Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 28, 1993 TAG: 9311280023
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HOUSTON LENGTH: Medium
Bush has shown up in Dallas, dispensing reflective perspectives to hotel executives. Recently, he played tennis with Chris Evert in Florida. And he went to Puerto Rico to raise money for his presidential library at Texas A&M University.
George Bush's words and White House witticisms aren't cheap for groups looking for a toastmaster. His gig before Amway distributors in September cost a cool $100,000. Other groups won't divulge how much they paid.
"I have no comment on that," Rose Zamaria, a Bush spokeswoman, said of the speaking fees.
His monologue is part reflection with some self-deprecation, part forecast and part media-bashing, sprinkled with anecdotes about life with Barbara and the dogs in Tanglewood, a Houston subdivision. And except for comments in October that President Clinton may be mishandling the Somalia situation, Bush has stuck to his promise of keeping mum on his successor's actions.
"I must confess I wish I was as good as my predecessor, Ronald Reagan," Bush said in October before 3,600 executives with Choice Hotels International. "I know I had some problems."
He said he regrets not being able to convey his concern about the country's "moral emptiness." But he's proud of his accomplishments in the foreign diplomacy arena.
"I'm proud of what we did, and I have a funny, satisfied feeling - I may be a little early - but I have a satisfied feeling that history will judge this period kindly," Bush said.
Betsy O'Rourke, spokeswoman for the hotel chain, wouldn't disclose Bush's fee but said the cost was more than worth it. "He was just terrific, he was really warm. He connected with the audience, and they connected with him."
In Washington for the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, Bush told an audience how his wife ran their new home: "We got a neat house there. Barbara's doing all the heavy lifting, and I'm up here having a good time."
by CNB