DALLAS -- Members of George W. Bush's administration gathered at Southern Methodist University in anticipation of the dedication of the former president's library, a ceremony which President Obama and all four living former presidents are expected to attend.
Also in attendance will be NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and former heads of state including former Prime Ministers Tony Blair of Britain, Ehud Olmert of Israel and Silvio Berlusconi of Italy as well as Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who leads the advisory board of the George W. Bush Institute, is also expected to speak.
Former Bush chiefs of staff Andy Card and Josh Bolten arrived in the predawn hours after spending the night at a gathering of former White House staff at the Katy Trail Ice House.
Card called the celebration "a phenomenal reunion" that "generates a flood of fantastic memories."
The president and First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Dallas on Wednesday.
"I have a terrific relationship with a number of our successors," Card said. "While we have different ideologies, we've been in their shoes and we wish them well."
He added: "We are truly empathetic for the burden they carry. Too many people look at the presidency as a partisan seat, and it's not. It's a burden, and we know from seeing it up close what a lonely and highly personal burden it can be, making a decision and carrying the consequences."
Card and Bolten called Bush a "courageous leader" who stood by his decisions and said they hoped that, through the museum, the public would get a better understanding of the challenges he faced.
"I hope people come away with a recognition that this wasn't a president who chased popularity," Bolten said, although Bush has fared better in the polls of late.
More than 8,000 are expected to attend the dedication of the $250-million facility, the 13th presidential library operated by the National Archives. The building houses 43,000 artifacts, 70 million pages of paper records and 200 million emails, the largest digital archive of any presidential library.
Tickets will be $16 when it opens to the public May 1.
Connie and Alan Herbert, who also attended the library groundbreaking, traveled to Dallas from Chicago to attend the event.
"I am a huge George W. Bush fan," said Connie Herbert, adding that the library "is not about him, it's about his presidency."
Alan Herbert, who retired from running a medical device company, said the event may increase Bush's popularity.
"Polls show it already has increased. I think most people admire the fact that he hasn't criticized Obama -- he's taking the high road," Herbert said.
The couple said they were also excited to see other dignitaries.
"It's not often you get to see all five presidents," he said, noting the event highlights the civility of American politics in which "there's a higher calling -- they come together at times like this."
Protesters were expected on the periphery of the dedication Thursday, but were not visible from the library. Many of those filing onto campus were longtime Bush fans, including Texans sporting gold "W" lapel pins.
"He served the people of Texas well," said Rick Witherspoon of Dallas, who works in the food industry and brought his wife, Evelyn, to honor both George and former First Lady Laura Bush.
"His whole family is dedicated to public service," Witherspoon said, "The United States is very lucky to have people of their caliber."
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Also in attendance will be NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and former heads of state including former Prime Ministers Tony Blair of Britain, Ehud Olmert of Israel and Silvio Berlusconi of Italy as well as Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who leads the advisory board of the George W. Bush Institute, is also expected to speak.
Former Bush chiefs of staff Andy Card and Josh Bolten arrived in the predawn hours after spending the night at a gathering of former White House staff at the Katy Trail Ice House.
Card called the celebration "a phenomenal reunion" that "generates a flood of fantastic memories."
The president and First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Dallas on Wednesday.
"I have a terrific relationship with a number of our successors," Card said. "While we have different ideologies, we've been in their shoes and we wish them well."
He added: "We are truly empathetic for the burden they carry. Too many people look at the presidency as a partisan seat, and it's not. It's a burden, and we know from seeing it up close what a lonely and highly personal burden it can be, making a decision and carrying the consequences."
Card and Bolten called Bush a "courageous leader" who stood by his decisions and said they hoped that, through the museum, the public would get a better understanding of the challenges he faced.
"I hope people come away with a recognition that this wasn't a president who chased popularity," Bolten said, although Bush has fared better in the polls of late.
More than 8,000 are expected to attend the dedication of the $250-million facility, the 13th presidential library operated by the National Archives. The building houses 43,000 artifacts, 70 million pages of paper records and 200 million emails, the largest digital archive of any presidential library.
Tickets will be $16 when it opens to the public May 1.
Connie and Alan Herbert, who also attended the library groundbreaking, traveled to Dallas from Chicago to attend the event.
"I am a huge George W. Bush fan," said Connie Herbert, adding that the library "is not about him, it's about his presidency."
Alan Herbert, who retired from running a medical device company, said the event may increase Bush's popularity.
"Polls show it already has increased. I think most people admire the fact that he hasn't criticized Obama -- he's taking the high road," Herbert said.
The couple said they were also excited to see other dignitaries.
"It's not often you get to see all five presidents," he said, noting the event highlights the civility of American politics in which "there's a higher calling -- they come together at times like this."
Protesters were expected on the periphery of the dedication Thursday, but were not visible from the library. Many of those filing onto campus were longtime Bush fans, including Texans sporting gold "W" lapel pins.
"He served the people of Texas well," said Rick Witherspoon of Dallas, who works in the food industry and brought his wife, Evelyn, to honor both George and former First Lady Laura Bush.
"His whole family is dedicated to public service," Witherspoon said, "The United States is very lucky to have people of their caliber."
[email protected]