Starting off an insightful day with George H.W. Bush’s post-presidency chief of Staff, Jean Becker, we met at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences building here on campus for a book talk and signing!
Though some of us had attended a previous event on her book tour, everyone was enthralled by Becker’s charismatic and engaging discussion of her newest book, Don’t Tell the President, co-authored by Tom Collamore. We listened eagerly as she discussed accounts of several of the stories of advance workers– the people who make sure that events go as planned– across presidencies from Lyndon B. Johnson to Barack Obama.
After several humorous anecdotes about the less-than-elegant side to life while working for the White House (like getting peed on at a phone booth while talking to her boss)…
…Becker closed on a more somber note. She reminded us that Americans have to pull together to make progress, and she highlighted the way that–despite their differences–Presidents Bush and Clinton worked together to raise funds for hurricane relief and that President Obama stopped in to Houston, days before President Bush’s death, to thank him for his service to the country.
This serves as a reminder of what our future both as a people and as a country, should look like: putting aside differences and helping each other where we can.
Following the book talk, Becker generously agreed to sign copies of her new book! Students lined up eagerly, discussing the fascinating stories she had shared. We were all very excited and grateful to have had her with us at Sam Houston once again.
The Bush Foundation: Jean Becker and Tom Collamore &
In a special event hosted by the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, authors Jean Becker and Tom Collamore took the stage to discuss their new book, “Don’t Tell the President.” And as with all Bush Foundation events, the setting and the audience proved to be as interesting as the main attraction.
That was certainly the case this time, as we ran into Secretary Andrew Card…
…and photographer Mark Burns before even entering the auditorium! Both were generous with their time, discussing their favorite stories concerning President Bush.
Of course, they were also there to see Jean Becker, and while we may not be members of the Jean Becker Fan Club….
….we make the opportunity to see her speak.
Don’t Tell the President: The Best, Worst, and Mostly Untold Stories from Presidential Advance
…introduced the event, and it was a pleasant and unexpected surprise when she introduced us!
The most enjoyable part of the evening, of course, was hearing from Jean Becker and Tom Collamore–and contributing authors Robbie Aiken, Jay Allison, and Greg Jenkins–discuss a blend of behind-the-scenes chaos and the concomitant responsibility that comes from preparing the nation’s most important figure for public engagements.
The engagements discussed ranged from the picayune to the momentous, from an imposter surreptitiously boarding the press plane for a presidential trip to getting just the right setting to support Solidarity in Poland with Lech Walesa and the destruction of the Berlin Wall in Germany.
This was the perfect pairing with our visit to the Bush Presidential Library earlier in the day, providing insights into some of the history we had observed while also reminding us of the importance of event planning, even in our own small events.
Adding to the fun of the evening was seeing Ms. Becker be recognized as an honorary member of the TAMU Singing Cadets, who sang “America the Beautiful” as an honor to the United States as part of the country’s 250th anniversary of independence.
Tour: The Foundation Offices
Following the event, we approach Ms. Yates to thank her, and she graciously spent more time with us, even as she had additional work to do. During the conversation, she offered to give us a tour of their offices, tell us more about the Foundation, and let us see the “Bush Apartment.”
We had already had a wonderful day: seeing the Bush Presidential Library, hearing from Kathryn Meyers at the Bush School of Public Service, and attending the Becker and Collamore event. So, the opportunity for something on top of all that was certainly unexpected, and while we didn’t want to delay Ms. Yates from her work any further, this was an opportunity we couldn’t decline.
Ms. Yates provided an overview of the Foundation’s work, while also givinga wonderful tour of the Foundation’s space. It was a beautiful space, one that has been preserved since the President’s passing, and one that is still used for myriad purposes. It was an honor to be given the tour, and it was the perfect way to end our time at the Bush Presidential Library.
Dinner
While the tour was an ideal cap to our day at the Bush Library, we all believed that dinner would be the perfect way to end our; accordingly, we headed to Shiraz Shish Kabob. On LEAP field trips, we do our best to eat at restaurants themed with our learning opportunities, and after spending a day at the Bush Library–where the Middle East was much on display–we enjoyed diverse fare from one of our favorite College Station places.
For many, it was the first time to try Baklava or Shawarma or even Hummus, and it was met with great approval.
With full stomachs, on a high of a fantastic nine-hour learning sprint, and a renewed spirit of public service, we returned to SHSU.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 