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Remembering President George H.W. Bush Remembering President George H.W. Bush

By Alexandra Bass

Last Friday on November 30th former President George H. W. Bush passed away at the age of ninety- four. A memorial service was held yesterday at the Washington National Cathedral to remember the 41st president of the United States. The service was attended by all 5 living presidents and first ladies. Reporter Alexandra Bass has more on the professional and personal effect the late president had on a professor here at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Professor Sean O’Keefe sits in his office just the day after returning from President George H. W. Bush’s memorial service in Washington, D.C. He had worked for the president as the Comptroller and CFO of the Defense Department and then later as the Secretary of the Navy. When it comes to looking forward he believes these would be the president’s words of wisdom.

“Be kind to each other would be his advice and do the right thing. Do everything you possibly can in order to make a situation better than you found it.”

O’Keefe says there is one memory that sticks out when it comes to representing the President’s character. O’Keefe was serving during George W. Bush’s administration as NASA administrator when they lost Space Shuttle Columbia. O’Keefe says it was George H. W. Bush’s actions the day after that spoke volumes.

“There living in Houston, George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara got in the car drove themselves over to the Johnson Space Center presented themselves at the gate and said we are just here to see if we could help … did that on his own.”

O’Keefe heard about the former president’s actions back at the NASA headquarters and gave him call.

“And I said Mr. President I’m just stunned at you … that you’d take the time to go do this, and he goes well it’s the right thing to do and it was just his usual refrain on everything.”

Flags like this one remain at half-staff as President George H.W. Bush will be laid to rest later this afternoon at the Presidential Library and Texas A&M University. He will be laid to rest next to his wife Barbara and their daughter Robin daughter Robin died at 3 from Leukemia. Reporting from Syracuse. N.Y. this is Alexandra Bass N-C-C News.

Last Friday on November 30th former President George H. W. Bush passed away at the age of ninety- four. A memorial service was held yesterday at the Washington National Cathedral to remember the 41st president of the United States. The service was attended by all 5 living presidents and first ladies. Professor Sean O’Keefe at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs had both a professional and personal connection with the late president.

Professor Sean O’Keefe returned to his office in Eggers Hall just the day after returning from President George H. W. Bush’s memorial service in Washington, D.C. He had worked for the president as the Comptroller and CFO of the Defense Department and then later as the Secretary of the Navy. When it comes to looking forward he believes these would be the president’s words of wisdom.

 

“Be kind to each other would be his advice and do the right thing. Do everything you possibly can in order to make a situation better than you found it,” says O’keefe.

O’Keefe says there is one memory that sticks out when it comes to representing the President’s character. O’Keefe was serving during George W. Bush’s administration as NASA administrator during the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster. O’Keefe says it was George H. W. Bush’s actions, the day after the horrific accident, spoke volumes.

 

“There living in Houston, George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara got in the car drove themselves over to the Johnson Space Center presented themselves at the gate and said we are just here to see if we could help … did that on his own,” says O’Keefe.

O’Keefe was back at the NASA headquarters, in Washington D.C., when he heard about the former president’s visit to the Johnson Space Center and called him.

“And I said Mr. President I’m just stunned at you … that you’d take the time to go do this, and he goes well it’s the right thing to do and it was just his usual refrain on everything.”

O’Keefe said you could see the President’s wholesome and caring character in all parts of his life. Whether it was children running around the White House, exemplifying the President’s love for both the nation and his family, or him inviting O’Keefe to attend baseball games with him years after their work together.

President George H.W. Bush’s son, George W. Bush, shared the same feelings as O’Keefe during his eulogy for his father at the Washington National Cathedral memorial service.

“Of course, Dad taught me another special lesson: He showed me what it means to be a president that leads with integrity, leads with courage, acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country,” said Bush.

You will most likely still see flags at half-staff today. Family and friends attended a funeral this morning at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. The 41st President’s casket was then taken to the Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M where he was laid to rest alongside his wife Barbara and their daughter Robin who died of Leukemia at age 3.

“And in our grief, let us smile, knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom’s hand again,” said President George W. Bush during Wednesday’s eulogy.

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