Good Advice

One night, George W. Bush is toss­ing rest­less­ly in his White House bed. He awak­ens to see George Wash­ing­ton stand­ing by him. Bush asks him, “George, what’s the best thing I can do to help the country?”

“Set an hon­est and hon­or­able exam­ple, just as I did,” Wash­ing­ton advis­es, then fades away.

The next night, Bush is astir again and sees the ghost of Thomas Jef­fer­son mov­ing through the dark­ened bed­room. Bush calls out, “Tom, please! What is the best thing I could do to help the country?” 

“Respect the Con­sti­tu­tion, as I did,” Jef­fer­son advis­es, and dims from sight.

The third night sleep is still not in the cards for Bush. He awakes to see the ghost of F. D. R. hov­er­ing over his bed. Bush whis­pers, “Franklin, What is the best thing I could do to help the country?” 

“Help the less for­tu­nate, just as I did,” FDR replies and fades into the mists.

Bush isn’t sleep­ing well the fourth night when he sees anoth­er fig­ure mov­ing in the shad­ows. It is Abra­ham Lin­col­n’s ghost. Abe, what is the best thing I can do right now, to help the coun­try?” Bush pleads. 

Abe replies, “Go see a play.”