43rd President opened exhibit “Portraits of Courage” for West Coast debut
YORBA LINDA, CA- March 15, 2024– On Wednesday, March 13, the Richard Nixon Foundation welcomed President George W. Bush to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library to open the special exhibit, Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.
The dinner honoring President Bush was chaired by Lisa Argyros and raised funds to support the Nixon Foundation’s American Civics Campaign—a strategic initiative to teach American history and civics to middle and high school students. President Bush appeared in-conversation in the Nixon Library’s White House East Room with Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, Chairman of the Richard Nixon Foundation’s Board of Directors and 27th U.S. National Security Advisor.
Other notable guests included the 36th Governor of California Pete Wilson; Christopher Nixon Cox, eldest grandson of President and Mrs. Nixon; former U.S. Ambassador to Spain George L. Argyros; and nationally syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt.
Lisa Argyros and Jim Byron, President and CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation, presented President Bush with the Architect of Peace Award, for protecting the United States in the aftermath of 9/11 and for beginning the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved an estimated 25 million lives.
Musical performances for the evening were provided by OC Music and Dance and Chapman University. A Joint Services United States Military Color Guard honored our country with the presentation of colors.
Before the dinner, President Bush toured Portraits of Courage with two of the veterans he painted, Sergeant Daniel Casara and Specialist Alexander Glenn-Camden. The portraits —and inspiring stories— of these two Southern California veterans are among those featured in the stirring exhibit of 66 full color portraits and a four-panel mural of 98 service members and veterans who have served in the United States Military since 9/11. As their stories unfold, visitors will encounter the faces and the hearts of those who answered the nation’s call and learn of their bravery on the battlefield, their journey to recovery, and the continued leadership and contribution they make as civilians.
Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors opens today, March 14, 2024 for a limited time only, closing on May 19, 2024. The collection of portraits is on loan from The Ambassador and Mrs. George L. Argyros Collection of Presidential Art at the George W. Bush Presidential Center and on exhibit for the first time on the West Coast thanks to the generosity of Lisa Argyros / Argyros Family Foundation.
Admission to the special exhibit is included with admission to the Nixon Library. The Nixon Library is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM.
For media inquiries regarding the exhibition, please contact Joe Lopez at [email protected].
About The Richard Nixon Foundation
The Richard Nixon Foundation is a privately supported, nonprofit, nonpartisan institution that advances President Nixon’s legacy of visionary leadership, international grand strategy, public service, and a more just society for all Americans. The Foundation is based at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California, and works throughout the country and online by actively encouraging and supporting scholarship, sponsoring programs that engage the public with American civics, creating and promoting educational exhibits rooted in American history, and fostering discussion and debate about America’s 37th president. For additional information, visit www.nixonfoundation.org.
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Sergeant Daniel Casara and President Bush with his portrait in the Portraits of Courage exhibit.
Specialist Alexander Glenn-Camden and President Bush with his portrait in the Portraits of Courage exhibit
President Bush in-conversation with Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien.