George W. Bush Presidential Center Leads 13 Presidential Libraries in First Ever Joint Statement Expressing Alarm Over U.S. Democracy

Lynn R. Mitchell / September 8, 2023 @SWACgirl

Presidential Foundations and Centers across the United States, for the first time, have issued a joint statement regarding the future of our nation and an urgent call to action for all Americans.

For the first time ever, 13 Presidential libraries and institutes banded together to remind America that “democracy holds us together.” Under the leadership of the George W. Bush Institute that took the initiative and reached out to others, the Presidential centers felt alarmed enough at what is taking place in the U.S. to release a bipartisan statement to the American people.

David J. Kramer, Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute, prefaced the statement by noting, “When united by our founding ideals, Americans should reaffirm the importance of democratic values, civic responsibility, civility, and a pluralistic society.”

Dear Friends,

The George W. Bush Presidential Center is joined by fellow presidential centers and foundations to reaffirm our commitment to the democratic values on which this country was founded.

As we constantly strive toward a more perfect union, it is important to recognize inherent human dignity, foster conditions for liberty, advance equality, and promote the general welfare of the United States. When united by our founding ideals, Americans should reaffirm the importance of democratic values, civic responsibility, civility, and a pluralistic society.

We hope you will join us in this effort by reading and reflecting upon the statement, sharing it with your networks, and practicing the good citizenship that our democracy requires.

David J. Kramer
Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute

The historic statement, stressing the need to preserve our democracy, is in response to a series of threats and concerns that have been growing over the years, according to David Carroll, Director of the Carter Presidential Center.

It’s reassuring to know the former presidents are watching as events unfold on a daily basis. It’s comforting that George W. Bush was willing to lead this extraordinary and unprecedented effort at an extraordinary and unprecedented time in American history. There’s a reason I call myself a George W. Bush Republican.

The decisive leadership of all the Presidents that is exhibited in this effort is what many have been waiting for as tensions rise and democracy threatens to teeter on the brink. Our own house here in America is in disarray when we have sent our leaders in the past to monitor the elections of other countries.

This statement is the epitome of civility and global responsibility because an unstable U.S. would result in an unstable world. In my opinion, an unstable world would be to Putin’s advantage. And we know who in the Republican party leans toward Putin.

Make no mistake … the Republican Party has been one of the biggest players in weakening democracy in this country. Not only did the then-Republican president’s supporters attack the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop certification of the 2020 election (and thus leaving him in power), don’t forget that 147 Republican Congressional Senators and Representatives voted against certification after Congress reconvened on the evening of January 6, 2021 … after the violent, deadly riots … after the world watched Trump’s MAGAs attack and vandalize the historic building that represents American democracy.

And on that violent day all four of Virginia’s Republican House members voted against certification the night of January 6, 2021, after the riots: Ben Cline (my delegate), Bob Good, Morgan Griffith, and Rob Wittman. That is a glaring disconnect for men who represented a party that proposed to be all about family values and principles of good character, supporting the military, law abiding, and all that encompasses. The keepers of democracy, they were not.

The fact that a statement even had to be written should send alarm bells to all in this country. But most especially it should sound the alarm to those Republican elected officials who have been complicit in Trump’s control over the GOP the past eight years. Following Donald J. Trump is definitely not the solution to righting the USS America.

Below is the statement released from the 13 Presidential libraries and institutes, all listed as signatories in the chronological order in which the Presidents served, beginning with the most recent.

A statement from 13 presidential centers

The unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, are principles that bind us together as Americans. They have enabled the United States to strive toward a more perfect union, even when we have not always lived up to those ideals.

As a diverse nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, democracy holds us together. We are a country rooted in the rule of law, where the protection of the rights of all people is paramount. At the same time, we live among our fellow citizens, underscoring the importance of compassion, tolerance, pluralism, and respect for others.

We, the undersigned, represent a wide range of views across a breadth of issues. We recognize that these views can exist peaceably side by side when rooted in the principles of democracy. Debate and disagreement are central features in a healthy democracy. Civility and respect in political discourse, whether in an election year or otherwise, are essential.

Americans have a strong interest in supporting democratic movements and respect for human rights around the world because free societies elsewhere contribute to our own security and prosperity here at home. But that interest is undermined when others see our own house in disarray. The world will not wait for us to address our problems, so we must both continue to strive toward a more perfect union and help those abroad looking for U.S. leadership.

Each of us has a role to play and responsibilities to uphold. Our elected officials must lead by example and govern effectively in ways that deliver for the American people. This, in turn, will help to restore trust in public service. The rest of us must engage in civil dialogue; respect democratic institutions and rights; uphold safe, secure, and accessible elections; and contribute to local, state, or national improvement.

By signing this statement, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of democracy undergirding this great nation, protecting our freedom, and respecting our fellow citizens. When united by these convictions, America is stronger as a country and an inspiration for others.

Obama Foundation

George W. Bush Presidential Center

Clinton Foundation

George & Barbara Bush Foundation

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute

The Carter Center

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation

Richard Nixon Foundation

LBJ Foundation

John F. Kennedy Library Foundation

Truman Library Institute

Roosevelt Institute

Hoover Presidential Foundation