Back in May of 1989 , President George H. W. Bush write a letter to Donald Trump . Bush ’s missive was meant to plume Trump for being named “ Man of the Year ” by the Police Athletic League of New York . It was right in the middle of the Central Park Joggercase , and an early draft of the varsity letter seems to hint at how objectionable horn could be .
I incur both an other draft and the concluding potation of the varsity letter through a Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) petition to the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library . I was n’t searching for this letter specifically , permit alone an former selective service of it . But it ’s a gripping , if relatively underage , artefact that shows how the president ’s diplomatic sausage gets made .
The get-go of the missive is about what you ’d expect and does n’t change at all from the first translation to the one that was at long last sent to Trump . From the position of the twelvemonth 2017 , where Donald Trump is now the most potent person in the reality , it ’s almost funny that Bush calls him “ Don . ”
Dear Don :
I have just learn that the Police Athletic League of New York is honoring you as their “ Man of the Year , ” and I simply want to add my devout congratulations to the many derive your way . They could not have pick a more worth individual for this esteemed testimonial .
So far , so upright . But the first version of the letter includes an interesting second paragraph . Bush had just been elected president the previous November , and thanked Trump for his documentation . Trump had donate money to Bush ’s drive , hold fundraisers for him , and was a vocal supporterall around . But by the end of the paragraph in the original letter , thing get a bit inactive fast-growing .
Before rifle any further , I want to personally thank you for your generous musical accompaniment during the last presidential election . Any crusade that hop to succeed must have the ability to draw in dynamic and dedicated individuals to its cantonment . With you , we were fortunate enough to have a man productive in those qualities who deal profoundly about our Carry Nation , and is not afraid to talk his mind from meter to time . And evaluate by the newspapers I learn , you are quickly redefining the term “ from time to sentence . ”
The paragraph has handwritten note , presumptively from an assistant to the president , circling the word “ racy ” and proclaiming “ no wordplay intended I desire ! ”
So what had Trump been doing in the newspapers where he was “ speak his judgement ” ? On May 1 , 1989 Donald Trump call for out full - page ads in four New York newspaper proclaiming , “ impart Back the Death Penalty . Bring Back Our Police ! ” The advertising call for the death punishment for the so - call in Central Park Five , a group of young adult male ( four of them black and one Hispanic ) who had been impeach of raping and brutally beating a woman who was jog in Central Park .
Trump ’s advertizing referred to “ range band of wild criminals ” and said that the culprit “ should be forced to digest and , when they wipe out , they should be executed for their crimes . ” The Central Park Five pass years in prison house before another Isle of Man , already serve prison sentence for rape and murder , last confess to the crime in 2001 . DNA evidence proved that he was the existent perpetrator . Donald Trump never apologized for calling for the deaths of the untested man who turned out to be guiltless .
Another notable change from the first interpretation of the letter to the second is a softening of the tone involve the “ sickness ” of crime .
From the original swig :
And I can think of no finer role models than the epic men and womanhood of the New York City Police Department who serve as veterans on the front line of reasoning in our never cease war against the sickness that is offence .
That railway line was ultimately exchange to :
I can think of no fine use models for child than the heroic workforce and woman of the New York City Police Department — human being and charwoman who devote their lives to upholding the jurisprudence and protecting the safety of others .
So why did the President discommode to write this letter in the first space ? Henry Kravis , the chair of the dinner party for Man of the Year , call for him to write something that could be read at the result . ( Kravis is a personal champion of Bush ’s and was at the sentence the head of R.J. Reynolds Nabisco , the tobacco and food party . )
you’re able to equate the first draft of the letter by Bush to the last alphabetic character that was sent to Trump on May 11 , 1989 below .
What does George H. W. Bush consider of Trump today ? Well , Bush did n’t endorse Trump during the campaign , and it was even rumored that Bush voted for Hillary Clintonin 2016 . But Bush did design on going to the inaugural before he accrue ill .
The 92 - twelvemonth - older sent Trump aletteron January 10 , 2017 :
Dear Donald ,
Barbara and I are so sorry we ca n’t be there for your Inauguration on January 20th . My doc say if I sit outside in January , it in all probability will put me six feet under . Same for Barbara . So I judge we ’re stuck in Texas .
But we will be with you and the country in spirit . I want you to love that I wish you the very unspoiled as you being this unbelievable journey of leading our gravid state . If I can ever be of assist , please allow me know .
All the good ,
G. Bush
I guess “ Don ” got upgraded to “ Donald ” this time .
Donald Trumpletterspresident trump card
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