AUSTIN, TEX. — With a tear on his cheek, President Bush watched the unveiling of his gubernatorial portrait Friday at the Texas Capitol, where he spoke fondly of old friends and days of working amiably with lawmakers of both parties for the common good.
"This was a joyous six years for us here," he said.
The burdens of leading a nation at war are far greater than those of running a state at a time of prosperity, and the portrait, finished in the last weeks, reflect a less youthful man than the one who governed Texas for six years. But it was the tone in Washington the one Bush spent so much time promising to change, back when he was still governor that provided the subtext for his remarks to 100 or so friends, staff, and officeholders, most of them fellow Republicans.
"Sometimes, Washington needs to figure out that politics isn't what's most important, the people are what's most important," he said. "And so I'm going to take that can-do Texas spirit to Washington for however long I'm there."
As the Bush portrait joined those of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, Bush singled out Jan Bullock in the audience, widow of legendary Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, a Democrat who mentored Bush and shepherded many of the successes that catapulted him to national office. Bush's last visit to Austin was in the spring, to dedicate a Texas history museum named for Bullock.
"You know, sometimes in politics friends are just a fleeting memory, but that's not the case for us," Bush said. "You're either our friend or you're not our friend, no matter what your politics are like."
He spoke also of "fond memories" working with Pete Laney, the Democratic speaker of the Texas House, who shared the dais Friday with the Bushes, Gov. Rick Perry, and Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff.
"Oh, I know he's got the Democrat label, but somehow our relationship transcended that. And the same with Bullock," Bush said. "We've got political labels around our name, no question about it. But we made up our mind to try to figure out what was best for our state and to work together."
On Dec. 13, 2000, it was Laney who introduced Bush to the nation for an acceptance speech after a brutally partisan Florida recount. Since then, Texas Republicans have redrawn legislative districts with an eye toward forcing him from office.
After the portrait ceremony, Laney declined to discuss Bush's remarks, but through an aide he said later that the president showed sides of himself "that no picture can capture his warmth and humor, and his love for Texas and the friends who remain here. Bush still carries Texas in his heart, and his time in Washington has not diminished the spirit of bipartisan politics that made him such a successful governor."
Bush was the state's 46th governor, and his portrait is the 51st in the rotunda collection, which includes the presidents of the Texas Republic and spans four floors.
To make room, workers spent more than a day sliding all the other portraits one slot. Miriam "Ma" Ferguson had to move to the second floor, ending an era in which two women Ferguson and former Governor Ann Richards, who did not attend the ceremony flanked the south entry. Now Bush shares the job with James Allred, governor from 1935 to 1939. He hangs beside the woman he vanquished in 1994.
"I just hope Governor Richards doesn't mind being my neighbor for eternity," he quipped.
Fort Worth artist Scott Gentling received $10,000 for his portrait of Bush.
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