The Honorable George W. Bush P.O. Box 259000 Dallas, TX, 75255-9000 USA Dear Mr. Bush, Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I am writing to express my appreciation for your paintings. I have never voted for you, and have at times been opposed to your policies -- but I have to tell you how moved I am by your portraits of military veterans. Your paintings attest to the power of art to transcend political divides. I appreciate the opportunity these paintings offer to see you as not just a president, but as person -- and a particularly generous person, at that. Not many leaders would have the desire to sit with and to carefully observe some of the men and women they themselves sent into combat. I admire your willingness to meet and to honour the people who served the country you commanded. While we may not see eye to eye politically, I wanted to tell you that your generosity of attention has been important to me. Virginia Woolf wrote, “It was impossible to dislike anyone if one looked at them.” Your paintings show that you have looked at people carefully and kindly. Your paintings have also enabled me to look at you, and they have made it impossible for me to dislike you. Thank you for these paintings, and for your service. Sincerely, Janelle Saltzman San Francisco, California