I really hate to sound like a grump on this topic, but I think we should go back to naming ships after historical figures after they are, well... history.
I will concede the case that in the case of Reagan, the point could be made that he was in his twilight years and was probably not even aware of the great honor being done to him and his name. But in this case?
There’s just something a bit too vain about naming a ship of that power after a living ex-President. And don’t even get me started on Jimmy Carter. I was IN the Navy when he was President.
Naming a garbage scow after him would have been too much, let alone a submarine.
When it comes to aircraft carriers, President Bush Sr. is the most special of ALL US presidents -- having served heroically on one during WWII, he has as much claim to a carrier named after him as ANY president.
And we might note that our amphibious carriers have inherited names of famous battles -- Iwo Jima, Tarawa, etc.
So, maybe we should revive the names old WWII carriers -- Lexington, Intrepid, Hornet, Franklin? Anything rather than a Carter or Clinton!
Then you're really going to be upset when they commission the USS William J. Clinton (CVN-81) or the USS Barack H. Obama (CVN-82). I think that the next two after the Ford will be named for JFK and a new Enterprise. Naming the third one after Clinton the fourth after Obama will guarantee funding for at least the next four. And since the last three carriers were Republicans then Congree will almost insist on it.