President George W. Bush took Queen Elizabeth to her very first baseball game in 1991 – and the excursion lasted just two innings.
A new book written by Jean Becker, Bush’s longtime chief of staff, sheds light on the exact moment the then-president realized the queen was not interested in the game.
But her response was full of grace.
In Becker’s book, Matters of Character: And Other Life Lessons from George HW Bushshe features a number of political heavyweights, including President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Vice President Dan Quayle, as well as family members and White House staff.
Dorrance Smith, a member of Bush 41’s White House staff, recalled the president telling her he had an idea.
“We have to take the Queen to an Orioles baseball game!” It’s our national pastime and I want to take her to Camden Yards,” she recalled Bush telling her.
President George HW Bush (second from right) extends his arms to the crowd during a Baltimore Orioles game where he brought Queen Elizabeth (center right) and Prince Philip (center left) during a state visit with First Lady Barbara Bush (right ) on May 15, 1991
Former White House aide Dorrance Smith said the game was so boring that President George HW Bush (left) had to explain “innings without runs, or a bloop single or double play” to Queen Elizabeth (right) during her brief visit to Memorial. Stadium in Baltimore
Smith said she knew from past experience that an “idea” was actually a direct command.
“Great idea, sir, let’s do it,” Smith said.
The state visit was scheduled for May 15 and the queen was transported to Baltimore by presidential helicopter, Marine One.
Jean Becker’s new book Character Matters and Other Life Lessons by George HW Bush is now on the bookshelf
The 13347311 Orioles played in the game against the Oakland Athletics.
At the time, the closest place to see a Major League Baseball game was Baltimore.
Washington, DC didn’t have its own team – and wouldn’t again until 2005, when the Montreal Expos moved and became the current team, the Washington Nationals.
The president and first lady Barbara Bush, along with Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, received the owner’s box, meaning they had a front row seat to the game.
“The problem was, well, there was very little action, leaving the president in the role of explaining innings with no runs, or a bloop single or double play,” Smith wrote. ‘There were no grand slams for the Grande Dame. Our national pastime turned out to be our own sticky wicket – a tricky or awkward situation. Patience was indeed character building!’
The Queen noticed the Orioles third base coach, Cal Ripken, Sr., describing Smith with his legs.
He walked back and forth in front of the British monarch.
“She asked the president, ‘What is that gentleman doing?'” The president playfully said his job was to either stop the runner at third base or signal him to advance to home base and had to score a point,” Smith said.
Queen Elizabeth (right) asked President George H. W. Bush (left) what Cal Ripken, Sr., the Orioles’ third base coach, was doing, and when Bush explained that he had to tell the runner whether to stand or go to home plate had to go, she replied, “Are you telling me that this is his whole lot in life?”
Members of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team meet Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and President George W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush during a May 1991 visit to Memorial Stadium, the predecessor to Camden Yards
Queen Elizabeth also greeted members of the opposing team, the Oakland Athletics, who ultimately won the game against the Orioles, but by then her majesty was long gone.
Prince Philip (from left), First Lady Barbara Bush, Queen Elizabeth and President George HW Bush pose for a photo during the state dinner that was part of the monarch’s visit to the White House in May 1991
President George HW Bush (right) and Queen Elizabeth (left) pose for photos on the South Lawn of the White House during the Queen’s state visit to Washington, D.C. in 1991
“She said curtly, ‘Are you telling me this is his whole lot in life?'” the White House aide recalled.
Bush thus signaled to Smith that it was time to go.
The president “turned around, pointed at me and twirled his index finger, signaling to start Marine One.”
With that they headed back to the White House South Lawn.
‘What have I learned from this presidential accident? Maybe ideas don’t always work, even if you’re the most powerful person in the world,” Smith wrote.
Ripken’s son, Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., remembered the outing more fondly after Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022.
“That was such a memorable visit to Baltimore and brought so much excitement to our city and our team,” Ripken Jr. said. said in a statement. ‘I had the opportunity to meet her briefly and she was extremely friendly and committed.’
“Baseball has given me many special experiences and that was certainly one of them,” he added.
Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons by George HW Bush is now on the bookshelf.