The former president’s latest passion is celebrating the contributions of immigrants to our country (as seen in his book of portraits, « Out of Many, One »), which he hopes will help foster a more respectful attitude – and aid reform.
Springtime in central Texas doesn’t get any better than this: The bluebonnets are in bloom across the 1,600 acres of Prairie Chapel Ranch, south of Dallas – a retreat for former President and first lady George W. and Laura Bush, where they once entertained world leaders. « Well, this is just about heaven out here, » said « CBS Evening News » anchor Norah O’Donnell. « Yeah, it’s beautiful, isn’t it? » Mr. Bush said. « You know, we got unbelievably interesting views and beautiful trees. Some of these have been out here 200 years. » And though Mr. Bush has stepped back from the world stage, his trademark strut and salty humor are as strong as ever. « It’s like these interviews I used to do and they’d call in from New York: ‘Ask the son-of-a-b**** about when he stopped – ‘ » « Darling, they’re taping you, » Laura helpfully interjected. The former president gave O’Donnell a tour of his tree farm (« Yeah, baby. We’re sellin’ trees! »), and while Mr. Bush did take out one of our GoPro cameras attached to our vehicle, he has a valid excuse: « I have not driven a car on a road since 1993 – before you were born! » The occasion for our visit to « Studio 43 » is the release of a new book of Mr. Bush’s oil paintings: « Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants » (Crown). His subjects range from the famous, to the not-so-famous. They are all equally celebrated by this 74-year-old commander in chief-turned-artist. O’Donnell asked Laura Bush, « When your husband started painting, what did you think? » « I was shocked, » she replied. « He hadn’t even ever looked at art. I mean, we lived with a major American collection at the White House. » « And he expressed no interest then? » « No, he was not at all interested. » When asked what led him to painting, Mr. Bush replied, « You know, in retrospect, it was longing for learning. The presidency is a great learning experience. And then all of a sudden you’re not president. And by chance I read Winston Churchill’s essay, ‘Painting as a Pastime.’ And it got me thinking about painting. And in essence, I said, ‘If that old boy can paint, I can paint.’ And so I started. » The paintings themselves are much more than art: they are a timely message to Washington.
