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I Call Him -Mr. President: Stories of Golf, Fishing, and Life with My Friend George H.W. Bush
In I Call Him -Mr. President-, Ken Raynor--head professional at Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport, Maine for thirty-eight years--tells the story of how President George HW Bush befriended him during Bush's annual summer sabbatical to seaside Kennebunkport, Maine. Raynor's personal relationship with Bush led him to experience everything from fishing trips to the wilds of Newfoundland to countless outings on the golf course, including Bush's last as commander in chief.
Along the way, Raynor assisted Bush, a WWII veteran, in welcoming world leaders, former presidents, celebrities, and PGA Tour stars to the quaint Cape Arundel Golf Club and saw the excitement in their eyes during the outings. But he most cherishes his time after the rounds, in the Bush family home on nearby Walker's Point or in a tiny fishing boat, when the president would put his feet up, stare out at the Atlantic, and recount the days' events.
In this book, Raynor reflects on the life lessons he gained from a friendship born outdoors that has continued to develop over decades, during golf outings that have ranged from Maine to Augusta National to the White House putting green, international fishing trips, retreats at Camp David, flying in Marine One, and many other unforgettable experiences.
Raynor has likely played more rounds with a POTUS than any PGA professional in history.
Along the way, Raynor assisted Bush, a WWII veteran, in welcoming world leaders, former presidents, celebrities, and PGA Tour stars to the quaint Cape Arundel Golf Club and saw the excitement in their eyes during the outings. But he most cherishes his time after the rounds, in the Bush family home on nearby Walker's Point or in a tiny fishing boat, when the president would put his feet up, stare out at the Atlantic, and recount the days' events.
In this book, Raynor reflects on the life lessons he gained from a friendship born outdoors that has continued to develop over decades, during golf outings that have ranged from Maine to Augusta National to the White House putting green, international fishing trips, retreats at Camp David, flying in Marine One, and many other unforgettable experiences.
Raynor has likely played more rounds with a POTUS than any PGA professional in history.
- GenresPresidents
216 pages, Hardcover
Published September 5, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 7, 2019
This an easy, entertaining and candid (within the limits of political decency) little book. We’ve all got our beefs, but I would hope reviews and comments on this one play out within the same limits, because it deserves that.
If you’re looking for light, relaxing reading - in harmony with recent retrospectives - this is a book for you! If you can suspend your disbelief and go with the (apparently) relaxed ambience of it, it’ll be great for the fireplace.
Books like this are fun, if we put aside our grudges.
And now that more books on President Obama are appearing, maybe something along these lines from us Canadians about him, would fit in:
Quite a while ago, or so it seems now, Barack Obama visited our town. All this didn’t make much copy in the international press - for obvious reasons - but during his visit to our Downtown veggie market area, he breached security and was on his own for several minutes, at a jog yet!
You see, he just HAD to sample the famed Eastern Ontario Queue de Castor - beaver tail - a sweet concoction of butter, hot pastry, sugar and cinnamon. And he loved it!
I have fond memories of skating with my soon-to- be-wife to the amplified music of Andre Gagnon back in the seventies, and happily munching on beavertails afterward at a little sugar shack... they were so delicious...
But it wasn’t for beavertails that President Obama made his BIGGEST break with protocol during that happy visit.
When Air Force One had touched down at our capital city’s military base the day before, Mr Obama had been met appropriately by all the right dignitaries, and the crowds of fans had gathered outside the terminal and along the parkway leading to the city but -
The President of the United States had disappeared.
As television viewers became antsy awaiting another look at him and Mrs Obama, word got out that he was sequestered in the VIP area with our Governor General.
Now, our lovely Governor General of that time, Michaele Jean, was a disarmingly gracious Canadian of Haitian origin. She had many stories in her heart of the squalid and hopeless life of her former fellow citizens.
And so they swapped stories.
For the better part of an hour - while some very self-possessed dignitaries quietly fumed and fidgeted, and the busybody Canadian Press Corps sat silently, cooling their jets!
Yes, they are two warm, caring human beings, and we love them both.
And likewise, this particular light book is filled with happy memories.
You’ll see the warm, caring, human side of another recent president, George H. Bush -
The man who was led by a vision of "a kinder, gentler America!"
It shows here.
