President Bill Clinton and President George Bush (that’s George H. W. Bush) were pretty serious rivals back in 1992. Those of us that watched the two verbally duke it out as they “interviewed” for the job as President probably made a couple of observations. First, President Clinton was a much better orator than his opponent. Second, the two didn’t seem to like each other very much.
But I suppose that’s the nature of politics in America…and maybe most other places, too. It tends to draw stark contrasts and bring even good friends (to say nothing of opponents running for office) into sharp debate with each other.
But maybe appearances are deceiving. Maybe those that seem so antagonistic towards each are, in truth, good friends separated by that silly little letter typed on his or her voter registration card. And once the spotlight of the political arena is focused elsewhere, the better angels of nature get a chance to shine.
It was that way for President John Adams and President Jefferson. Maybe that’s the way it was (and is) for our 41st and 42nd Presidents as well. They have worked on numerous projects together since leaving office. And more than just business partners, there’s a visible comraderie that makes me believe that these two men genuinely like each other.
Some of that might have to do with events that occurred just after President Clinton took office. It was discovered that the Iraqi government had planned to assassinate President Bush when he visited Kuwait in 1993 to commemorate the Gulf War victory. The plan, intercepted by Kuwaiti officials, involved a car, a big bomb, and the bloodied remains of a President and his entourage.
When U.S. intelligence deteremined that Iraqi intelligence was behind the plot, newly-elected President Clinton responded with a resounding “I got your back” to the former President. On June 26, 1993, the U.S. fired two dozen cruise missiles at the Iraq’s intelligence headquarters.
It’s possible that a response of that magnitude is appropriate to the crime-almost-committed…I have I no idea. But I do know that if a person I didn’t like too much stood up for me like that, I’d probably forget a lot of the bad blood between us, too.
Whatever the causes, it’s great to see two men, diametrically opposed to each other not so long ago, working in such close harmony now. Oh, to see more of that when politicians are still in office.
Thank you for this post. While I realize the demonizing of political opponents has always been in American politics, perhaps it’s the current state of digital/electronic information overkill that makes it seem so oppressive.
Hears a pre-4th toast to History, Civics, and Civility!