Fans thank George W. Bush for service at Naperville book-signing
Former President George W. Bush greeted roughly 1,200 fans Monday in downtown Naperville, chatting and answering questions on topics that included World War II veterans, his brother Jeb, his daughters, the Texas Rangers and his father's health.
He even held a baby or two while spending about two hours at Anderson's Bookshop signing copies of his new book, "41: A Portrait of My Father."
"It's nice to finally have him here, especially for this book," Anderson's owner Becky Anderson said about the nation's 43rd president. "I think it's a pretty loving tribute to his dad."
In what the shop said was his first appearance at an independent bookstore, Bush arrived promptly and appeared upbeat and relaxed.
"I asked him how his father (former President George H.W. Bush) was doing," said Jeff Kuhn of Dixon, who was among the first to meet Bush. "He said his father is in good spirits, but he can't walk anymore."
Many visitors waited for two hours outside the store in a line that snaked several blocks.
"It took a while to get through, but then the president was very nice and happy to see everybody and in a great mood," said Garrett Schade of Naperville. "He thanked everyone."
"How often do you get to meet a president, right?" Amy Schade said. "So even if it's for 10 seconds, it's something you'll remember."
Once people made it inside the store, they went through a security screening to make sure they had nothing other than the allowed items: a wristband and receipt to gain entrance, their coat and keys.
It was Bush's second appearance of the day in DuPage County. Earlier he appeared at a private fundraiser in Lombard.
Anderson said the shop sold out the book signing event in 29 hours after announcing it last Tuesday.
"I don't think a lot of people get the opportunity to see a living president," she said.
The event also helped acquaint out-of-towners with "how wonderful downtown Naperville is," said Katie Wood, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance.
Wood attended the book signing and worked to keep downtown merchants informed about the closure of Jefferson Avenue from Main to Webster streets to accommodate a line for the event.
"How thrilling," she said about the presidential appearance. "There goes Anderson's Bookshop again, bringing in another tremendous author."
People began lining up outside the store at 123 W. Jefferson Ave. as early as 10 a.m., and the first spot went to Kathy Horvath of Chicago.
"It's an honor to meet a president and I try to get presidents' autographs when I can," she said. "I have Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton and Hillary, if she becomes president, and Ronald Reagan and so I decided to get George Bush's today."
The book signing line included medical students, parents, city council members, North Central College officials, self-proclaimed "Bush fans" and teachers such as Elizabeth Duesing of Plainfield, who works with a third- and fourth-grade multi-age class in Troy School District in the Shorewood area.
"The experience of saying I actually met a president was something I could talk about to my students," who are studying the branches of government, she said.
The former president signed copies of "41" on a small stage inside a blue-curtained area that was set up in the back of the shop specifically for his visit.
Roughly 50 VIPs chosen by Bush's party and Anderson's went through the line before the general customers.
Wounded Iraq War veteran Melissa Stockwell and her husband, Brian Tolsma, were some of the first to meet Bush, and they introduced the former president to their 6-day-old son, Dallas Patrick Tolsma. Bush posed for a photo with little Dallas, who was wrapped in a blanked that looked just like an American flag.
Stockwell and Tolsma, of Chicago, said they met Bush recently at the George W. Bush Presidential Center's W100K bike race and also led the Pledge of Allegiance at his library.
"It's always a pleasure," Stockwell said about greeting the former president Monday. "We wanted to introduce him to our baby boy."
With copies of "41" in hand, several customers celebrated that they got "fist bumps" from Bush and said "that was pretty cool." Visitors praised the store and security personnel for hosting a smooth event.
Even the last group of fans, who weren't guaranteed to see Bush, left satisfied with the experience.
Mary Krska and Charlene Bala, both of Naperville, said they lined up about 1 p.m. and were some of the last to enter the store.
"I thanked him for being president and he said it was his honor, which I thought was very nice," Krska said.
The only people turned away were those who didn't buy a copy of "41" in advance, such as Luis Martinez of Addison, who had hoped Bush would sign an old picture of him shaking hands with the former president's father in Puerto Rico.
Nearby businesses, such as Two Boston's Pet Boutique a few doors east of Anderson's, prepared for a slow business day, but held out hopes for a glimpse of the former president.
Naperville police, who had seven uniformed officers at the event, reopened Jefferson Avenue about 4 p.m. as the book signing concluded. The store itself opened again at 5 p.m.