If you’re looking for light, relaxing reading - in harmony with recent retrospectives - this is a book for you! If you can suspend your disbelief and go with the (apparently) relaxed ambience of it, it’ll be great for the fireplace.
Books like this are fun, if we put aside our grudges.
And now that more books on President Obama are appearing, maybe something along these lines from us Canadians about him, would fit in:
Quite a while ago, or so it seems now, Barack Obama visited our town. All this didn’t make much copy in the international press - for obvious reasons - but during his visit to our Downtown veggie market area, he breached security and was on his own for several minutes, at a jog yet!
You see, he just HAD to sample the famed Eastern Ontario Queue de Castor - beaver tail - a sweet concoction of butter, hot pastry, sugar and cinnamon. And he loved it!
I have fond memories of skating with my soon-to- be-wife to the amplified music of Andre Gagnon back in the seventies, and happily munching on beavertails afterward at a little sugar shack... they were so delicious...
But it wasn’t for beavertails that President Obama made his BIGGEST break with protocol during that happy visit.
When Air Force One had touched down at our capital city’s military base the day before, Mr Obama had been met appropriately by all the right dignitaries, and the crowds of fans had gathered outside the terminal and along the parkway leading to the city but -
The President of the United States had disappeared.
As television viewers became antsy awaiting another look at him and Mrs Obama, word got out that he was sequestered in the VIP area with our Governor General.
Now, our lovely Governor General of that time, Michaele Jean, was a disarmingly gracious Canadian of Haitian origin. She had many stories in her heart of the squalid and hopeless life of her former fellow citizens.
And so they swapped stories.
For the better part of an hour - while some very self-possessed dignitaries quietly fumed and fidgeted, and the busybody Canadian Press Corps sat silently, cooling their jets!
Yes, they are two warm, caring human beings, and we love them both.
And likewise, this particular light book is filled with happy memories.
You’ll see the warm, caring, human side of another recent president, George H. Bush -
The man who was led by a vision of "a kinder, gentler America!"
It shows here.
December 27, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. I don't know anything about golf, but this is less about golf and more about a small town golf pro's long relationship with President and Barbara Bush, their children and grandchildren. Raynor's career as Cape Arundel pro follows the Bushs' career in DC yet they returned to Maine at least once or more per year and summered there following his defeat to President Clinton.
This is a collection of Raynor's memories and stories from those they played with over time, from Jim Nantz, Greg Norman and Roger Clemens to Bush family members and neighbors of the Raynor and Bush families. It's part golf stories and part life lessons, such as Bush telling Norman he should respect the office of the President & play golf with Clinton, although Norman wasn't a fan - and ended in Norman admitting a friendship with Clinton.
Stories away from their Maine golf course include the Raynor family overnighting with the Bush family at the VP residency at the Naval Observatory when they couldn't find a hotel room during their honeymoon and at the White House en route to their winter workplace in Florida. The relationship between these two men who couldn't be more different in their upbringing is beautiful - as is the reason behind the book's title: why the author never calls him George but lovingly refers to her as "Bar".
An excellent read.
This is a collection of Raynor's memories and stories from those they played with over time, from Jim Nantz, Greg Norman and Roger Clemens to Bush family members and neighbors of the Raynor and Bush families. It's part golf stories and part life lessons, such as Bush telling Norman he should respect the office of the President & play golf with Clinton, although Norman wasn't a fan - and ended in Norman admitting a friendship with Clinton.
Stories away from their Maine golf course include the Raynor family overnighting with the Bush family at the VP residency at the Naval Observatory when they couldn't find a hotel room during their honeymoon and at the White House en route to their winter workplace in Florida. The relationship between these two men who couldn't be more different in their upbringing is beautiful - as is the reason behind the book's title: why the author never calls him George but lovingly refers to her as "Bar".
An excellent read.
July 4, 2019
Easy, quick read....& interesting, esp. for someone who lived thru/remembers those years written about...& also likes the golf game! The title is totally appropriate.
July 16, 2019
A heart warming book about a truly great man.
August 14, 2019
I have read many books about President Bush, but this book on friendship has taught me the most. A fun easy read that I did not want to put down. Thank you Ken for sharing this with us.
Michael Hood
Michael Hood
October 31, 2019
The anecdotes were great to read, but there was no organization of them in a timeline. The author bounced all over the place, many times repeating the same stories. It got a bit frustrating.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews