Posted on 07/01/2007 6:07:17 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
KENNEBUNKPORT — One early September day in 1991, then-President George H.W. Bush sat alone on the terrace of his family home at Walker's Point and finished a lunch of clam chowder and a glass of sherry before updating his diary.
Over several weeks, the blue fish had been biting and Bush had hooked many of them while trolling the rocky shoreline from his boat. He had sat out on the granite ledge with his wife, Barbara, and admired the pounding waves when a big storm blew through. He had enjoyed hours on the porch, watching his grandchildren play among the tide pools.
He also had been awakened by a call on midnight of Aug. 19. It was his national security adviser, informing him that hard-line members of the Soviet Union had staged a coup in Moscow. They surrounded the Russian "White House" with tanks and placed Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev under house arrest while he vacationed in Crimea. The move threatened to turn back the clock on the country's steps toward democracy and rekindle the Cold War.
Over the next week, the nine-bedroom shingled home that has been in the Bush family for more than a century became a public stage as well as a private sanctuary. The beloved family home has long played this dual role and will do so again today when President George W. Bush meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The elder Bush dealt with the crisis by conducting telephone diplomacy from his bedroom, reassuring Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who remained inside the government building that the soldiers were threatening to storm.
For a short but tense period, Bush faced decisions about whether the United States should intercede with military force. Ultimately, the coup collapsed and the president was able to get in a little more fishing before returning to Washington.
Despite these world events, his stay in Kennebunkport had been restorative, Bush wrote in his diary, parts of which are published in his book, "All The Best, George Bush."
"The pace will change now. Pressures will mount now, but I've got enough of this sea air, ocean and rocks and pools in my soul that it will give me the strength to get on through a long, cold winter," he wrote. "I give thanks to God for my many blessings and for this special place and the special perspective that it gives this aging, but very grateful President of the United States.
The family's presence at Walker's Point draws numerous visitors and occasionally shines the glare of worldwide media attention on Kennebunkport and nearby communities.
Though some locals grumble about traffic tie-ups and the swarms of Secret Service agents that accompany the presidential visits, most seem to accept these inconveniences as a reasonable cost for playing host to world events.
"A lot of people look at this in our town from a historical perspective," said Steve Kingston, owner of the Clam Shack, which is providing seafood for the summit with the Russian president. "It far outweighs when the street is going to be closed for 15 minutes."
The 83-year-old Bush and his wife, Barbara, have the strongest of ties to Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. With the exception of the summer of 1944, when he was flying bombing missions as a U.S. Navy pilot, George H.W. Bush has spent a portion of every summer of his life at Walker's Point.
As a boy, Bush fished for tinker mackerel from his grandfather's boat around Walker's Point, and he remains an avid fisherman, swooping around on his power boat, Fidelity II, in pursuit of striped bass.
Sometimes, the Bushes are joined by other dignitaries at their seaside home, such as former President Bill Clinton. More often, the large house is filled with children and grandchildren.
Longtime Kennebunk Realtor John Downing, a family friend who headed presidential campaigns in York County for both father and son, said the most prominent decorations inside the Bushes' Kennebunkport house are the numerous family photos. "That's their home base," he said. "I think it's where their hearts are."
Since leaving office, George H.W. Bush can come and go with much less fanfare than before, and many residents think of him more as a neighbor than an ex-president.
He and wife Barbara are familiar sights at local restaurants, and they patronize local stores, often arriving early in the morning and entering through a back door, so as not to attract too much attention.
Tom Hanley, the owner of Cutaway in Kennebunk, where Barbara Bush often has her hair cut, said residents are respectful of the former first lady's privacy. "When she comes in, people are mindful that they live here," he said. "It's their community, too."
The Bushes play an active role in this community. They lend their support to causes both large and small, from the construction of a new emergency medicine wing at Southern Maine Medical Center to signing plastic ducks auctioned off by the local Rotary club every year.
Those who describe the elder Bushes as friends – and around the Kennbunks there are many – say they display the same quality of loyalty that some critics said the former president exercised to a fault in his political life.
"They're embracing," said Bonnie Clement, co-owner of H.B. Provisions in Kennebunk, who has visited the Bushes at Walker's Point and their home in Houston. "Once you're in the loop of being their friends, you are truly part of their family."
It's more difficult to find people around town who describe George W. Bush as a friend. The current president has visited his parents in Maine once a summer since taking office, but he chooses to spend most of his vacations at his Texas ranch. "His connections are more in Texas than the Kennebunks," Downing said.
When President Bush does come to town, especially to confer with another world leader, he is followed by a level of media attention that otherwise never would occur in a small town on the coast of Maine.
Members of the international press corps and numerous security agents fill local hotels. Crowds and security measures bring congestion and inconvenience.
But the downside of these visits is far outweighed by the boost to the tourist industry brought about by the worldwide exposure, according to Dick Leeman, president of the Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce.
"How else could I get Al Jazeera here?" he said. "There's nothing I could do."
Leeman said the most frequent question fielded by his staff at the Chamber of Commerce is how to find the Bush compound. Even as the president registers the lowest job-approval ratings in a generation, people remain enthralled by the idea of catching a glimpse of him and his family's home, Leeman said. "It doesn't matter," he said. "It's about celebrity."
Last week, a line of cars was pulled over on Ocean Avenue near Walker's Point, with some occupants gazing toward the Bush home through binoculars. Several onlookers were women on a class trip with their Biddeford adult-education English as a Second... Language class.
Thorinn McKenney, originally from Cambodia and now living in Biddeford, had caught the bug. "I want to see inside," she said. "I want to meet him."
