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George W Bush Offers Lighthearted Gesture to Michelle Obama at His Father's Funeral

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A light-hearted moment occurred at the funeral President George H.W. Bush in Washington on Wednesday when his son, former President George W. Bush, slipped former first lady Michelle Obama what is believed to be a cough drop or piece of candy.

The exchange, which was caught on camera, came at the National Cathedral as Bush was greeting the former first couples on hand before the memorial service for his father began.

And it was an apparent nod to a viral video moment they shared in September during the late Sen. John McCain’s funeral.

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At the McCain funeral, former first lady Laura Bush could be seen handing her husband what was later revealed to be a cough drop, and he then discreetly passed it on to Obama.

Former President Barack Obama looked on in amusement as his wife mouthed, “Thank you.”

Do you think George W. Bush has a good sense of humor?

At the time, the internet was abuzz speculating what Bush handed to Michelle Obama.

“I didn’t realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing,” she later told NBC’s “Today.”

Obama pointed out that, due to protocol, she is always seated next to the 41st president when the former first couples gather.

“I love him to death,” she said. “He’s a wonderful man. He’s a funny man. And it was a simple gesture. He was getting a cough drop from Laura, and I looked over, and I said, ‘Hand me a cough drop,’ and he said, ‘OK.'”

“I will add they were old cough drops,” Obama joked. “That’s the funny thing, because they were in the little White House box, and I was like, ‘How long have you had these?’ And he said, ‘A long time, we got a lot of these!'”

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Another moment that brought smiles during George H.W. Bush’s memorial service on Wednesday was when biographer Jon Meacham recalled one comedian’s take on the late president’s speaking style.

“You can hear the voice, can’t you?” Meacham asked. “As Dana Carvey said, ‘The key to a Bush 41 impersonation is Mister Rogers trying to be John Wayne.'”

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 2,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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