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Bush praises Clinton, unveils portrait
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-15 10:06

With old political grudges left unmentioned, former U.S. President Bill Clinton returned to the White House for the first time Monday and listened with delight as President George Bush praised him for his knowledge, compassion and "the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."

Former US president Bill Clinton views his offical White House portrait which will be hung on the West wall of the Grand Foyer during the unveiling event hosted by President George W. Bush in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. [AFP]

The occasion was the unveiling of the official portraits of Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. 　

Hundreds of former Clinton administration officials, from Cabinet secretaries to low-ranking aides, filled the East Room and applauded Bush's warm testimonials. His remarks were a sharp contrast with his promise four years ago "to restore honor and dignity" to the White House after Clinton and the sex scandal that led to his impeachment.

Former US President Bill Clinton (L) and his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) pose together after their official portraits were unveiled during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House in Washington, June 14, 2004. Former first lady Clinton, whose picture will hang in the White House's lower level near that of her predecessor, Barbara Bush, is the first sitting senator to have her portrait hung in the White House. [Reuters]

Facing re-election and trying to reach across party lines for support, Bush went out of his way to be gracious to both the former president and his wife, a favorite target of conservatives who fear she will run for president. Bush even offered a plug for Clinton's biography, being published next week. Pausing in his description of Clinton, Bush said, "I can tell you more of the story, but it's coming out in fine bookstores all over America."

Terry McAuliffe, the highly partisan chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told reporters, "Today is a bipartisan day here at the White House. Everyone loves everyone equally here today." 　　

Former US president Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton (L) stand by their offical White House portraits during the unveiling event hosted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush (R). [AFP]

Bush's remarks "proved once again that in the end, we are held together by this grand system of ours that permits us to debate and struggle and fight for what we believe is right," Clinton said. 　

Clinton did not speak about Bush's presidency. He said most politicians "were good people, honest people and they did what they thought was right. And I hope that I'll live long enough to see American politics return to vigorous debates where we argue who's right and wrong, not who's good and bad." 　

Clinton plans to campaign for the man trying to oust Bush from office, Democrat John Kerry. 　

Kerry advisers have concluded U.S. Vice President Al Gore made a mistake by distancing himself from Clinton in the 2000 campaign. While Democratic polling still suggests that many independent and moderate Republican voters dislike Clinton, the former president is popular among Democrats, particularly among minorities. 　　

Former US president Bill Clinton bends over in laughter as his wife Senator Hillary Clinton (2nd-R), daughter Chelsea (3rd-R) look on during the unveiling of their Official White House Portraits. [AFP]

Bush singled out the Clintons' daughter, Chelsea, and said, "The fact that you survived your teenage years in the White House speaks to the fact that you had a great mom and dad." 　

The portraits of Clinton and his wife were painted by Simmie Knox, a self-taught artist born in 1935 in Aliceville, Ala., to a family of black sharecroppers. The former president's portrait will be hung on the west side of the Grand Foyer, replacing the portrait of the first President Bush, which will move to the east side. 　

Sen. Clinton's portrait will be hung a floor below in a gallery of first lady portraits.　　

"The years have done a lot to clarify the strengths of this man," Bush said about Clinton. "As a candidate for any office, whether it be the state attorney general or the president, Bill Clinton showed incredible energy and great personal appeal. As chief executive, he showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president." 　

Bush said Clinton "could always see a better day ahead, and Americans knew he was working hard to bring that day closer. Over eight years it was clear that Bill Clinton loved the job of the presidency. He filled this house with energy and joy. He's a man of enthusiasm and warmth, who could make a compelling case and effectively advance the causes that drew him to public service." 　

Speaking of Sen. Clinton, Bush said, "She inspires respect and loyalty from those who know her, and it was a good day in both their lives when they met at the library at Yale Law School.

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