1 To: George Bush Re: Reconciliation Schenectady Gazette January 28, 1989 Congratulations, Mr. President. After many years of standing in someone elses shadow you have reached the top. President George Bush! It must feel good to hear yourself addressed as Mr. President. On a human level and especially as a veteran, I am glad for you. I hope you enjoy your accomplishment. I know it wont be easy, and that I wont always agree with you. But you are my president as much as you are Americas. I reflect on that and what it means to me. No, I didnt vote for you and I resent your selection of Dan Quayle, but I dont begrudge you. I wish you well! Your election is important to me, and I would like to tell you why. Perhaps we will discover some common ground. Your election represents to me the value ofwinning and losing. It is my presidency, even when it is held by someone I didnt vote for. It is also my flag and I expect you to treat with more respect than the man who played the role for eight years. Every Election Day, I celebrate another year in which we Americans were able to fight it out without killing. I do not take for granted the transition from one administration to another. In 1968, I experienced a war over such things in Southeast Asia. In 1969, I served in intelligence in Washington DC during the peace marches. I remember that Richard Nixon had armed troops in the Justice Building during the peaceful marches. Two wars in two continents in two years was enough to make me appreciate a peaceful transition. Earlier I walked with 50,000 people carrying candles from the Washington Monument around the White House and back to the monument. It was a statement of hope, a desire for peace. On October 15th of this year it will be 20
