U.S. Navy, Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua D. Sheppard / U.S. Navy via AP
The Navy's newest aircraft carrier hosted the ship's namesake, along with his family and friends, for a promotion and reenlistment ceremony in the ship's hangar bay off the coast of Maine during a scheduled underway-training evolution.
Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
US President Barack Obama, former US president George W. Bush with First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the unveiling of the Bush's portraits on Thursday in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.
Carolyn Kaster / AP
Former President George W. Bush unveils his portrait in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Thursday.
Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
Former US president George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush speak during the unveiling of their portraits on Thursday in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.
Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
Former US President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara arrive for the portrait unveiling of former US president George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.
Charles Dharapak / AP
President George W. Bush's daughters Jenna and Barbara have their photo taken in the East Room at the White House in Washington on Thursday prior to the unveiling of President Bush's official portrait.
President and Mrs. Obama host former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush for the official unveiling of their portraits, which will will hang in the White House.
This report from NBC's Shawna Thomas includes some of the humor the two presidents shared at the event:
“When the British burned the White House ... in 1814, Dolly Madison famously saved this portrait of the first George W. Now Michelle, if anything happens, there's your man,” Bush joked. (During her speech, First Lady Michelle Obama promised she’d go straight for his portrait.)
And former President Bush didn’t spare the current president: “I am also pleased, Mr. President, that when you are wandering these halls as you wrestle with tough decisions, you will now be able to gaze at this portrait and ask: What would George do?
Chris Keane / Reuters
Former U.S. President George W. Bush shares a hug with Billy Graham while signing copies of his new book "Decision Points" at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dec. 20, 2010.
It's fascinating to see the pastor to presidents make a rare public appearance.
I suspect we won't see an evangelical preacher like him any time soon. As Wikipedia notes:
He did not completely ally himself with the religious right, saying that Jesus did not have a political party. He did not openly endorse political candidates, but he gave his support to some over the years.
He refused to join Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority in 1979, saying: "I'm for morality, but morality goes beyond sex to human freedom and social justice. We as clergy know so very little to speak with authority on the Panama Canal or superiority of armaments. Evangelists cannot be closely identified with any particular party or person. We have to stand in the middle in order to preach to all people, right and left. I haven't been faithful to my own advice in the past. I will be in the future."
Former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush signed copies of their books at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte on Monday, and were greeted by the 92-year-old Reverend Graham himself. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
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