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Sunday's Child - Nikolas
Bush: Van Cliburn Spread Peace Through Music 3/4/13
Associated Press
3/4/13
FORT WORTH, Texas - Former President George W. Bush says the late
pianist Van Cliburn spread peace and love through his music.
Bush spoke to about 1,400 people attending Cliburn's memorial service Sunday
in Texas.
Cliburn died Wednesday at 78 after fighting bone cancer.
Bush spoke of Cliburn's winning the first International Tchaikovsky
Competition in Moscow in 1958. At the height of the Cold War, the win helped
thaw the icy rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union.
Bush said Cliburn charmed friends and foes alike and essentially was a
diplomat. Cliburn played for every U.S. president since Harry Truman, plus
royalty and heads of state worldwide.
In 2003, Bush presented Cliburn with the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the
nation's highest civilian honor.