Bush George H. W.



George Bush Signed Official White House Photo, Seated With Ambassador Habib During His Middle East Campaign Averting the Israel-Syria War

Official White House color photo, 10" x 8". Signed, Inscribed and Dated by Vice President George Bush in strong black felt tip "Phil - Come back - often / Friendship / George Bush / April 29, 1985". Fine condition.



This spectacular official photo depicts Phil Habib sitting with Vice President George Bush shortly after the Middle East crisis was averted and plans for his next envoy was to begin. Habib was called out of retirement by President Ronald Reagan, and by 1982 his efforts awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest honor given to a U.S. citizen by the U.S. government. Early in 1986, (shortly after this photo) Reagan sent Habib to the Philippines to convince President Ferdinand Marcos to step down. In March 1986, Reagan appointed him as a special envoy to Central America with the intention of furthering U.S. interests in the conflict in Nicaragua. Administration hard-liners intended to use his fame and stature to advance a military solution, namely further funding of the Contras. Deciding that the Contadora Plan had run its course, Oscar Arias, the newly elected president of Costa Rica, drew up a plan that focused on democratization. While he viewed the Arias plan as riddled with loopholes, Habib worked to help revise it. "Phillip Habib became my ambassador to the rest of the Central American presidents," said Arias.



On August 7, 1987, the five Central American presidents, much to the shock of the rest of the world, agreed in principle to the Arias plan. Because further negotiating would require Habib to meet directly with Nicaragua's president, Daniel Ortega, President Reagan forbade him to travel. Believing he no longer had the confidence of the president, Habib resigned.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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