The children – Mikayla, 11, and Justin, 7 – wanted to see the Bush family summer home so they could have a story to share when they returned to school, said their father, Larry. Now Mikayla has a better story to share.
"(I'll tell them) that I saw the president and that he was fishing on a boat," she said.
The Bush sighting was unexpected, even though the family was aware of the planned summit meeting starting today between Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Julie DiPlatzi, Mikayla's mother.
"It's perfect timing," she said. "I didn't think we could get this close."
The DiPlatzis stood by the Summit Avenue security checkpoint along Ocean Avenue with a few other families and a large contingent of news reporters, including members of the Russian media. More:
Melida and Carlos Arredondo later joined the peace movement and formed their own organization, People United for Peace, to push for the end of the war and broader benefits for returning veterans.
Royalty....
I bet there are lots of Mexican illegals working there.
I’m surprised there is an American flag at the nobility’s compound and not a Mexican one.
me too. I would have expected to see an NAU flag.
“Royalty....”
Just curious why you would say that.
Loyalty.
Pennies paid for real estate compared to John Edwards more recently constructed 28,200-square-foot home. Back then real estate costs in Maine were not as they are today.
This Royalty as you so deem the elder Bush family would sit down to "supper" with the average American or seek out lunch with a Post (Office) Mistress in certain little harbor towne up the coast.
Lot of truly hateful comments on this thread.
US President George W. Bush was Sunday to host Russia's Vladimir Putin, seen here on 30 June 2007, to a "lobster summit" at his family's seaside retreat, hoping to rescue the nations' ties from a post-Cold War nadir.(AFP/POOL/File)
In Maine? Laughs..Your State is known for “mass illegal hiring”. Sorry, Bub, hate to burst your bubble.
Happens..on every thread.
Yeah, there are. I disagreed with the first President Bush often and I'm still mad as hell about the immigration bill that the current President Bush supported -- but they're good and honest people and I don't regret voting for either of them one bit.
Nice article.
Well said, ftd. BDS has no bounds for some.
Thanks for posting the pictures of the elder Bush’s house. I have always wondered what it looked like. Fabulous house, I know they enjoy it. Their winter house, modest by neighborhood standards, is not too far from where I live in Houston.
The Bush family deserve everything that they have worked hard for, Family, country, Home, and security, how dare you be envious of someone who has achieved the American Dream.
Thanks for posting the pictures. I stopped in this area on the way back to Manchester airport from my Daughter’s when she lived in Bath, ME. It is a beautiful area and I played the tourist taking pictures of the compound from afar along with pictures of the lobster boats returning with their traps, did some shopping in town, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I agree (about the hateful comments)
I, too, disagree with the President about the illegal bill, but he has been honest about his feelings on this matter from the beginning.
He has done so much for us in these 7 years, and all of you people in a snit about illegals should remember that occasionally.
AT least to the point of not making your hateful comments on EVERY thread, no matter what it is about.
If Bush is mentioned, you have to get your jorges in.
Bluefish ain’t worth catching, unless you are starving, or just want to kill something!
Beautiful shot of Walker’s Point.
I was there not long ago, binoculars in hand.
Was told the Secret Service was no doubt using binoculars on US, too!
Royalty? What does that mean? Royalty? We have NO ROYALTY in this country and that includes the kennedeess. Royalty is NOT something we have nor want in this country.
Envious? Nope. As I have said here before, it's a good deal if you can get it. Where you get rich off of your families connections due to their "public "service". George W. became wealthy off of a stadium deal involving taxpayer money. A deal he'd never have got close to if not for his family.
Neil Bush, who I once personally asked to explain his involvment in the Silverado S&L (that didn't go well) still today has Barbara helping him to deals with school districts for his latest company. Barbara and George HW have done very well lending their names to various companies in Houston, etc. Jeb has been involved in the same kind of stuff.
Like I said, it's a good deal if you can get it. But it does seem that some of these political families, the Bush family, the Clinton's and the Kennedy's have become close to royalty. The founders did not have such a thing in mind.
Thank you for this thread.
Amen,
There are going to a lot of the Johny-one-notes who, after the election - no matter who gets in - are going to have occasion to remember all he has done - and wish he were back. Mark my word.
What's going on in the UK following the change - will also be tested here. And if we let the dimRat Socialists in - the terrorists will have free reign = they aren't really terrorists, you see, and "there is no WOT - it's only a law enforcement issue". What is truly frightening is how the sheeple fell right into to ONE-ISSUE melee, giving all their attention and ire to it. This is EXACTLY how the Communist Party get the masses to heal...and turn on their own.
If the dimRAt commies get back in - they will be able to thank many pubbies who swallowed the bait
Some people are born clueless, others have to study for it.
You sound like you have a Doctorate = along with a large chip on your shoulder.
Agreed.
It was unthinkable to many, many people after 9/11 that we could be living in the freedom we have today.
Very much due to George W's leadership.
It will be remembered by all after he has left the office what a remarkable leader we had.
In other news, the campground in Kennebunkport totally sucks.
A good catch and release fish for the fight. The fish is pretty oily as you know and that strip has to be removed right away. Then cook it up. The blues, however, might be followed by a tuna if out far enough.
I am sure they release. Easy to shore fish for the same.
It feels strange to be able to google earth the Bush compound as well even though it is not in “real time”.
Most beautiful campground in Maine.
http://www.hermitisland.com/geo.html
Check it out sometime if you want camping without the back woods feel.
Never knew anyone who camped in Kennebunkport!
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