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The most decent man in the Senate.

The single nicest human being I've ever met.
William F. Buckley

Two such different men, yet they are speaking of the same man; a man who has been a personal hero to Tom and I for lo, these many years. That man is George McGovern, and yesterday we were lucky enough to see him. I read on the Book Notes New Hampshire blog that he was going to be at two bookstores in the state yesterday. It was too late to go to Portsmouth, but we could easily make the appearance at Gibson's Bookstore in the state capital of Concord.

A while ago on Book TV, we saw Mr. McGovern signing his new book at a private home in Washington. It is available to watch online, if you'd like to do so. The book is: It is one in a series on all the Presidents, written by many different people such as Robert Dallek on Harry S. Truman, H. W. Brands on Woodrow Wilson, and Elizabeth Drew on Richard M. Nixon. He told us that more books have been written on Abraham Lincoln than on all the other Presidents combined, around 6000 books.

On July 19, George McGovern turned 87 years old, and what a model for aging he is. Clear mind, passionate beliefs, eloquent speaker, and just the kindest heart. You may read more about our evening here. After he signed our book, he shook both our hands, and with tears in my eyes, I told him he was our hero. Afterwards while we were looking for a parking place so we could eat at a Mexican restaurant, we just happened onto a new Egyptian restaurant called Gamil's which featured the best falafel, hummus, and tabouli I've ever had. A perfect ending to a perfect time spent with the man we admire above all others.
Addendum: Margaret sent me a link to a photo that was in the paper! We are the two people on the left. :<) Labels: Books and Writers, Further afield, Thoughts

