Bush senior acknowledged defeat, cited transition and wished Clinton good luck as he lost re-election

On November 3, 1992, when the US announced the victory of Bill Clinton in the elections, the president-elect was addressing a euphoric crowd in Arkansas, then ruled by the Democrat.

732 km away, in Texas, George HW Bush lamented to supporters the defeat in the attempt to be reelected. The winner’s speech lasted 15 minutes, and the loser’s five. But, curiously, the speech most remembered today is that of the second, who quickly recognized the setback, cited the beginning of the transition and wished him good luck.

“The people decided, and we respect the majesty of the democratic system. I just called Governor Clinton, who is in Little Rock [cidade no Arkansas], and offered my regards. He ran a good campaign. I wish you good luck in the White House,” he said, in his first words.

“And I want the country to know that our entire government will work closely with your team to ensure a smooth transition of power,” he continued. “There is important work to be done, and the US must always come first. So let’s support this new president and wish him well.”

The harmony shown there contrasts with the stance adopted by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), who, unlike the American, took 45 hours to express himself on the election results.

When he spoke, he did not mention the name of his rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), nor did he mention how the transition will be carried out – the task was assigned to the Minister of the Civil House, Ciro Nogueira (PP).

Before leaving office, Bush even left a good luck letter for Clinton in the Oval Office. “There will be very difficult times, made even more difficult by criticism that you may find unfair. I am not very good at giving advice; but don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course. You will be our president when you read this note. . I wish you well and I wish your family well,” he wrote.

Leaving letters on the desk in the presidential office, by the way, is a tradition among American presidents. Fate assigned Clinton the task of writing a letter to the son of his predecessor. “You lead a proud, decent and good people. And from this day forward you are the president of us all. I salute you and wish you success and happiness,” he wrote to then-elect George W. Bush.

The same ritual was repeated in the transitions from Bush Jr to Barack Obama and from the Democrat to Donald Trump. The tradition, by the way, was followed even by Trump – Bolsonaro’s idol and inspiration –, who, according to the current American president, Joe Biden, left a generous letter.

Respect and political cordiality between losers and winners, however, is not unique to the US. It is common in Brazil for candidates defeated in elections to quickly recognize the victory of their opponents and wish the new government good luck. It was like this with Fernando Haddad (PT) in 2018; Aécio Neves (PSDB) in 2014; José Serra (PSDB) in 2010 and 2002; and Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) in 2006.

Gerald Ford, another US president who failed to win reelection, epitomized this tradition in a telegram to his opponent and 1976 election winner Jimmy Carter: “Now we must put the campaign divisions behind us and unite the country once more. in the common pursuit of peace and prosperity.”