I attended a Jeb Bush rally recently in the cafeteria of Bow Elementary School in Bow, NH, shortly before he bowed out of the presidential race, and heard him say: “Our country isn’t good because of our government, but because of our people.” Throughout the rally, I felt he expressed his care for people, for the individual.
In that intimate cafeteria setting, Jeb’s character came through. I feel confident in calling him by his first name because of the personal connection he made with me and others in that audience. I was surprised not by his voice, views, or story – but by his sincere approach to the 2016 presidential campaign. He began by telling us about his wife, Columba who he met when he was 17, his three children, John, Noelle, and George, and four grandchildren, Jack, Prescott, Georgia, and Vivian. He has always wanted a life apart from his famous family’s legacy, as evidenced by his choice to almost neglect his father and brother as a campaign strategy, and thus established a life in Florida. He and his wife raised a family, one that supports him every day. Jeb at this point in his story grabbed his heart, looked at his wife sitting right in front of me and said, “I love you.”
The candidate spent 15 minutes advocating for himself, then 45 minutes listening to people in the audience share their stories and answering their questions. I noticed that he called on an equal number of men and women, and people of all ages. At one point Jeb called on a young woman holding a stuffed animal moose. Jeb greeted her familiarly as she had attended an earlier rally, with a moose that she gave him for his grandchild. The moose represented climate change in New Hampshire. For the past few years the New England state has experienced warmer winters, which has allowed ticks to survive. These ticks bite moose, many of which come down with anemia and die. The point the young woman was trying to get across was that climate change is real – and affects the state’s beloved animal. Jeb strayed from Republican ideals by stating humans contributed to climate change. Jeb graciously accepted the second moose for his other grandchild.
Jeb must’ve had a hard time deciding whom to pick on to speak. Many hands were raised, including mine. Instead of calling on me, he pointed to an older man. The man briefly discussed seeing Jeb earlier that summer. Jeb remembered the specific rally, and confirmed with the man the date and town. You could tell that the man was impressed. He commended Jeb for carrying out a mostly positive campaign by promoting himself rather than trashing others. They had a friendly, personal exchange. Jeb was plainly at ease.
Perhaps the most emotionally moving story came from the woman sitting behind me. She exclaimed that during graduate school she gave birth to a mentally disabled son. Tears interrupted her story and she apologized. Jeb moved closer; all his attention was on her. His eyes widened to see her. He began to respond to her first words, paused as if he was taken emotionally, and allowed her to continue. As she talked about the stress of the ongoing debt from graduate school, Jeb remained attentive. He no longer faced the crowd, only her. She wanted to know what Jeb was going to do about college debt. She advocated that sometimes tragedies happen and people get stuck in debt. Instead of jumping right to his proposed policies and record of economic policies in Florida, he provided sympathy and spoke of a successful mental facility in Florida. The woman replied excitedly, “That’s where my son is!” Jeb offered a thorough response, all the time looking at her. Connecting with her, one person. Caring for the individual.
Another woman asked Jeb about Social Security. He answered with thoughtfulness and sincerity, but he admitted that he did not know the full answer. He asked for her home number, and promised to call after doing some research. Whenever he does not know a question, he researches it, and calls the person who posed the tough question.
Throughout the rally one younger boy, perhaps seven or eight, kept his hand raised. Jeb called on him. To everyone’s surprise, he asked the candidate about gun control. He even provided examples of recent mass shootings. Jeb could’ve given a short response, but instead answered his question like he did everyone else’s – with thoughtfulness and depth.
After Jeb finished and thanked the crowd, people swarmed him. They wanted autographs and pictures. I wiggled my way through the throng and waited my turn. Once I made eye contact with him I handed over my copy of “Jeb’s Plan for America.” He received it graciously and wrote a beautiful signature. We talked briefly. I handed a woman my phone while asking if she would take my picture. I got Jeb’s permission too. The woman took the picture, one that has been my laptop background for the past month. As he started walking away I told him, “you have my vote,” and he thanked me.
Unfortunately, he is no longer in the race, so I won’t get the chance to vote for the genuine person I know would make an amazing president.
Jeb’s concession speech embodied all the characteristics I saw in person. He told people at the rally that he has a servant’s heart. In his concession speech he said, “whoever holds it [the presidency] is a servant. Not the master.” He also said, “the Presidency is bigger than any one person,” which reminded me of his ideal America is good because of its people, not its government. He was so, so positive; he even congratulated his competitors in the race. He thanked Lindsey Graham, his supporters, volunteers, staff, his mom, dad, brother, and the rest of his family. He then said, “no matter what the future holds… tonight I’m gonna sleep with the best friend I have and the love of my life... And I am totally blessed to be the father of three extraordinary children and, as you might know, four near-perfect grandchildren.” Jeb wanted everyone to know the suspension of his campaign was not the end of his service to America. “America’s best days are ahead,” he said. He will not stop fighting for the American people, “I will do it as a private citizen,” Jeb said. He finished his campaign by saying, “I love you all, God bless you.”
Jeb’s concession speech was a full circle for me, and perhaps others. I saw his sincerity at the rally in New Hampshire when he opened up talking about his family, throughout his campaign at debates and interviews, and then again when he ended it in South Carolina by discussing the love he has for his family and supporters. Although he will not be the next president of the United States, he will always be remembered by me as a sincere, genuine, and capable person.
