A letter from President George H.W. Bush to President Bill Clinton that resurfaced on social media in June has now gone viral amid the contentious presidential debates between current major party candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
The letter was written after Bush’s loss to Clinton in the 1992 presidential election. The letter was left in the Oval Office for the incoming president. It read:
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"Dear Bill,
When I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too.
I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described.
There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair.
I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just 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. I wish your family well.
Your success is now our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you.
Good luck,
George"
The letter has gone viral due in part to the comments made by Trump, the Republican Party candidate, during Wednesday night’s debate.
Trump refused to say if he would concede the election if he lost to Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate.
Trump added he would look at the results that night and keep the public “in suspense.”
The comments were the highlight of a debate and election season filled with vitriol and demeaning language from both candidates.
Clinton referred to Trump as a “puppet” during the debate while Trump fired back later, calling Clinton a “nasty woman.”
A long, long time ago, in a land far far away, politics had grace. George H.W. Bush's letter to Bill Clinton on leaving office: pic.twitter.com/bJn6ojWRS4
— Saba Gul (@sabagl) October 16, 2016
The 1993 letter was posted on Twitter to emphasize the grace Bush displayed after he lost.
Wednesday night’s debate was the final presidential debate before the general election on Nov. 8.