George H.W. Bush, who died Friday at age 94, made multiple trips to Washington State, and he was in Seattle in May of 1988 when he learned that competitor Pat Robertson stopped campaigning, conceding the presidential nomination to Bush.
That day in Seattle included a visit to the Weyerhaeuser Technology Center in Federal Way and ended with a noon-hour appearance before business leaders in downtown Seattle.
Before campaigning, Bush also traveled to King County as Vice President to cut the dedication ribbon for the Museum of Flight in Tukwila on July 10, 1987.
“Our spirit of innovation didn’t stop with the dogged determination of the Wright Brothers, or with the daring … spirit of adventure of Charles Lindbergh,” Bush said that day. “Americans are still dreaming, still creating, still innovating – much of it going on right here in this part of Seattle, Washington.”
Bush also visited Seattle Steel and the city of Spokane in August 1988.
The following month, Bush was booed by shipyard workers in Portland, Oregon, but received a more welcoming reception at Everett’s Paine Field.
In Everett, Bush said he doesn't think the Democrats organized the protests against him. Bush said the hecklers were doing what he said Democrats do best: making things look worse than they are.
In October 1999, Bush also visited Yakima and traveled to Kimball Elementary School in Seattle.
During his presidency, Bush handed out Point of Light Awards to citizens working to better their communities, and in July of 1991, Bush and his administration selected KIRO 7 as the first broadcast company in the United States to have its employees honored with the award.
Information from the KIRO 7 archive is included in this report.
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