Alan K. Simpson's Eulogy
Humor is a universal solvant against the abrasive elements of life.
That's what humor is. He never hated anyone. He knew what his
mother and my mother always knew "Hatred corrodes the
container it's carried in." His epitaph, maybe just a single letter
the letter L. Loyalty.
Brian Mulroney's Eulogy
(...)In the second year of the Bush presidency, responding to implacable
pressures from the Reagan and Bush administrations, the Soviet Union
imploded.
This was, in my judgment, the most epical event, political event of
the twentieth century. An ominous situation that could have become
extremely menacing to world security, was instead deathly challenged
by the leadership of president Bush, into the broad and powerful
currents of freedom, providing the Russian people with the opportunity
to build an embryonic democracy in a country that had been ruled by
Czars and tyrants for over a thousand years.
And then, as the Berlin wall collapsed, soon thereafter, and calls for
freedom cascaded across Central and Eastern Europe, leaving
dictators and dogma in the trashcan of history, no challenge, no
challenge has seen greater importance to Western solidarity than
the unification of Germany within an unswerving NATO.
And all fears in Western Europe, and unrelenting hostility by the
military establishment in the Soviet Union and the WASAW pact
rendered this initiative. One of the most complex and sensitive
ever undertaken.
One serious misstep, and this entire process could have been
compromised. Perhaps, irretrievably.
There is obviously, no more knowledge of over competent judge,
of what really happened at this juncture, the most vital juncture of
the twentieth century, than chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany.
In a speech to a parliamentary commission of the Bundestag, chancellor
Kohl said categorically, that this historic initiative of German reunification
could never, ever have succeeded without the brilliant leadership of
president Bush.
Much have been written about the first gulf war. Simply put, the
coalition of twenty-nine disparate nations assembled under the ages
of the United Nations, including for the first time, many influential
Arab countries, and led by the United States would have ranked
among the most spectacular, successful, international initiatives ever
undertaken in modern history.
Designed to punish an aggressor, defend the cause of freedom, and ensure
order in a region that had seen too much of the opposite for far too long.
This was president Bush's initiative from beginning to end. President Bush
was also responsible for the North American Free Trade Agreement,
recently modernized, and improved by new administrations which created
the largest and richest free trade area in the history of the world while also
signing into law the American with Disabilities Act which transformed the
lives of millions and millions of Americans forever.
President Bush's decision to go forward with strong environmental legislation,
including the Clean Air Act that resulted in the Acid Rain Accord with Canada
is a splendid gift to future generations of Americans and Canadians to savor.
In the air they breathe and the water they drink, and the forest they enjoy, and
the lakes, rivers and streams they cherish.
There is a word for this. It's called Leadership. Leadership, and let me tell you,
that when Georges H. W. Bush was president of the United States of America, every
single head of government in the world knew they were dealing with a
gentleman, a genuine leader. One who was distinguished, resolute and brave.(...)
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