Cloture Motion

Floor Speech

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Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, on Friday, George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States, went to his eternal reward.

His death marks the passing of an era. George H.W. Bush was the last President to have served in World War II. He enlisted on his 18th birthday, postponing college to serve his country, and went on to become the youngest pilot in the Navy. During his 3 years of service, he flew 58 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals.

Throughout his life, he exemplified the characteristics of the ``greatest generation''--service, love of country, humility, and honor.

His achievements in public office were significant. As Vice President, he helped Ronald Reagan turn the economy around and combat the ``evil empire.'' As President, he presided over the dissolution of the Soviet Union and helped bring order and stability to the world stage in its aftermath. Through it all, he stayed humble and down-to- earth.

This week, I saw an article with anecdotes from Secret Service agents who had protected President Bush. What stood out to me the most was the fact that he used to stay in Washington over Christmas so his Secret Service agents could spend the day with their families. That was the kind of man he was.

We throw around the words ``public service'' in government, but for George Bush, that term meant something. Public service was a real thing to him.

Being a Congressman, being CIA Director, being an ambassador, being President--these weren't chances to aggrandize himself or to burnish his resume. These were chances to serve, to give something back to the country he loved and had fought to protect.

President Bush was a statesman, a man of principle who understood that you could speak the truth without demonizing your opponents. He and President Clinton may have been political adversaries, but that didn't stop him from teaming up with President Clinton to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina in the 2004 tsunami.

He was also, as every American knows, a devoted family man, a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He and his wife Barbara, who died earlier this year, were married for 73 years--the longest marriage of any Presidential couple in our Nation's history. The love and affection and friendship between them were palpable.

By now, I think most Americans have seen the moving image from cartoonist Marshall Ramsey paying tribute to President Bush. In a cartoon, President Bush is depicted as having flown his World War II plane, a TBM Avenger, to Heaven. There, he joins hands with his beloved daughter Robin and his beloved wife, who says: ``We waited for you.'' I am sure their reunion was a joyful one.

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