Tag: George H.W. Bush

Bush Wins Edmond, Loses America

Happiness In The Eye Of The Be-Voter

By BOBBY ROSS JR. / SUN Staff Writer

George Nigh couldn’t be happier.

Larry Stein could be a whole lot happier.

Pat Briley is not as happy as he would like to be, but not as sad as he could be.

“Happy times are here again,” Nigh sang jokingly this morning, relishing the election of not only a Democrat, but a close friend, as president.

But while Nigh savored Bill Clinton’s electoral landslide, staunch Republican Stein lamented George Bush’s devastating loss. Dedicated “Perotite” Briley looked to a future with the Ross Perot movement remaining a live force in American politics.

Nigh, as a former Oklahoma governor, developed many relationships with other states’ top leaders.

However, the newly inaugurated University of Central Oklahoma president formed a special bond with Arkansas Gov. — make that President-elect — Clinton.

Nigh and his wife, Donna, have stayed with Clinton and his wife, Hillary, several times in the Arkansas governor’s mansion.

And when Clinton spoke at the Nigh Institute for State Government a few years ago, he spent the night with the Nighs at their former home in Edmond.

Also, Nigh said not many people realize he was one of the founders, along with Clinton, of the Democratic Leadership Council, which has sought a more moderate party with a new thrust for America.

As for Clinton’s character and trustworthiness, Nigh said he found it strange when those traits were questioned.

“I’ve been with him many times socially and politically, and I have nothing but the highest personal regard for him,” Nigh said. “He has always acted properly.”

Given his relationship with the Arkansas governor, Nigh has been mentioned as a possible selection for the Clinton administration.

But after just four months as UCO president, Nigh brushes aside that kind of talk. “That’s not under discussion,” he said.

He pointed out that the nation’s 50 governors twice have been asked to select America’s top administrator at the state level — and both times have chosen Clinton.

“I think he’ll be the best prepared president we’ve had in my lifetime,” said Nigh, 65.

But Stein, an Edmond resident who emceed when President Bush staged a campaign rally at Oklahoma Christian University of Science and Arts in March, doesn’t see the future through the same rosy glasses as Nigh.

Stein said he hopes Clinton and the Democratic Congress will think twice — and hard — before trying to raise taxes, an action he said everyone expects.

He predicts Clinton will enjoy a brief honeymoon — from the time he raises his arm to take the oath of office until he lowers it — and that the media and the public then will demand action.

“I think there’s a big chance the economy will get together in spite of Bill Clinton getting elected,” Stein quipped.

He attributes Bush’s defeat to no challenge of the Democratic message that the economy had hit a 50-year rock bottom.

As for Perot, Stein said the Texan’s campaign showed what a man worth $3 billion can accomplish when he spends $60 million. Perot’s success “had absolutely everything to do with money,” he charged.

But for Edmond resident Briley, who collected 1,100 signatures to help place Perot’s name on Oklahoma’s presidential ballot, the billionaire’s campaign had everything to do with the people taking power over a gridlock government.

Perot volunteers are excited about their leader’s promise to keep the United We Stand group of millions together and work for change past Tuesday’s election, he said.

Like “Ross the Boss,” Briley and fellow Perot supporters have pledged to work with Clinton for the betterment of the country.

“We may not agree with all the details of his (Clinton’s) plans, but we know we don’t have four years to wait to put our industrial base and economy back together,” Briley said. “We really do want him to succeed.”

But he added: “We do have to get action.”

Edmond Evening Sun (Edmond, Okla.)

Published March 6, 1992

Bush Touts Family, Economy

By Bobby Ross Jr., SUN Staff Writer

Campaign ’92 came to Edmond in style today as a flag-waving crowd of about 5,000 welcomed President Bush to Oklahoma Christian University of Science and Arts.

A packed Thelma Gaylord Forum exploded with cheers and chants of “Four More Years!” shortly after 9 a.m. today as the president emerged from a second-floor chapel.

