No bad blood here. A letter that George H.W. Bush wrote to Bill Clinton after losing the 1992 election has resurfaced online amid the animosity of the current presidential race. In the sweet note, the 41st POTUS, now 92, told Clinton, now 70, that he was “rooting hard” for his Democratic opponent.
“When I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too,” the letter reads. “I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described.”
A long, long time ago, in a land far far away, politics had grace. George H.W. Bush’s letter to Bill Clinton on leaving office: pic.twitter.com/bJn6ojWRS4
— Saba Gul (@sabagl) October 16, 2016
Bush then went on to warn Clinton that assuming the role of commander in chief wouldn’t always be easy, advising him to ignore his critics. “There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair,” he wrote. “I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course.”
He ended his letter by letting Clinton know that he had nothing but well wishes for his successor. “You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well,” he shared. “Your success now is your country’s success. I am rooting hard for you. Good luck.”
Since Bush’s note made its way online, many social media users have acknowledged the contrast between the politician’s respectful gesture and the contentious relationship between Clinton’s wife, current Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, and her Republican rival Donald Trump.
“When a letter from George HW Bush to Bill Clinton makes you cry…you know it’s been a rough election cycle. Still:😭,” one tweeter wrote, while simply noted: “Yes. This. #civility #respect #honor #HWbush.”
As previously reported, Trump, 70 — who has been alleging this election is rigged — refused to say during the final presidential debate in Las Vegas on Wednesday, October 19, that he’d accept the election’s results no matter what the outcome. (It was there that he also called Hillary a “nasty woman.”)
During a rally in Ohio on Thursday, the ex–Celebrity Apprentice host clarified his comment, saying that he’ll accept the election results next month if he wins.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to make a major announcement today,” the real estate tycoon told the crowd. “I would like to promise and pledge to all of my voters and supporters and to all of the people of the United States that I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election — if I win.”
