What a two-week period this has been for President George Bush! Likewise, what a challenge it has been for him.

Major events started with the May 29 dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Next was the president’s trip to Italy on June 4, to meet with Pope John Paul II, Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Bush also visited a memorial honoring Italians executed by Germans in 1944.

Bush then traveled to France to meet with President Jacques Chirac last Saturday.

Sunday, the president participated in 60th anniversary ceremonies commemorating the Allied invasion of France at Omaha Beach, where American soldiers came ashore. While in France he learned of the death of former President Ronald Reagan.

After his visit to France, Bush returned to the United States to host the three day Group of Eight meeting, which opened Tuesday.

Thursday, he wrapped up the G-8 meeting and arrived in Washington to pay his respects in the Capitol Rotunda and prepare for Friday morning when he was to join his father, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in delivering eulogies at the Reagan funeral in the National Cathedral.

It’s been a tiring, demanding whirlwind for the president and his staff. There’s no question that many, both ardent Republicans and opponents in the Democratic party, wondered how the president would perform. He is not known as a superb speaker; some have claimed he is not a skilled negotiator with world leaders and that he has not done anything of great significance to boost the image and respect for Uncle Sam either at home or abroad.

While Bush was in Europe, Iraq unveiled an interim caretaker government, ahead of schedule and without any major fireworks. Also, United Nations Security Council delegates, on a 15-0 vote, backed the new government and a multinational force under U.S. command. Both developments must have pleased Bush, as he has battled doubters and those opposed to his efforts in Iraq while he struggled to get U.N. approval of the U.S. plan.

There will be some who are critical of how Bush performed during the period, starting with his remarks at the World War II Memorial, but he did a first-class job. He doesn’t try to pose as a gifted speaker, but he does speak from his heart. The message is genuine.

In France, he had a lengthy discussion with Chirac, and many saw the meeting as critical in light of France’s leadership in opposition to Uncle Sam’s role in Iraq. They wondered if the two leaders could come to some mutually agreeable position on Iraq and whether Chirac would come around to give an OK to U.S. efforts to get U.N. approval of the new caretaker government.

At the two leaders’ greatly anticipated news conference, Bush held his own, and Chirac indicated he anticipated a positive U.N. vote within the next several days. It had to be a big victory for Bush.

His remarks at Normandy were well done, despite the pressure to do well. Many pointed out one of Reagan’s outstanding speeches was made at the same location 20 years ago, and there would be comparisons of Bush and Reagan.

Back in the United States, Bush had to worry about security at Sea Island, Ga., because there had been attempts at previous G-8 gatherings to disrupt the event with protest. Planning for the event was thorough, and it was one of the best organized, smoothest-running sessions in many years. Bush apparently did well in hosting the world’s industrial leaders and seemed upbeat and positive at the news conference wrapping up the meeting. Although there were differences expressed by some government leaders, particularly Chirac, everyone put on a smile as they left.

The president once again got aboard Air Force One for the short trip to Washington, where he was to meet with Nancy Reagan and other members of the Reagan family to express his sorrow about the former president’s death.

Friday, both President Bush and his father were under pressure to deliver messages scrutinized worldwide as part of the eulogies at the Reagan funeral. Former President Bush, specially invited by Nancy Reagan, delivered the shortest eulogy of the four. His came after a masterful statement by Mulroney, whose voice seemed to break at one point as he mentioned his years with Reagan; it was a strong and heartfelt talk. President Bush then had the added pressure of following the other three speakers, and he fully measured up to the task with a genuinely confident, warm and reassuring message.

Politics is a rough and sometimes mean business, and the name of the game is to win. Coming close doesn’t count, and with victory the only goal, just about anything goes in trying to win.

These past several weeks have offered Bush a relatively rare opportunity to display his talents before a variety of audiences on a variety of topics in various locations. He did well, probably far better than his critics anticipated.

As noted above, Bush doesn’t pretend to be a spellbinding speaker. In fact, his delivery is often so-so. However, he was sincere, and there was nothing phony about his manner and presentations.

What is better: Someone who is honest, sincere and speaking from the heart, or a smooth-talking spellbinder trying to pull something off at the public’s expense? Too many politicians see nothing wrong in making promises and pledges with little thought to measuring up to commitments.

Bush may not be in the class of the late President Reagan as a speaker, but Bush is just as sincere and committed to his ideals. And, as demonstrated on his just-completed travels, he does an excellent job of representing the United States.

• These past few days have offered people of all ages an opportunity for a concentrated history lesson. Through vast television coverage, pictures, maps, the print media and the explanation of various commentators and reporters, viewers, listeners and readers have been exposed to a tremendous overview of history: World War II and the sacrifices of so many; seeing and hearing so many national and international leaders; learning more about the allied landing at Normandy; and again, the ultimate sacrifice of thousands. They learned about the G-8 gathering and the countries involved, and due to the death of Ronald Reagan, they had a history lesson about the man, his presidency, his relationship with citizens of all walks of life, state funerals, his character and his spiritual life.

During a very short period, the public had access to a tremendous presentation of our nation’s history of the past 60 years. And the American public had the opportunity to size up our current president as an honest, sincere individual committed to do what he thinks is in the best interests of this country — whether or not it wins him support at the voting polls or high marks in public polls.

The past several weeks may well be looked upon, months or years from now, as the time the Bush presidency gained strength and growing public support.