WASHINGTON - MSU Trustee David Porteous loves an inaugural ceremony.
“It reminds me of going to the Final Four in Indianapolis last year,” Porteous said Friday night, while attending a pair of glamorous galas. “Everyone’s excited and smiling. People are in the streets, saying hello.
“The only difference is this: Going into the Final Four, we didn’t know the outcome. Here, we definitely know who won.”
Porteous, a high-profile Republican who donated thousands of dollars to President Bush’s two-year campaign, traveled to Washington for the weekend with his wife Joan.
Saturday’s swearing-in of Bush - the nation’s 54th such ceremony - was Porteous’ second inauguration. He attended the elder Bush’s celebration in 1989.
Porteous and fellow trustee Donald Nugent - two of the eight-member Board of Trustees’ four Republicans - made the trip.
And Porteous, of Reed City, Mich., said he had no problem enjoying himself at the nation’s capital.
“It’s been fun so far,” he said. “When we got into town, we went out with old friends from college and talked about the good old days at MSU.
“Personally, I think these days are the good days at MSU.”
Similarly, he makes no secret in his belief that the best days for America lie ahead.
He called Bush a man who has proven he can unite a nation. Porteous talks of Bush’s 1994 Texas gubernatorial bid, when he fought a bitter, and ultimately successful, campaign against Democrat incumbent Ann Richards. Porteous says Bush brought together both parties in Texas - he thinks Bush will do the same as president.
“He’s extremely capable,” he said. “Bush relates to people.”
While in Washington, Porteous’ itinerary included stops at several high-profile galas, including ones for incoming Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Energy Secretary Spence Abraham. Porteous, though, said he had some time for sightseeing.
When he wasn’t acting as a tourist, Porteous was thrilled to be rubbing elbows with big-wig politicians - some he had already met and some he was meeting for the first time.
However, when the trustee wanted to discuss politics with some of the nation’s “movers and shakers,” conversation often shifted.
It was much to Porteous’ delight.
“One thing I find when coming to events like this,” he said, standing in a room of black-tie-wearing Republicans, “is that Michigan State University is really making a name for itself.
“Every time I want to talk politics, all they want to discuss is MSU. And that’s really great.”
