Adrian’s Excellent Adventure!
1: A few observations on the public gathering of five
Presidents:
Apologies, there are some names not named and description
left rather vague. This is an intentional observation of Presidential
etiquette. I would not want to fall victim to what Jackie Kennedy once
described as “The White House Disease”; i.e, an inappropriate and unforgiveable
lapse of discretion.
Regardless of the beautiful weather it was still Texas, and
by 8 in the morning the rising sun bored into the side of your face. As the day
went on, the only thing between me and sunstroke was my trusty Stetson. Leah were
up at 5am, and I arrived at 7am in front of the Bush Library. As per
instructions, taking designated subway routes we shared our seats with sleepy
commuters staring at us with surprise. Of course, the travelers to the Bush Library
recognized each other immediately. Women in 4, 5 even 6 inch heels, Bulgari
jewels and Hermes scarves accompanied men in tailor-made suits, Rolex watches
and White House bling - cufflinks, tie tacks and lapel pins gifted to
them by various Presidents they had visited in the Oval Office. I had on a black Stetson fedora, a Tommy
Hilfiger single-breasted, 3 buttoned charcoal grey suit and a Calvin Klein
self-stripe dress shirt with French cuffs tricked out with Camp David cufflinks
(not many of those around.) Walking in with black Tony Lama boots, I was the
very image of Texas chic meets Frank Sinatra Rat Pack. Leah was wearing a fabulous, navy blue
Jean-Louis Scherrer couture dress with high collar, wide lapels and gold
buttons. Her wrap was a wool off-white Givenchy scarf bordered in red silk. The
red, white and blue color scheme created a Patriotic America-meets-French fashion ensemble
drenched in feminine pheromones. This
spectacular wardrobe was supplied by Woodland Farms Vintage Clothing
(www.woodlandfarmsantiques.com).
After checking each other out, we immediately began clumping
together in the crowded commuter train headed for SMU and introduced ourselves.
On the train we met a delightful Consul General and his wife. Enjoying each other’s
company, the four of us sat together and visited until the show began. Arriving
early, it wasn’t early enough as many of the prime seats were already occupied
- President and Mrs. Bush with a few
thousand of their closest friends. Sitting in the designated “White Area” we
were dwarfed by the four story high scaffold press tower groaning under
hundreds of people and tons of camera equipment and a couple of 7 foot tall plus
professional basketball players looking for seats. Off to the side was a
retractable, fifty-foot boom delicately suspending a camera that constantly
scanned the audience. In front of us was the Library with two arm-like wings
extending out. On the roof, men in black using binoculars (and no doubt sniper
rifles on bipods at their feet) with little interest in the audience randomly peered
off into the distance. Several times I noticed they quickly focused in one
direction giving me a queasy feeling and I couldn’t help looking over my
shoulder. What a world we live in.
We were surrounded. Between the library wings was a temporary
stage holding some chairs, a podium and a few panels of bullet-proof glass. On
the ends of the library facing us were two gigantic screens. I felt like I was
at a Bruce Springsteen concert. In the center of all this, directly in front of
the podium was a mosh pit holding around a hundred seats screened off with a
six-foot high fabric wall. Who was in
there I wondered!? At ten o’clock, things started with Condoleezza Rice
introducing the “special guests.” As it turned out, these were the mysterious
inhabitants behind the curtain. People like Tony Blair and his wife; Silvio
Berlusconi; Arab ruler; Russian dignitaries; Japanese officials; South American
presidents, etc. Laura Bush came to the podium and welcomed everyone with a few
remarks. As controversial as her husband is to many people, Mrs. Bush has
always been warmly regarded by the general public, and this occasion was no
different. Over the years, I’ve become acquainted with them in public and
private situations and as a couple they are very close.
As the only world famous people I know, I’m no authority on
the consequences of being intensely in the public eye, but I’ve personally
witnessed an occasional abuse by an antagonistic press that verges on the
grotesque. Most reporters, I’m happy to say, have been generally respectful and
professional even ingratiating at times - but when they are working and I see a
wall of countless glittering eyes before
me, I’m very glad that I’m not on the menu.
