BOISE — On Saturday, Idaho Sen. Jim Risch and his wife Vicki reflected and remembered their time spent with late President George H.W. Bush.
“George H.W. Bush was not secret, what you saw is what you got,” Sen. Risch said. “He was not a real formal person, he just loved to engage, he loved to talk.”
The couple shared stories with KTVB about when one of their sons first met President H.W. Bush, and when the late president would visit Idaho over the years.
The Risch family first met George and Barbara Bush through late and former Sen. Jim McClure and his wife, Louise.
“They came to Boise a few times because of the close friendship with the McClure’s,” Vicki Risch said.
That led to Sen. Risch and his wife hosting the Bush family at their home throughout their friendship.
Sen. Risch reflected on memories about the late president’s sense of humor.
“Don’t ever try and outdo George Bush telling jokes, he was a naval aviator and I think it's naval aviators because John McCain was the same way, if you started telling jokes there was no beating them. They had a repertoire of jokes that went far beyond anyone else’s and he loved it, he loved to tell jokes,” Sen. Risch said. “People are saying that he really enjoyed life and I’m telling you, he really enjoyed life.”
President George H.W. Bush died on Nov. 30 at 94, nearly one year after the death of his wife.