“Thanks to all of you who got up at all hours this morning to come to Edmond from Elk City to Enid and towns all over Oklahoma, and a special welcome to all the students here from Oklahoma Christian,” Bush said.

The president shook hands with Edmond Mayor Randel Shadid and other special guests assembled on stage before stepping to the podium at 9:20 a.m. Twenty-one minutes later, he was off the stage and on his way to Louisiana for another campaign stop.

Smiling, the president told Oklahoma Christian students he had only one question:

“Is it too late to audition for ‘Spring Sing?’ ” he asked, referring to the 500-student musical variety show that kicked off a three-night run Thursday night on campus.

Against a backdrop of 53 U.S. flags and a giant blue banner declaring “Oklahoma Christian Welcomes President Bush,” the president was the height of a patriotic atmosphere of the campaign rally.

Bush praised “faith, family and freedom,” bashed what he called the “big-spending Congress,” and promised hope for economic recovery.

In addition, he declared the need for America to expand international trade, criticizing rival candidates who espouse protectionism.

He said those candidates “are not waving the American flag, but the white flag of surrender.”

Other candidates may depict America as a nation in decline, “but if you travel anywhere, you will find the United States remains the undisputed, respected leader of the free world,” he said.

Also, Bush pledged to “keep America strong” and resist efforts to cut military spending any more than he proposed in his State of the Union address.

“Now, the liberals have put down the scalpel and picked up a meat ax, and we’re not going to let it happen.”

The presidential motorcade whisked Bush away from Oklahoma Christian about 10 a.m. The president was to fly to Baton Rouge, La., this morning for another rally, followed by appearances later in the day in Jackson, Miss., and Montgomery, Ala.

Bush arrived in Oklahoma from Memphis, Tenn., late Thursday afternoon as Air Force One landed at Tinker Air Force Base about 4:30 p.m.

Thursday night, he made an unannounced speech at the Myriad to regional Wal-Mart store managers and paid a surprise visit to the historic Cattlemen’s steakhouse in Oklahoma City.

At the rally this morning, Bush was introduced by Oklahoma Sen. Don Nickles, who took the opportunity to jab former Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, one of the leading Democratic presidential contenders.

“George Bush didn’t lead marchers against our war efforts or try to evade the draft,” Nickles said, in obvious reference to Clinton. “As a matter of fact, he was a war hero.”

Prior to the president’s arrival, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner J.C. Watts fired the crowd up remembering the pride America shared during the 1980 Winter Olympics when an underdog U.S. ice hockey team defeated the Soviet Union.

With that, Watts led the crowd in a brief chant of “U.S.A., U.S.A.”

Speaking of Bush, Watts said, “He’s the right man at the right time in America.”

During Bush’s address, security remained tight with police monitors at the top of OC buildings with high-p0wered binoculars.

Bush’s arrival was slightly delayed from his scheduled time to address. The emcee of the day, Larry Stein of Edmond, led the crowd in chants of “Bush-Quayle,” “We want Bush,” and “four more years.”

Stein said later the president was inside “reminiscing” with OC officials for a few minutes.

Stein admonished the “national media to be nice.”

The event was the “who’s who” in Oklahoma Republican politics with most of the party officials on hand including Bill Price, who ran an unsuccessful bid against Democrat David Walters in 1990.

Walters was not present.

After his speech, Bush again received thunderous applause from the crowd. He made his way through a small portion of the audience shaking hands.

“Hello, Mr. President,” several shouted as Bush passed by.

Two OC students who had served in Operation Desert Storm met the president and shook his hand.

“It was a firm good handshake,” one of the students said.

Other Edmond dignitaries on hand included State Rep. Ray Vaughn, R-Edmond, councilmember Ron Mercer and Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce president Clint Stone.

(Steve Gust contributed to this report.)

Bush’s full prepared remarks at Oklahoma Christian University.