The recent funeral of former First Lady and First Mother Barbara Bush was a good opportunity to watch civility in action among the families and clans of all political persuasions in Washington -from former Presidents to their grandchildren-.
One after another, the speeches given by Bush's family members, friends and political foes rivaled each other in respect, grace and self-deprecating humor. They turned the majestic cathedral and the pain of the circumstance into a celebration of American political traditions at their best.
Those who dress down their own appointees in public and double down on personal attacks seem not to understand that Americans like candor and kindness and are turned off by bluster and arrogance. For Americans, courage is showing grace under pressure. And the Bush family showed what courage looks like in parting with their beloved matriarch.
If there is a "deep state" in our United States , Fareed Zakaria remarked in an insightful article, that "deep state" is the state of the rule of law.
That "deep state" also has a long-standing tradition: a "Presidents Club", that was informally instituted by Jefferson and Adams when they asked their predecessors for advice.
Harry Truman established it formally at Eisenhower's inaugural and Herbert Hoover was its first manager. Richard Nixon presented the Presidents Club with a brownstone building as a permanent lodging for its members, who have been using it regularly for the last 60 years.
Harry Truman established it formally at Eisenhower's inaugural and Herbert Hoover was its first manager. Richard Nixon presented the Presidents Club with a brownstone building as a permanent lodging for its members, who have been using it regularly for the last 60 years.
There is also a tradition of the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner. Every year, presidents are "roasted" in public and forced to show they can take and make jokes about themselves.
A tradition that First Ladies also enjoy publicly lambasting their powerful husbands:
Last year, for the first time in almost 60 years, the sitting president declined to attend the dinner.
Mr. Trump's absence at Mrs. Bush's funeral went beyond a lack of humor.
Declining to show up to Mrs. Bush funeral is a further step downhill -from the shining city of civility on top of it we look up for leadership to the swamps and moats that surround it and Mr. Trump promised to drain-. It is so because it demonstrates Mr Trump fears the embarrassment of facing Mrs. Bush's family without apologizing for his past insults than the embarrassment of sending his wife to do his job.
Harsh words are normal currency during political campaigns, even during the arguments and political fray that come before and after.
Even boxers shake hands after butchering each other 12 rounds on the ring. And show respect once the match is over apologizing for the insults and vulgarities they threw at each other to sell tickets for the show.
The word "President" means among other things, to "preside", to lead by example and set the tone of public discourse and public behavior. This is way below the office that George Washington left warning against extreme partisanship.
The Trump administration will pass.
Mr. Trump will then also become a former president.
He can chose to be a former president like Richard Nixon and fade in disgrace or to adopt the civility of the other four former presidents who showed up at Ms Bush funeral and who sat near his solitary wife.
There's still time to join the Presidents' club, Mr. President.
It would be good not just for you, but for the institution you currently represent and your successors. You might find some experienced friends as well.
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