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A leader's lament
Former President George H.W. Bush couldn't resist taking a couple of good-natured shots at his successor during his keynote address Thursday.The ex-presidents, political enemies during the 1992 race Bill Clinton won, have formed an unlikely friendship since Clinton left office in January 2001. Alluding Thursday to Clinton's references to Jimmy Carter during his speech, Bush said, "You'll notice how quickly Clinton dumps me for Carter. We travel all over the world, and we come to Charlotte, he dumps me. I don't understand it."
Later, Bush repeated a lighthearted term Clinton used last year to describe Episcopalians during Coretta Scott King's funeral: "The Chosen Frozen." "He said it in public!" Bush said. Clinton, laughing, covered his face with his hands.
Clintons and a crusade
Bill and Hillary at a Billy Graham crusade?
They attended one in Oakland, Calif., in 1971, Clinton said in his speech. "It was one of the best dates we ever had," he said.
Tribute to Falwell
Franklin Graham, while honoring his father Thursday, wore a tribute to another prominent evangelist on his lapel.Graham said Thursday morning that both he and his father were distressed to learn of the death of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, the Moral Majority founder who died of a heart ailment May 15.
So the younger Graham wore a "Jesus First" lapel pin, a hallmark of Jerry Falwell Ministries.
Unlikely allies
Among the mementos of Graham's private life, as shown in his library, are a joint photograph and handwritten poem from Bono.
Yes, Bono, the lead singer for Irish rock band U2. Bono, who shares the Graham family's interest in fighting HIV and AIDS in poor countries, got in touch with Graham a few years ago, said Franklin Graham. The two conversed and have kept in touch, and Bono later gave the poem and a book of Irish poetry to Graham's wife, Ruth, as a gift.
