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Christopher Buckley, former vice-presidential speechwriter for George H. W. Bush and acclaimed author, presented the University of New England’s 5th Annual George and Barbara Bush Distinguished Lecture tonight at the Harold Alfond Forum on ɫ����Ƶ’s Biddeford Campus.

Both the former president and first lady attended, as well as members of the ɫ����Ƶ community and public.

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

“We 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,” Ripich said.  “The impact of the Bush family goes beyond their generosity to the compassion they have shown…”

Ripich also announced that ɫ����Ƶ will be providing the Maine chapter of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy with office space on ɫ����Ƶ’s Portland Campus.     

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

His lecture, titled “The Vishnu,” went on to include both humorous as well as touching behind-the-scenes stories from his time working at the vice president’s 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’s 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, “It was love at first sight and has been ever since,” of Mrs. Bush, calling her a “heroine.”

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