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Crawford residents have had the pleasure to share in the great honor of President Bush's coveted
invitations of foreign Heads of State to his Prairie Chapel Ranch. To be invited to Crawford is a great honor for these important
leaders.
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| President Putin shakes hands with locals after landing in Waco |
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| Crawford Post Master Doyle Lawless (center w/stripes) and his wife Shirley wait to greet Pres. Putin |
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| "Boots and Suits" dinner menu |
Russia's President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to visit Crawford. He and his wife arrived November 14,
2001 at the TSTC airport in Waco and was greeted by the patriotic music of Baylor's Golden Wave Band and a large crowd
of well wishers including Texas Senator David Sibley and Baylor University President Robert Sloan.
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| Praise and worship at Antioch Community Church when hearing that Dayna and Heather had been rescued |
Antioch missionaries freed from captivity
That evening, The Putin's were the Bush's guests of honor for a Texas Style "Boots and Suits" dinner. During their meal,
President Bush recieved the news that Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer who had been held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan
were in the hands of US Special Forces. The two missionaries happened to be members of Antioch Community Church
and had both attended Baylor University in nearby Waco. The church had kept round the clock prayer for the two and news spread
quickly through the church community with hundreds of people praising God at the church as President Bush addressed the American
people and shared the wonderful news.
Addressing the youth of Crawford
President Putin and President Bush held a joint audience with the students at Crawford High School November 15th.
"When I was in high school, Russia was an enemy," said President Bush. "Now the high school students can know Russia as a
friend; that we're working together to break the old ties, to establish a new spirit of cooperation and trust so that we can
work together to make the world more peaceful."
To the chagrin of the press in attendance, the students were the only ones allowed to ask the two leaders questions.
The Crawford students did such a wonderful job that President Bush commented cheerfully that the press corps might be planting
questions with the youth!
A student asked President Bush for his advice for the students as they go out into the world he said: "Listen to
your mother. I do. Follow your dreams, would be my advice. Work hard; make the right choices; and follow your dreams. The
other thingis, you never know where life is going to take you. I can assure you, when I was a senior in high school, I never
sat in an audience saying, gosh, if I work hard I'll be President of the United States. Didn't exactly fit into my vocabulary
in those days. But you never know. Trust the Lord, too."
British PM Tony Blair's visit
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| During a press conference in Crawford |
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| Prime Minister Blair leaving Church wearing President Bush's jacket! |
Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Crawford in April 2002. During their joint press conference held at the High
School, both leaders discussed Saddam Hussein and Iraqi reform. Mr. Blair was in mourning over the death of Britain's Queen
Mother at the time, which threatened cancellation of his visit to Crawford. The Prime Minister and his wife attended St. Louis
Catholic Church in Waco that Saturday evening to pray for her. When the motorcade arrrived at the steps of the church, there
was a groom and his groomsmen having their wedding photos taken. Tony Blair was kind enough to pose with them and even stayed
after mass to meet the bride and have photos taken with her as well! What a charming, down to earth man he is! We hope he
comes back soon!
Saudie Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah
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| (AP) |
Saudie Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah visited the President at the ranch at the end of April 2001.
Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar
Spainish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar came to Crawford February 21- 22, 2003 to discuss terrorism and the situation
in Iraq.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard visits Crawford and mingles with people in town!
| Australian Prime Minister Howard's visit Downtown |
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Crawford has a new Australian 'mate'
Mr and Mrs Howard visited downtown Crawford where he purchased a "Friends & Allies" coffee mug that he gave the next
day to British Prime Minister Tony Blair for his 50th birthday! They greeted the towns people and PM Howard even gave the
'mug' and t-shirt maker and owner of Western White House Gifts, Valerie Duty, a big hug and greeting saying "You and the mug
are famous in Australia." The coffee mug became a favorite subject on Australian TV, radio and the front pages of several
newspapers including the INSIDE EDITION insert that went to 10 million homes the Saturday before the visit.
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| Chief Tidmore with Prime Minister Howard |
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| Prime Minister Howard arriving at the shop with Crawford's Chief standing watch. |
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| The Japanese Prime Minister arriving at the TSTC airport |
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
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| Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arriving at TSTC airport in Waco, Texas |
Japanese PM's visit to the ranch
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Crawford May 22 and 23, 2003 during the year of Japan's celebration
of the beginning of their countries free trade. During Japan's Shogun era, there had been no trade done with other countries.
150 years ago, Commodore Matthew Perry, on the request of US President Fillmore, arrived on the shores of Japan and requested
that the two governments begin trade. After much negotiation, the Treaty of Peace and Amity was signed in 1854 and the economy
of both countries bloomed!
During PM Koizumi's visit, the President and Prime Minister had a lengthily conversation resting beside the pool at
the ranch house, where they discussed the two largest countries continued economic growth along with the problems
in North Korea.
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi visits the ranch
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| Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi arriving at the ranch July 20, 2003 (Italain press office) |
Crawford is pleased that Mexico's President Vicente Fox will be visiting President Bush's Prairie
Chapel Ranch in March!
Statement by the Press Secretary
Visit
of President Vicente Fox of Mexico to Crawford
President and Mrs. Bush will welcome President Vicente Fox of Mexico and Mrs. Fox to their ranch
at Crawford, Texas on March 5-6, 2004. Mexico is a good neighbor and our bonds of friendship are strong. Mexico is also a
strong partner in our effort to keep North America secure. The President looks forward to extensive discussions with President
Fox on important bilateral and regional issues.
This is a long awaited visit by President Fox. He declined an invitation to the ranch in August of 2002 in protest of
the Texas execution of Javier Suárez Medina, who had been convicted and sentenced to death in 1988 for the murder of
undercover drug enforcement agent Lawrence Chain. The Mexican government had formally protested the execution because they
believed it to be against an international treaty. At the time, the White House stated that the cancelled visit would not
affect the relations between the two countries.
During the Summit of the Americas held in Monterrey, Mexico this January, the two leaders with a common boarder agreed
on President Bush's plan to overhaul the United States immigration system. The plan would provide the opportunity
to apply for legal status for temporary workers who have a job and a sponsoring employer. "This plan is not amnisty.
I oppose amnisty because it encourages the violation of our laws and perpetuates illegal immigration," Bush stated at the
Summit.
President Bush has traveled to Mexico four times since taking office. His first trip as President outside of the United
States was a visit to his friend and neighbor President Vicente Fox's ranch in February of 2001.
Heads of State Visits ... A chronological list for reference
November 14-15, 2001 Russian President Vladimir Putin
April 5-7, 2002 British Prime Minister Tony Blair
April 25, 2002 Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah
August 27, 2002 Saudi Ambassador Prince Bandar Bin Sultan
October 25, 2002 Chinese President Jiang Zimen
February 21-22, 2003 Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar
May 2-3, 2003 Australian Prime Minister John Howard
May 22-23, 2003 Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
July 20-21, 2003 Italian Prime Minister Silvo Berlusconi
March 5-6, 2004 Mexican President Vicente Fox
April 12, 2004 Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
November 24, 2004 King Juan Carlos And Queen Sofia Of Spain had a brief lunch at the ranch
March 23, 2005 Mexican President Vicente Fox, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin
in a Trilateral Summit held in Waco, Texas at Baylor University then headed to the ranch for lunch
April 11, 2005 Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stayed overnight at the Hilton Hotel
in Waco, Texas and went to the ranch for lunch
April 25, 2005 Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah met at the ranch for lunch after receiving
dignitaries at his Dallas hotel, the Gaylord Texan (now King Abdullah)
August 4, 2005 Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
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