Phil Brennan
Monday, June 7, 2004

I can think about the times that we spent together as a father and son, sometimes just literally talking about nothing, but just being there and being in awe of him.

I think about those days when he was governor of California and how wonderful a job he did for the state. I can think about the times that he allowed me to be in his presence when tough decisions were ready to be made.

For example, on the evening that he chose George W. Bush’s father to be his running mate as the candidate for the vice presidency, Dad invited me to be in his inner circle as those decisions were made.

I remember the night in 1976 when I asked him what he missed most about not winning his party’s nomination as its presidential candidate. He said to me: "Michael, what I miss most is not being able to sit down with the Russians and saying to them "nyet" because it’s been so long that we’ve been giving up too much to get along with them. It’s time for the Russians to get along with us."

But what I remember most about my dad, and what puts me at peace with where he is today, is a conversation I had with him as he was flying back on Air Force One and he allowed me to accompany him back to Point Mugu [Air Base, Calif.].

It was Easter Week in the last year of his presidency, and he looked at me and he counted out 'nine' on his fingers. I asked what that meant, and he said: "Michael, it will be nine more months when I will be able to feel the freedom once again to go to church each and every Sunday. You know, Michael, ever since I was shot I have worried about putting other people in harm’s way by being among them, so I haven’t been to church on a regular basis and even though I have offered my presidency up to God I haven’t been with God on Sundays. That’s what I’m looking forward to."

And as I look back over Dad’s 93 years, what puts me truly at peace is knowing that my father was fully aware of who his God is. Not only did he offer up his presidency but he offered up his life a long time ago to serve his God.

And so now the peace I feel is knowing that my father has gone home to be with his God and his Lord, and that is the greatest gift that he ever gave me.

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