After building a business in the Texas oil world, Bush punched his ticket in the House of Representatives; served briefly as U.N. ambassador, Republican National Committee chairman and U.S. envoy to China; led the CIA for just under a year; ran for the GOP presidential nomination; joined Ronald Reagan’s ticket; and finally captured the White House, where he guided America through the Cold War’s end and stared down a Middle East dictator.

Tomorrow is S. Valentines day, all in the morning betime, / And I a Maid at your Window, to be your Valentine.

an ermined judge

1682, John Dryden, Mac Flecknoe