Text Of Mayors' Letter To President Bush
Four hundred Texas mayors have endorsed Baylor University's proposal for the George W. Bush Presidential Library. The mayors, who represent communities in 127 counties, signed the following letter sent to President Bush:
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As Texas mayors, we strongly support the proposal being submitted by Baylor University for your future presidential library. Baylor is near your home in Crawford, and over 80 percent of the state's population lives within a 200-mile radius of the campus, making the site accessible from various regions of Texas.
The location of your library in Texas will have a significant cultural and educational impact on this state. Thousands of young people will have a firsthand opportunity to be inspired and challenged to leadership by the library and associated facilities, such as a George W. Bush Presidential Museum. A George W. Bush School of Public Leadership and Service also could profoundly influence future generations of public servants. Designating Baylor as the library site will establish a "triangle" of presidential libraries, along with the George H.W. Bush Library in College Station and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Austin, and make Texas the most important area for presidential research in the country. Finally, Baylor has extensive experience in the collection of political materials, housing the papers of twelve U.S. Congressmen and former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock.
As the oldest university in Texas, Baylor has a strong tradition of preparing young leaders of character who have a deep understanding of their discipline and a broader awareness of their responsibility to serve their community and nation. The location of your presidential library at Baylor will further this heritage in a truly unique fashion, and we urge you to give careful consideration to the University's proposal.
Thank you for considering Baylor University as the site of your presidential library. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you lead our nation during these challenging days.
Sincerely,