Former President George W. Bush is returning today to New Orleans—the scene of one of his presidency’s lowest points—to tout the region’s recovery from the nation’s costliest natural disaster on the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
The Associated Press reports he’s chosen to deliver remarks at Warren Easton Charter High School, the same school he visited on the first anniversary of the catastrophic storm. He is to be accompanied by his wife, Laura, whose library foundation helped rebuild what is the oldest public school in New Orleans.
The school’s success is one of the president’s brighter moments in what was an extremely trying time for the Bush administration. Bush was vilified for his government’s lackluster response.
A series of faux pas—from flying over flooded New Orleans first on Air Force One to his “Heckuva job, Brownie” quip in support of then-director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Michael Brown—marred his personal record. In New Orleans, Bush and his team were pilloried by Louisianans and became the source of deep resentment and mockery—displayed in effigy at Carnival displays for years after Katrina.
At Warren Easton, at least, Bush can point to a success story.
“We have fond memories of his last visit,” says Arthur Hardy, a celebrity in New Orleans for his expertise in all things Mardi Gras and Carnival who also graduated from the high school in 1965.
Hardy says Bush helped the school come back and reopen after Katrina.
Bush’s appearance in New Orleans today comes a day after President Barack Obama was in the city to mark the Katrina anniversary.
After visiting New Orleans, the Bush family will visit Gulfport, Mississippi, to attend an event with state officials, including Gov. Phil Bryant and former Gov. Haley Barbour. Barbour was governor when Katrina hit and served as a staunch Bush ally. The event in Mississippi will serve to thank first responders who helped after the hurricane.
