Former George H. W. Bush speechwriter and best-selling author Christopher Buckley delivers the George and Barbara Bush Distinguished Lecture

Christopher Buckley, former vice-presidential speechwriter for George H. W. Bush and acclaimed author, presented the 51品茶鈥檚 5th Annual George and Barbara Bush Distinguished Lecture tonight at the Harold Alfond Forum on UNE鈥檚 Biddeford Campus.

Both the former president and first lady attended, as well as members of the 51品茶community and public.

51品茶President Danielle N. Ripich, who offered welcoming remarks, announced that the Bushes have recently made a $500,000 gift to UNE. The donation will support programming associated with the University鈥檚 George and Barbara Bush Center, which opened on UNE鈥檚 Biddeford Campus in 2008. It will also facilitate further collaboration between 51品茶and the Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University.

鈥淲e are immensely grateful for this generous donation that provides sustaining support for the annual Bush Lecture Series, the exhibits in the Bush Legacy Library, and other programming,鈥 Ripich said.  鈥淭he impact of the Bush family goes beyond their generosity to the compassion they have shown鈥︹

Ripich also announced that 51品茶will be providing the Maine chapter of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy with office space on UNE鈥檚 Portland Campus.     

Buckley, who began a two-year stint as George H. W. Bush鈥檚 speechwriter in 1981 during his time as vice president, began by playfully asking the crowd of students and community members on hand, 鈥淲ould you please turn your cell phones back on?鈥

His lecture, titled 鈥淭he Vishnu,鈥 went on to include both humorous as well as touching behind-the-scenes stories from his time working at the vice president鈥檚 side and from his long friendship with the Bushes.

Buckley conveyed memories from his days riding Airforce Two with the vice presidential entourage when Mrs. Bush would stroll down the center aisle in her Lilly Pulitzer pants handing out chocolate chip cookies to the vice president鈥檚 staff, and of his visits and conversations with the Bushes in the decades since.

Buckley spoke at length of his fondness for both President and Mrs. Bush. He said, 鈥淚t was love at first sight and has been ever since,鈥 of Mrs. Bush, calling her a 鈥渉eroine.鈥

Of the former president he said, 鈥淗e took a boyish delight from kicking his own pedestals out from beneath him,鈥 and went on to call President Bush 鈥渢he most considerate man I have ever known.鈥