A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Cloquet resident Joe Peterson shares photos he got for attending the dedication of the presidential library for the late President George H.W. Bush. In addition to portraits given out at the event, he said all the guests were later mailed a copy of a photo of Bush with fellow former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford and then-President Bill Clinton.
Local historian Joe Peterson thinks President George H.W. Bush will be remembered for his kindness and caring.
"His kindness was such a part of him and Barbara," Peterson said. "That's part of the legacy they will leave behind - we'll never know all the caring things they did. They weren't braggers. It was genuine. That's something other presidents and first ladies could learn."
Peterson has loved presidential history since he was 8 years old, shortly after President John F. Kennedy died. Since then, he has made himself an expert in all things presidential.
The Cloquet native met both George Herbert Walker Bush and his son at the dedication of the former president's library in College Station, Texas, in 1994. Also present at the dedication were former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, and President Bill Clinton.
"I submitted my stories about presidential history, you're in different categories - historian, visitors, distinguished guests," Peterson said.
Peterson said there's a protocol that people follow at such occasions but he got to meet President Bush and his son, George W. Bush, who was governor of Texas at the time. He also attended a "breakfast with the president" when President George H.W. Bush was in Minneapolis.
Peterson has a thank-you letter from the late President Bush in response to a birthday card he sent.
"Dear Joseph, How thoughtful of you to remember my birthday. Being 92 feels a little strange, but it really doesn't hurt! Life is good. Thanks so much for checking in. Barbara joins me in sending warmest regards to you and yours. Sincerely, G. Bush."
Bush's passing makes Jimmy Carter the oldest surviving president; he is also 94, but was born several months later than the late President Bush.
"When I was young, my second- grade teacher got me started. I've just been interested, very interested, ever since then," Peterson said.
Peterson attended several inaugurations, library dedications and other events for various presidents.
"Regardless of whether Democrat or Republican, we've got to honor them," he said.
Peterson plans to watch the service at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. on television Wednesday.
"This year alone we lost Barbara and President Bush, and Billy Graham, the presidents' preacher," he said. "That's a lot of history there."