Shortly before Mrs. Bush’s greetings, all five Presidents
came out simultaneously, rising up from the back and walking forward together (except
for HW who was in a wheelchair.) It gave me the impression of an ageing boy
band giving one last tour. The crowd did not go wild. There seemed a
reverential air over everything. These men had been through so much and we had
been through so much with them. Starting with the Iranian hostage crisis during
President Carter’s tenure and the explosion during the Boston Marathon only
weeks before, these men were there and in charge as America changed and as the
world changed for all of us.
Each President spoke briefly in turn, in a way that I
thought revealed something of each ones personality. 39 was earnest, 41,
although having slight difficulty speaking, was gentlemanly, 42 intimate, exuding
an ebullient confidence, 44 controlled and taking care of business. At the end,
43 got up and the man as I’ve come to know him began to speak. At times, I feel
he is a combination of two different temperaments - one, aristocratic (never apologize,
never explain) the other extremely warm and empathetic, recognizing no cultural
or class barriers. His lack of narcissism, which at times I think has been a
distinct disadvantage for him in his line of work, has mystified the country in
general and politicians in particular. Throughout history, it often seems a
large dose of self-involvement is a prerequisite for a major political career
and is certainly essential for entertaining the public. However, fundamental to
George Bush’s life is the idea of service to his country. Luckily for America,
this idea of “service” is an attribute of many in our government - Republican
and Democrat - but to President Bush it is the bedrock and core of his
personality. Obviously, he could never
have become President without also having the capacity for savvy and tough-minded
political skills but that is not how I know him. As an artist doing work for
the White House, I had a different kind of relationship.
One of my most cherished memories of President and Mrs. Bush
began when Leah, Sebastian and I were invited to spend the weekend at Camp
David. During dinner conversation President Bush invited us all to visit him
the next Monday in the Oval Office. I was stunned and brought it up with Mrs.
Bush Sunday morning during breakfast. “Mrs.
Bush, the President has invited us to the Oval office, including my Mom and Dad.
I’m very grateful, but from experience it takes days for background checks. How
can this happen tomorrow?” She smiled an advised me to call my parents.
Monday waiting our turn outside the Oval Office we were
instructed that this was a photo op - just a few minutes, a few photographs and
then we were to leave by another exit. The door opened and we were ushered in.
President Bush came forward took my mother’s hand, helped her in and began
speaking Spanish with my dad. The President started walking towards his desk
and the photographer began setting up his camera shot, then my mother said
something to him no one else could hear and everything stopped. For a brief moment,
the President seemed startled and looked at her for a moment very intently. Then
he began describing each painting on the walls of the Oval Office and what they
meant to him. He ushered us into the large Cabinet Room and other smaller areas
pointing out various artifacts, paintings and sculptures. We then went outside
into the Rose Garden and admired a magnolia tree planted by Andrew Jackson. By this time over an hour had gone by. Worried
aides had come in and out several times wearing frozen expressions but with a
look from him they left just as quickly. Slowly, we made our way back into the
Oval Office. Mom has difficulty walking and he often gave her his arm as he
gently helped her up and down steps. Once inside, the photographer began again
fiddling with his camera and aides tried to insert themselves among us and once
again the President waived them off. We moved to his desk where his family
photos were. He picked up one and showed us a picture with his grandfather, and
a very young HW and Barbara Bush holding a newborn W in her arms. Then he began
talking to us about our family, my father, my mother, Sebastian. It was an
extraordinary moment. Photos were eventually taken and we left. As I remember,
it was the only time I have ever impressed my dad. Later I asked Mom, “What did
you say to him when we first walked in?” She thought a moment and replied, “I
said - you have looked into the faces of all the great leaders in the world and
now I’m looking back into those same blue eyes.” It was pure Mom.
In an hour or so, the Dedication of the George W. Bush
Presidential Center was over and the crowd slowly moved away. That night would
be the “block party” and Saturday we could see inside the library. I was
anxious to visit the building and see the 12’ high alcoves I had painted
several years earlier. Originally painted for the White House, they were now
permanently installed in the large formal reception area of the library. But
that’s another story.
Soon to follow: “The big party”, “The library Alcove surprise”
and “Leah and Adrian being styled in Dallas by Janet Schwarz of Woodland Farms
and Ken Weber of Vintage Martini.”
