Fortunately or unfortunately, one of yesterday's biggest stories was not the election in Iran or even the follow-up stories on the shooting at the Holocaust Museum in Washington. Especially if the only news you ever watched was CNN Headline News, the story of note throughout the day was former President George H. W. Bush's parachute jump from a plane to celebrate his 85th birthday. Of course, the story's importance only grew because CNN HL anchor, Robin Meade also jumped with the president - separate jumps, same plane - and why not highlight both?
In many ways, I have admired Bush 41. Not necessarily for his politics, but certainly for his qualifications and impressive resume even before becoming president. Son of a senator, a former congressman himself, successful businessman, Ambassador to China, CIA Director, and more - the man put in his time in a number of areas that prepared him well for the presidency. Unfortunately for him, a bad economy, an incomplete war in Kuwait and Iraq, and the rise of Bill Clinton worked against him extending his term.
However, the trait I most admire about the former president is his candor. Even when there is nothing to say, he says something - not always clearly (think Dana Carvey and his great impersonation) - but it seems as though he is always willing to verbalize a thought for the camera. Some of them are actually quite good. On yesterday's jump, Mr. Bush stated that one of the reasons he did it was to show his fellow senior citizens that you "didn't have to sit in a corner and drool" at his age. A noble sentiment, yet probably not one he would have made while in office. But then again, who knows?
As part of the hype for yesterday's jump, Ms. Meade did the requisite pre- and post-interviews with the former president, and while most of the topics were fairly mundane, one in particular has relevance for a significantly large number of men. The question posed to Mr. Bush was how could he be jumping again at age 85, when his wife Barbara had clearly said that his prior jump at age 80 was to be his absolute last one?
In a classic response of verbal dexterity that any married man wishes he himself possessed, Mr. Bush explained his apparent defiance of his wife's stated wishes by saying that Barbara sometimes "uses different ways of phrasing her enthusiasm" and you simply had to interpret them the right way. As a longtime married man, Mr. Bush clearly chose the middle path of conciliation in the face of doing what he wanted to do, and in the face of what his wife surely objected to. It was a brilliant use of the all too familiar middle path, utilized by millions of us, leaving himself (and the rest of us married men living vicariously through this particular moment), some moral, if not actual, "wiggle room" for avoiding later consequences and going ahead and doing what he (we), wanted to do in the first place.
Interestingly, Mrs. Bush was there yesterday when her husband once again touched the earth. Her first hug however, was not reserved for her husband. Instead she reached out to the man who had piggybacked with the former president on his jump - possibly whispering a threat to the officer's commission? Only after that greeting his escort did she turn and check on her husband. One can only imagine the "different ways of phrasing her enthusiasm" she shared then, and probably later, with her husband far away from the cameras and CNN.
Whether you are sitting in a corner and drooling or simply a married man who has frequently heard "different phrases of encouragement", without a doubt, the former president is an inspiration to all of us locked in matrimonial embrace. No word yet on the former president's plans for jumping at age 90. Despite my admiration for 41's efforts and verbal skills, my money's on Mrs. Bush finally winning out. After all, we can't win 'em all . . .
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