This touching account of George W. Bush’s trip home captures the core essence of the former President, which had utterly escaped the media. He was in good spirits as he left for Texas: praising his successor and his former staff (even those who obviously failed him at times.) The MSM and liberals never really understood who George W. Bush was. They insisted he was not just “dumb” but Nixonian — evil, devious, and manipulative. Hardly.

He made his share of errors and was, by any account, an extraordinarily bad manager (ironic for a CEO). But he was almost devoid of the grudge carrying and nastiness which characterized a good many of his opponents. You might recall his naming the Department of Justice building for Sen. Ted Kennedy’s brother Robert. Smart, albeit unsuccessful, personal politics, but it showed a measure of grace. Again and again he refused to rise to the bait of his opponents. And his own transition will be the model for future presidents. Yet the media myth persists.

In politics, grace is not merely exhibited by rhetorical appeals to cast aside past conventional arguments. Generosity in politics is demonstrated by public acknowledgment not simply of the generic existence of your predecessor, but in an appreciation of many of his policies that will need to be carried on, and in gratefulness for him having taken the heat for hard calls from which his successors will benefit. There is a lot to be learned from the personal side of former President Bush even as one recognizes his intellectual limitations and political failings.