally was interpreted to mean that Bush wasn’t very smart. I have no doubt that he is a smart guy, and generally a good man, but I’d have to say that without a doubt, he has been the worst President in my lifetime.
Regardless, I respect the office and therefore respect the man, who saw our country through some genuinely troubling times, mostly centered around the brutal attacks of September 11, 2001. Therefore, I put the same amount of emphasis on honoring him as I do any other President when it comes to visiting the sites relevant to his life.
As of this writing, Bush’s Presidential Library has not yet been completed, but I have managed to add a couple of relevent locations to my Presidential quest. Obviously as I continue to explore his locations, there will be some crossover with the homes of his father President George H.W. Bush, the second President to have his son follow in his footsteps as the Commander in Chief of the United States.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 – George W. Bush Birthplace – There is some irony to the fact that Bush always represented himself as a Texan, since in fact he was born in New Haven, Connecticut. Perhaps New Haven has taken enough of the snubbing, and therefore really offers no acknowledgement that Bush was from their city.
While his father, George H.W., was finishing up his sophomore year at Yale University (having delayed his college education after serving as a Navy pilot in World War 2), his first son was born on July 6, 1946. Bush was the third President to be born in a hospital – in this case the Grace-New Haven Hospital. In 1965, the name of the hospital was changed to the Yale-New Haven Hospital.
The hospital where the future President Bush would become a father to the future President Bush
As I said, there is no fanfare for George Bush in New Haven, but nonetheless, my friend Bob and I visited the hospital to get a photo representing the location where President Bush was born. Let’s hope that Bush doesn’t become the first President to never receive a marker at his birth location.
Outside the former Grace-New Haven Hospital
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 – George W. Bush First Boyhood Home – George and Barbara Bush took their firstborn son home to where they were residing while Bush Sr. was attending college in New Have, Connecticut at Yale. Although it looked to be a rather large home, the house had in fact been converted into apartments following the housing shortage after World War 2. The Bush’s shared the home with a dozen other couples and their babies, for a grand total of 40 people residing alongside the Bushes.
Two years later, the Bushes would re-locate to Midland, Texas, and thus the legend of the Bushes as Texans would be born. The New Haven home now functions as the Yale Department of Economics, so obviously there were no tours of this historic location. Bob and I settled for photos outside, which were a bit botched since the house was currently being painted. At least I got the most of the workers out of my photo.
The Graves-Gilman, an 1866 Italian villa located at 37 Hillhouse where the second father-and-son Presidents would first reside together
Saturday, March 29, 2008 – George W. Bush locations in Crawford, Texas – In 1999, President Bush purchased a large parcel of land just outside of Crawford, Texas, and removed five hog barns in order to construct a compound that would included his home, a guest house, and a garage. This estate is known as the Prairie Chapel Ranch. Throughout his Presidency he would spend 879 days at the ranch. He still owns the property, although his main residence is now in Dallas.
My friend Bob and spent a day in Crawford, during which we stayed at a local bed & breakfast and were escorted by Bush’s former mailman around the city. At the time, Bush was still in office, so obviously there was no way on earth that we were getting close to his home. But there were a few other sites around town that were of interest to visitors who wanted to take in some Bush-related sites, among them the location where Bush cast his vote for the 2000 Presidential election and the church would often attend.
Bob and I enter Crawford
The place in Crawford where President Bush casted his vote in the 2000 election
Outside President Bush’s place of worship when he’s home in Crawford, the Canaan Baptist Church
Preaching from the pulpit to…
…the choir. Sitting in the front pew where both President Bushes once sat.
President Bush’s property. The sign said “No Trespassing.” I obeyed.
Sharing my political views with President Bush in a local Crawford convenience store
Continue to the next President… (under construction)
Return to Saturday 2008 in Texas…
Return to Tuesday 2012 in Connecticut…
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