On September 24, 2016, at the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., former President George W. Bush an… see more

 

On September 24, 2016, at the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., former President George W. Bush and First Lady Michelle Obama sat next to each other in the front row. The museum was a major cultural institution. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, celebrities, and political figures. President Barack Obama spoke. He thanked Bush for signing the legislation that created the museum in 2003. Bush was there. Michelle Obama was there. The seating arrangement placed them together. They had known each other for years. They had been political opponents. They had been on opposite sides of many issues. But they had also shared moments. They had hugged at the 2009 inauguration. They had appeared together at events. The situation was set. They were seated next to each other. The cameras were watching. The room was full.

The pressure was on both of them. The political climate was tense. The 2016 election was underway. The museum opening was supposed to be a unifying event. But the seating chart put a Republican former president next to a Democratic first lady. The cameras captured them. They leaned in. They talked. They laughed. At one point, Michelle Obama put her hand on Bush's shoulder. He put his arm around her. They hugged. The moment was brief. It was captured in photographs. It was shared on social media. People commented. Some were surprised. Some were moved. Some were cynical. But the moment was real. It was not planned. It was not scripted. It was two people who had served their country, sharing a moment of humanity. The cost was the scrutiny. The cost was the interpretation. But they did it anyway. They hugged. They smiled. They stayed seated.

The photograph of that hug became one of the defining images of the event. It was printed in newspapers. It was analyzed on television. It was shared by millions. Michelle Obama later said that Bush was her partner in the presidential box at funerals. She said they had a bond because they were both at the White House during difficult times. She said they disagreed on policy but shared a love of country. Bush said he liked her. He said she was a good person. The record of that day includes the photograph. It includes the video. It shows them laughing. It shows them hugging. It shows a moment of unity in a divided time. The museum is still open. The photograph is still in the archives. It is a record of a friendship. It is a record of a moment. It is a record of two people who chose to be kind.