George W. Bush unveils his portrait of Stephen Harper

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      Being an ex-president is tough. You go from running the free world to being a regular joe in the blink of an eye. So what do you do when all the pomp and circumstance is over, when all the cheering stops? 

      Andrew Johnson returned to the senate. William Howard Taft became chief justice. Dwight D. Eisenhower raised cattle. Richard Nixon worked to rehabilitate his reputation. Jimmy Carter remained in public service, doing countless good works.

      After leaving office, George W. Bush—happy to be out of the limelight, it seems—began painting.

      First, it was portraits of family pets (most notably his dog, Barney) and landscapes, but since then the former president has graduated to portraiture.

      In The Art of Leadership: A President’s Personal Diplomacy, a new exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Bush displays his portraits of world leaders, most of whom he had the chance to know personally.

      One in particular is Prime Minister Stephen Harper, with whom Bush was famously chummy.

      "I'm proud to have allies like Steve who understand the stakes of the 21st century," Bush said during a joint press conference in 2006.

      Although the nickname is not Harper’s preferred nomenclature, the prime minister didn’t seem to mind.

      "If a guy buys 85 percent of our exports, and wants to call me Steve, that's okay with me."

      Does this era of good feelings still stand now that Bush is out of office? So far, Harper hasn’t commented on the portrait.

      Comments

      7 Comments

      Forest

      Apr 8, 2014 at 10:18pm

      Bush completely failed on getting Harper's creepy serial killer eyes.

      Danielle

      Apr 9, 2014 at 4:31am

      Forest, you couldn't be more right!!

      Lily

      Apr 10, 2014 at 6:09pm

      And...since when does Harper smile? Sneer, yes, but smile?

      No-name

      Apr 10, 2014 at 10:19pm

      No harper is more robot than human.

      Alison

      Apr 11, 2014 at 7:58am

      It doesn't look too much like Harper, I can look at it without cringing.

      KK

      Apr 11, 2014 at 2:50pm

      Since when does the president of one country "run the free world"?

      Big Bob

      Apr 11, 2014 at 3:53pm

      A good portrait, makes Harper look gay, and there's nothing wrong with that. Does George know something we don't?